I’ve been into cycling for some months now, and I’m falling in love with it. From waking up early in my hostel room on the Jawaharlal Nehru University campus to getting ready and travelling when the roads of Delhi are actually looking for people, provides an immense sense of satisfaction. Well, for me cycling came as a welcome start to my efforts to lose some weight, going to and from my academic centre and the hostel and enjoying the ride itself.
Gone are the days when a bicycle was seen as a poor man’s prized possession. Today, the charm of cycling is back, maybe in a different way. The craze for recreational cycling is growing in Delhi, with important cycling destinations such as India Gate, Sanjay Van and the Asola Lake regularly visited by cycling enthusiasts.
JNU in itself is an absolute paradise for cyclists as one gets a chance to see the beauty of the Aravalis dotted by trees, mainly vilayati kikar (Prosopis juliflora) and amaltas, Cassia fistula, also known as the golden rain tree. If you are lucky enough, you might see a flock of blue bulls (nilgai, the antelope), peacocks, foxes and wild rabbits.
I am in the JNU Cycling Club, which has been working commendably in organising frequent trips, but I like to cycle alone. It gives you a chance to ponder over your life. Cycling emancipates you and gives a sense of freedom because you are mastering your own ride and deciding the destination. As the pedals go, you tend to feel the gusty early morning breeze embracing you, and suddenly it appears so easy. You look at the moving wheels and appreciate the fact that your effort is making them rotate. But as the brakes are applied, one realises that cycling, like life, is not always smooth and you need to stop and then start again.
My personal favourite has been the road to India Gate. Unlike the Aravalis, where the terrain is too steep or slanting, the journey to India Gate is smooth. As I move, I get a chance to see some of the iconic spots in South Delhi, such as the diplomatic enclave with its near-perfect ambience, and luxurious hotels. As I pedal effortlessly, the development that has been
happening in the metropolis becomes evident. One is awed by the huge pathways towards Rajpath, and as the end comes the historic buildings in the Lutyens Zone emerge, flanked by the towering India Gate on the other side. In a well-served platter, the entire history of the city is laid bare.
The most exciting part is the grand boulevard of Rajpath that connects India Gate with Rashtrapati Bhavan. You will see Army jawans practising for events, groups of children and even aged people going for skating and playing football in the adjoining gardens. Several cyclists, clad in their protective gear, ride about in their super-smart bicycles. And then you see the flames of the Amar Jawan Jyoti telling us about the stories of bravery of our soldiers. The National War Memorial has been recently opened, spread over 40 acres, near India Gate.
As I watch in amazement, I realise that it is time to return. I wish I could stay there forever, but then the realities of life force me to return. Well, the journey backward is never as exciting. There is no excitement as you are back to the same old ways of doing things. While pedalling back to my hostel, I realise that the city has awakened. The roads are now beaming with vehicles as people rush to work and children wait for their buses and cabs. As a cyclist, I feel overwhelmed and conquered, with my freedom taken away. No more pedalling freely in the middle of the road: I am restricted to the corners.
As I reach my hostel after a two-hour expedition, a sense of achievement engulfs me and the day has started on a stupendous note. This is the best part of the entire adventure. It takes me a while to get ready for the routinr chores and as I get back to my cycle to go to my academic centre, I decide that the Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary would be my next destination. Maybe in the not-too-distant future.
