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Bengal cyclist to travel across India on cycle sans brake, seat to promote Swachh Bharat

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By Milinda Ghosh Roy
Kolkata, June 22 (IANS) Speeding cars pulled over and pedestrians stopped by on a busy central Kolkata street on Friday afternoon seeing a middl-aged man strangely bending forward on his bicycle and spinning the front wheel with his hands. But while the cyclist’s incredible balance impressed many, his aim to achieve the near-impossible seems more stunning.

Aiming to promote Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Swachh Bharat Mission, Debendranath Bera, a BJP activist from West Bengal, has set out on a unique journey to travel more than 22,000 km across the country’s 33 states and union territories on a bicycle that neither has nether brakes, nor a seat nor a rolling chain.

A resident of West Midnapore district’s Sabang, Bera started his voyage from the district’s Debra block on June 17, with his nephew who would accompany him across the country on a normal bicycle.

Before restarting his journey from BJP’s state headquarters at central Kolkata’s 6, Muralidhar Sen Lane, Bera claimed he would not only create a world record but also hoped to influence thousands of people about cleanliness if he got their support and encouragement.

“I will travel more than 22,000 kilometers. I will go the capitals of all 29 states in India and a few union territories to spread awareness about the Swachh Bharat Mission. It will take me almost a year to complete the journey on this bicycle. I hope to inspire people to fulfil the government’s dream of building a ‘Swachh Bharat’ (clean India),” said Bera, who has been practising the art of riding the rather peculiar contraptions for the last 25 years.

“My cycle does not have any brake, gears, chain or seat. It is extremely tough riding such cycles for a long time, let alone travel across India. I seek support and encouragement from everyone to complete my journey. I hope to see my name in the Guinness World Records as no one has ever travelled such a on a cycle like this,” he said.

A stuntman by profession, Bera has often left locals mesmerised with deadly feats like pulling big buses with his hair or lifting pick up vans on his chest. However, the 45-year-old said his mission to travel across India is the closest to his heart as he is doing it for a noble cause.

“I am a BJP worker. I am getting all kind of support from the party at the local level. It has also promised to help me out in every way in all the states I am planning to go to,” he said.

He also hoped to get the support of the state’s Trinamool Congress government.

” I am sure everyone would come ahead to help me out irrespective of their political preference,” said the cyclist, imbued with a spirit of adventure.

Bera and his cousin Akash Kumar Karan would enter Assam from Bengal and travel through northeastern states. They would then go to Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, before traversingthe rest of the country.

(Milinda Ghosh Roy can be contacted at [email protected])

–IANS
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma

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World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.

Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.

During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.

On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”

Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.

It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.

Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.

Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”

On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”

The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.

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