: 4 Years, 15 States: How Cycling Through India Helped Me Build A Self-Sustaining Village #IndiaNEWS #Karnataka In August 2017, Jaipur-based Ankit set out on a mission to put his name in the Guinness

4 Years, 15 States: How Cycling Through India Helped Me Build A Self-Sustaining Village #IndiaNEWS #Karnataka
In August 2017, Jaipur-based Ankit set out on a mission to put his name in the Guinness Book of World Record. A journalist with four years of work experience in media and BPO, he quit his job to embark on a unique journey.
“I love cycling and used to participate in various endurance events and marathons. My desire to cover long distances inspired me to challenge myself and travel across the country on a bicycle,�? Ankit tells The Better India.
So off he went, after investing a sum of Rs 80,000 to buy a bicycle, some clothes, a camera and a tent.
But 150 days later, he gave up his pursuit.
“I realised I was only clocking distances and focussing on creating a record. I was missing out on learning from my travel experiences and interacting with people to understand the social and cultural aspects of the different places I was visiting,�? he notes.
Sofa made from mud, glass and plastic bottles.
So Ankit changed his approach by giving up on setting a record, and instead started absorbing knowledge through his experiences. Over the years, he has travelled to 15 states covering northern, western and central India. “I have covered all five states in south India and eight union territories,�? he adds.
Today, his rich experience from diverse cultures and traditions has inspired him to establish a self-sustainable, environment-friendly model village in Karnataka.
Constellation of traditional wisdom
Speaking about his journey, the 32-year-old says, “I lived with a myriad of people army-men, engineers, teachers, students, farmers, artisans, surrendered Naxals, and doctors. I have stayed with almost 600 families, and worked with them on occasions,�? he says.
During his stay, Ankit learned about vernacular architecture from his visits to tribal areas of India.
“I lived on a barter system, where I offered my skills in exchange for shelter. Pedalling across rural India, I worked with artisans to make wooden sculptures in Maharashtra and Bangalore, wove khadi shirts, and learned how to make mud houses for villagers of remote hamlets in Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu,�? he recalls.
He adds, “I also learned how to make coconut shell cutlery and jewellery, craft musical instruments like the flute and veena in Nuzvid of Andhra Pradesh, and took lessons on forest conversation from the tribal community. I tried my hands on art forms like Thanjavur, Madhubani and Gond, along with learning how to make 400-year-old wooden toys in Etikoppaka, while also taking lessons in Kondapalli in Andhra Pradesh. �?
So needless to say, his thrilling journey is full of experiences. “I received the warmth of people as I took shelter at a gurudwara when I had nowhere else to stay.