A retired Army officer is cycling across the country to pay homage to the fallen unknown soldier. Major General Somnath Jha (retired) was here on Monday as part of his cycling expedition, which began in Ambala, Haryana, on September 30. This is his tribute to every Indian soldier martyred in the wars fought since 1947.
He has already pedalled over 6,000 km across 22 States. And he is scheduled to reach New Delhi by April. “I am cycling two minutes for every fallen martyr,” he said as he was received at the Military Station here. Kannur is the land of many heroic soldiers, he said.
The retired officer has traversed all across the Gangetic plains, all seven northeast States, all along the east coast and south India. From here, Mr. Jha will be moving to Karnataka and Goa. He is accompanied by his wife Chitra Jha, who is travelling in a backup vehicle and meeting all administrative requirements en route, he said. Army officers who received him said it was a matter of pride to all soldiers that the retired Major General was passing through the Malabar region.
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Military Station Commandant Col. Yudhvir Singh and 122 Infantry Battalion (Territorial Army) Commanding Officer Col. Rajesh Kanojia flagged off the ride from here.