Author:
Publication: The Times of India
Date: March 19, 2001
It is a mission to retrace the hallowed
footsteps of Adi Shankara, as part of the spiritual renaissance. Fifty-seven
year old Colonel S.S. Rajan on Thursday set on a ``padayatra'' to cover
a distance of 16,000 km in order to spread the message of peace, goodwill
among the people of this country.
``Walking has its own challenges,''
says the retired additional chief engineer of the Army, who is inspired
by his guru Adi Shankara mission to promote universal brotherhood through
`padayatra'. ``This is my tapasya,'' he said.
In a span of two-and-a-half years
he will be visiting 180 places including places in Pakistan and Bangladesh.
``the aim is to promote unity in every corner of the sub-continent,'' he
said.
Colonel Rajan's endeavour is promoted
by the Ekta and Sadhbhavana Trust and sponsored by his sister Dr Radha
Giridharan and her husband Dr Giridharan from the United States.
75-year old Shivalingappa, who himself
is a die-hard trekker, has escorted him on a four-wheeler. ``I am willing
to take any one who's willing to join me,'' he said while parting.
