Four Indian cyclists and one from South Africa are expected to arrive in Durban this Sunday after a 700-km ride to mark the centenary of a commune set up by Mahatma Gandhi.
The cyclists started their journey last Sunday from Tolstoy Farm, a settlement south of here founded by Gandhi, and are making their way to the Phoenix Settlement, another commune set up by the Indian leader.
Piyush Shelat, director of the Gandhi World Peace Mission in Ahmedabad, told IANS that the cyclists would arrive at the Phoenix Settlement near Durban in time for centenary celebrations being organised there by Ela Gandhi, granddaughter of the Mahatma.
The other cyclists from the mission are engineer Hemant Shelat, dairyman Kamlesh Chhatralia and travel agent Manu Chauhan.
With the Indians is L. Fanele, a business management student from Soweto, who said he had decided to join after learning about the ideals of brotherhood that Gandhi espoused.
Cycling as a hobby for four years now and hoping to turn professional, Fanele told IANS: "This is a way to give to others and help your fellowman which Gandhi so strongly believed in. It certainly is a challenge to see how far one can go on a bike, as I have only done a maximum of 60 km so far."
Two other cyclists from Soweto who would have joined the trip dropped out at the last minute for personal reasons, said Mohan Hira, the local organiser of the Mahatma Gandhi Remembrance Committee.
Shelat, who has been based in the US for the past decade, said it was easier to hire cycles from local suppliers than bringing in their own cycles from India.
Chauhan said the first time he came to South Africa last year, he was very scared because of stories of being mugged en route or even being killed, but the reality had been otherwise.
"We found so much love and friendship along the route that there was no question in my mind to agree immediately when I was asked to come this time to help celebrate 100 years of Gandhiji's organisation."
Hira told IANS that after leaving with a rousing send-off, the enthusiastic cyclists had already covered almost a quarter of the distance on the first day, raising expectations that they would arrive in Durban much earlier than anticipated. But they had slowed down the pace later in the week.
Local Indian communities along the route are providing hospitality and accommodation for overnight stays.
--Indo-Asian News Service