Saturday, January 4, 2003
Z E R O I N G  I N  O N . . .


A cyclist and trekker
Ravi Bali

H.P. SinghHE gets up at 4:30 am every day, takes out his machine climbs a uphill and reaches National Highway 22 and zooms to Mashobra and the world famous Naldehra golf course. Though it seems like a tall order for most of us, but for lawyer and cycling enthusiast HP Singh it is routine. And by the time Shimla wakes up, he is immersed into law books preparing for another busy day at the courts.

Singh interestingly always has a rucksack on his cycle and in his car as he is a keen trekker and a photographer. He has trekked to various places but his favourite destinations are Mussoorie and Shalli Ka Tibba, a picturesque hill top near Shimla. It is famous for its lush green environs.

The love for cycling has made possible many of ‘mission.’ When the country witnessed the 1971 Indo-Pak war and a new country Bangladesh was created, Singh one fine morning set out with two of his friends, Rajinder Sood and Manjeet Singh, with just Rs 1500 in their pocket for Bangladesh on a 57-day cycling tour.

 


The Hero Cycle Group of Companies co-sponsored the tour. On an average, they travelled about 150 Kms in a day and their maximum run was 202 km. It was from Ambala to Agra via Delhi. Along the entire route, roadside dhabas and relatives encouraged them in their mission to visit the war-ravaged nation and offer succour to the people. "We were feted and feasted and for a moment we thought as if we were war heroes," recalls Singh.

Another heroic cycling tour of Singh was to Pooh in Kinnaur when it had been devastated by an earthquake. He cycled to the affected area along with his friends distributing relief material and sweets.

His wife, Virender Kaur, says: "I am enjoying every second of living with him because I am also a nature lover and thus my family reaches out to so many destinations. The net result of all this is that my two sons are today keen professional trekkers. I only regret that I do not cycle. But it is good too because I can give my time to the family."