Pat Farmer reaches the destination state of Jammu & Kashmir
Pat Farmer at Gandhi ji’s Sabarmati Ashram where he wrote: Thanks, for allowing me to see into Gandhi’s life – his simplicity and his compassion. Pat learnt to spin some cotton on Charkha from volunteers at the ashram.
By Neena Badhwar
Pat Farmer, Australia’s Ultra Marathon runner, has now entered the final leg of his 4,600km entering the state of Jammu and Kashmir. He is currently running through beautiful Udhampur. Whichever towns he passes there are throngs of people to welcome him with placards, they honour him with a tilak and garlands that at times you can hardly recognise him. His head has this big pagdi tied as the keen crowds watch Pat though at times they don’t even understand his Aussie accent even as he slaps high five with as many spectators as he can. But they know in their hearts and minds that he is a good man and he is running for a good cause. Children gather around him like iron filings to a magnet.
He may have lost about 15 kilos but his spirits are high.
Pat is a determined man to reach his destination as the date approaches March 30 with Pat having finished more than 4,000 km. The landscape has changed and it is getting a bit cooler Pat having passed some of the hottest places when he was in the deserts of Rajasthan and when he started in Tamilnadu. He was completely dehydrated one day and needed attention from a doctor. It is nice to watch the distant Himalayas that have become common land feature for Pat no matter what direction his route takes him.
Pat has left behind some of the iconic heritage sites of India that include the Mahatma Gandhi’s Sabarmati Ashram in Gujarat, the famous Tajmahal in Agra, Jaipur’s Pink Hawa Mahal, Delhi’s India Gate and some well known palaces in Rajasthan where he stayed and was joined by his wife and treated like a royalty.
While passing through Delhi, the capital of India, Pat got a standing ovation at a reception organised by the newly appointed Australian High Commissioner Ms. Harinder Sidhu in Delhi . At the reception Pat said, “I just quickly showered and changed to a suit to come here.” And soon he was off on the road through to Punjab.
Taking a step at a time Pat has by now taken hundreds and thousands of steps all the way from Kanyakumari and has never ever been low in energy as each day takes him nearer to his chosen destination.
We in Australia salute Pat Farmer for his formidable spirit and a great passion to make this world a better place by spreading the message of goodwill between India and Australia and at the same time with an aim to collect funds for the education of girl child of India.
Please visit: www.patfarmer.com and donate generously for Nanhi Kali.
Pictures Courtesy Kevin Nguyen
Short URL: https://indiandownunder.com.au/?p=6574