For 45-year-old A. Parthiban, an athlete who is working as a technician in BEML Ltd. at Kolar Gold Fields (KGF), riding a bicycle or a motorcycle for social cause is nothing new.
Mr. Parthiban, who in the past has undertaken tours to promote world peace and create awareness about AIDS, has now embarked on a mission to foster friendship and peace between India and Pakistan.
Mr. Parthiban, along with his associate Manjunath, started a 6,000-km journey from KGF to Wagah border on Gandhi Jayanti Day. Master athlete V. Marappa organised a farewell for them at Kolar. Mr. Parthiban would visit prominent towns and cities en route to Wagah and create awareness about the need to foster peace between the neighbouring countries. Mr. Parthiban, who secured gold medal in triple jump in the international masters athletic meet held in Sri Lanka recently, plans to submit a memorandum containing signatures of people — collected en route to Wagah — to the Presidents of both the countries urging them to find amicable solution to thorny issues.
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Mr. Parthiban undertook a bicycle yatra from Kanyakumari to New Delhi in 2008 to create awareness about AIDS. In 2010, he toured New Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai and Mumbai on his motorcycle to spread the message of world peace and unity.
“The motorcycle tour by a resident of Kolar district to promote peace between the largest democracy of the world and its neighbour is appreciable,” Mr. Marappa told The Hindu on Wednesday.