This 73-year-old champion is cycling to revive Indian heritage

Chinmayi Ravi | NT

The cliché in our upbringing as far as cocurricular activities has always drawn a line of demarcation between sports and art, thanks to our educational system. Is it so impossible to imagine an idea where both the elements interact to form one beautiful humanitarian purpose?

Padma Awardee and the founder of SPIK MACAY (The Society for the Promotion of Indian Classical Music And Culture Amongst Youth), Mr. Kiran Seth, aged 73, has shattered all illusions of impossible in his six month cycling journey from the northern most state of Kashmir to the southern tip of India – Kanyakumari.

While doing this intensive form of cardio – which he considers mediation for the soul manifested in exercise, he conducts events for his steadily sprouting organization at each stop enroute. The Bangalore International Centre (BIC) hosted Mr. Seth as the lead speaker for an enigmatic ‘Arts and Culture Crusader’ talk.

The talk was targeted at students, the future of the country to embrace Indian heritage, which is slowly slipping out of our hands like sand granules It is essentially the objective of the organization itself – to create an environment for young minds to immerse themselves in forms of art, music, crafts and culture.

The emphasis of the talk was on the classical culture of India – Carnatic and Hindustani music, traditional dance forms and others that are becoming obscure by the day. Seth considers himself lucky, for he was taught how to learn and thus sharpening the swords of his mind – something our heritage was once famed for doing.

The audience was a small yet a passionate bunch of people belonging to different generations, and yet breaking the stereotype of generation gap. Seth’s old classmates were part of the audience. Mr. Ramchandra Guha, a prolific writer remained glued to his seat as the talk opened the eyes of the audience.

Mr. Seth, a zealous and persevered ambassador of arts believes that India’s greatest treasure of abstractedness and mysticism lies in in its “dark matter” or, in other words, realms that are often being submerged as forgotten heritage. His talk covered the current outlook of India, which is rooted in materialism and ostentations disguises.

To him, cycling is an excuse for his inward journey. The talk on cycling from north to the south was a product of SPIK MACAY’s growth as an organization that ardently promotes culture and heritage of our ancestors and one that is mystical, without forcing children into a programmed, linear pre- paved path.

On the contrary, SPIK MACAY acts as a catalyst to grow Himalayan range of Indian culture, art and craft forms. By cycling the distance of more than 3500 kms on two wheels, two pedals and rucksack for essentials, Mr. Seth is a model of inspiration to cyclists, artists and students.