Log kya kahenge? (What will people say)
This is the mentality that Jothi Viknesh, a 32-year-old from Tamil Nadu, tried to beat when he toured India in an electric vehicle in December 2021.
Image Courtesy of Jothi Viknesh
Reissued from the better India
Aboard his 7.3 kW powered Mahindra Treo, an aptly named electric auto rickshaw “Heap” Jothi wanted to do what is rarely attempted – imagine a Guinness Book of World Records for the longest journey ever made in an electric auto rickshaw.
While this was the first time he’d used an auto rickshaw to complete his mission, it wasn’t the first time he’d sailed across the country. In fact, this was his third such trip.
“The first was on a bike in 2016,” says Jothi The better India, adding that he drove 8,000 km in two months. He wasn’t alone. On his shoulder was a baby monkey that he had rescued. “When I went from Kanpur to Bengaluru, the monkey refused to give way.”
On his second trip in 2019, Jothi covered 40,000 km in eight months. And so, with two exciting journeys behind us, the third had to be unique. “I took out loans and bought an electric auto rickshaw,” he says.
There is clearly a glimmer of adventure in the background of his choices. Jothi says it all comes from a love of exploring places and meeting new people. But the root of these desires lies in the reality check that the COVID pandemic has brought with it.
“The pandemic has dealt a blow to all of us and many have been left with the realization that life is too short. We run behind money and civic duties only to one day realize that life has passed us by,” he says. “I have met so many people along the way who are real heroes. They want to travel, but are held back by a mental block.”
Not wanting to regret this fate later, Jothi decided that if he… want to make a dream come truehe must start here and now.
Tracing India’s Borders
A Zumba Instructor, Fitness Coach, YouTuber and Apprentice – that’s how Jothi describes himself.
And what does he study and learn? I ask.
Life, he replies.
Through the auto rickshaw journey, which started on December 5, 2021 from Bengaluru and continues to this day, Jothi not only got to know different cultures and lives, but also collected a lot of stories that he keeps in his heart and from one place takes. to the next. “I love stopping along the way and hearing people tell their stories, and in turn, I share mine,” he says.
But beyond the dreamy ride he seems to be on, there’s a more important mission at the forefront — to set that elusive world record.
The current Guinness World Record stands at 19,000 km. Jothi has covered 15,800 km and is aiming for 30,000 km by the end of this year. He left Bengaluru and wants to return to the city by the end of the trip.
In his words, it’s a “trip worth remembering.” Traversing 19 states and breathing in the beauty of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Goa, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Jammu and Kashmir and the Northeast has given him memories to cherish for a lifetime.
Let me in on these memories, I say. And he does.
In Nagaland, Jothi saw his worst fears come true.
“I was confronted by militants in Mokokchung,” he says. “They had seen me asking around about host families and hostels and got the wrong impression. A man walked up to me and asked if he could talk to me, and beckoned me to follow him.”
What came next was unimaginable.
“As I followed the man into a room, the doors closed behind me and they started questioning me about where I came from and my purpose in getting here. I replied calmly and even showed them my permits. But they became more curious and demanding.”
Jothi eventually got suspicious and asked why they needed to see all these documents. But as he would learn in seconds, this was a mistake. Without a second to spare, a gun was pointed at his head.
“They thought I was a spy,” he says. As a last resort, he showed them his travel videos in an attempt to convince them that he wasn’t there to cause trouble.
Many questions and hours later he was allowed to go.
Although this incident was a nightmare, Jothi says most days feel like bliss.
Image Courtesy of Jothi Viknesh
At the Sela pass in Arunachal Pradesh he encountered heavy snowfall and rain. “At 14,700 ft, I did everything I could to navigate my vehicle,” he says. As if the inclement weather wasn’t enough, he fell ill the next day and felt defeated in his goal.
But fate had other plans for him.
“I had driven about 20 km on the way back when I got a call from the nearby police station that I had to go there immediately.”
To his surprise, the DC and the army brigade were waiting at the war memorial in Tawang. The mood was festive. “It was the first time an electric car arrived there. Someone had made a video and it had gone viral among the locals,” said Jothi.
The DC lauded his efforts, booking a VIP room at Circuit House and inviting him to stay as long as he wanted until he felt better. Jothi was stunned at the kindness of the universe.
After staying in the quarters for a few days, the army assisted him with the necessary permits to reach Bum la Pass near the Chinese border, where he Another milestone reached.
“At an altitude of 15,300 feet, Heap was the first car ever to reach there,” he says proudly.
“Hope Will Help You”
If there’s one thing this future world record holder firmly believes in, it’s humanity.
“I’ve been lucky enough to meet lovely people along the way,” he says. “They welcomed me into their humble homes and I stayed with them in their villages.”
An example of this was in Mizoram, where a family of vegetable sellers took him for a few days. “They were so happy to explain their life and culture to me.”
Another time, Jothi stayed with Assamese roadside construction workers in their camp. “I couldn’t find a place to stay or charge the vehicle, and they were more than happy to have me.”
As the universe favors Jothi in mysterious ways, he also has to navigate some challenging bits throughout his journey.
One of those challenges is finding charging points along the way. Jothi says he is grateful to Mahindra for the free charging and service they provide him in their showrooms. Because this is taken care of, he can focus on maintaining a stable speed that will allow him to reach his target and give him maximum range. “The speed I rely on is 40 km/h, which helps me balance,” he says.
The weather isn’t always Jothi’s best accomplice. “I have driven through snow storms in Arunachal Pradesh, extreme heat in Uttar Pradesh and experienced floods and earthquakes in Assam. But although it has been difficult, I trust and hope that I will live this journey to the finish.”
Driving across the country in an auto rickshaw seems like a dreamy experience to many. But the posture and sitting for weeks have taken their toll on Jothi’s lower back. “I had a hernia a few months ago and needed physical therapy,” he recalls. But in the midst of all these opportunities, his immortal spirit to accomplish this mission is something to marvel at.
The travel costs him average from Rs 20,000-25,000 per month, most of which he spends on food and shelter. Having completed much of the journey, he is otherwise full of zeal. Should you want to see snippets of his experience, he shares them on his YouTube channel ‘India on 3 wheels’.
Through his journey, there is a simple fact that he wants to convey to people. “Don’t worry about the intricacies of the journey. You can make it happen as long as you are flexible and spontaneous.”
For him, the driving force is the encouragement of strangers, every day. “Even though it’s a solo effort,” he says, “people I’ve never met before encourage me.”
As Jothi starts his EV for another day on the road, the wishes and dreams of so many Indians lie in his journey.
A hope that “Heap‘ will indeed help him through it.
Edited by Divya Sethu. Reissued from the better India.
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