2014 batch IAS officer from Gujarat cadre, Mr. Praveen Choudhary never lets any reason or excuse to stop him from doing something that he finds productive. So when he decided to pick up his bicycle and ride all the way from his home to office, neither the long distance nor the scorching heat of the sun could stop him from doing so. Mostly, all of us ignore healthy daily regimes by simply making an excuse of our “busy schedules”, stating that we don’t have the time to take care of our own health because of the amount of work piled for us to complete. But such is not the case with Mr. Choudhary, who rides his bicycle to his office two times a week despite having a genuinely busy schedule.
Cycling Twice a Week to Work
Mr. Praveen cycles to work every Monday and Thursday because these are the only two days in the week when he doesn’t have to go for field work of any kind. He leaves behind his chauffer driven office car in an attempt to stay fit and healthy in his otherwise sedentary life. Indian Masterminds could not speak with Mr. Choudhary but in an interview elsewhere regarding his fitness choice, he said “I took up cycling when I was posted as a Deputy Collector in Chhote Udepur after I came to know about an IPS officer, who was co-incidentally one of my batch mates, who used to ride his bicycle for about 40 kms every morning in order to keep himself fit. This is what triggered me from within and made me choose bicycling as a mode of transport whenever I could.”
Yoga and Meditation
Currently posted as the Drawing and Disbursing Officer (DDO) of Junagadh district, the distance from his home to his office is a little more than four kilometers. Mr. Choudhary is not only into cycling but he is also a yoga buff and claims to never miss a day of yoga. The first thing that he does once he wakes up is go to his garden, inhale a breath of fresh air, spread his yoga mat and practice different yoga poses religiously. He also likes meditating and considers it as way to regain focus and concentration. According to him, yoga and meditation provide him with the kind of energy that he needs to work the whole day.
In an interview, he states “It contributes to my fitness as otherwise life is sedentary and there is not much time for workout. But yoga is something I religiously practice every morning.”
Cycling is also his Source of Enjoyment
Mr. Choudhary does not just cycle his way for the sake of being fit and healthy, but he actually enjoys it. Whenever he gets a little dollop of free time in his hands, he simply puts on his helmet, picks up his bicycle and goes around cycling and exploring the city of Junagadh. “In my free time, which is mostly in the evenings, I explore Junagadh city on my cycle.”
Sharing his experiences in an interview, he exclaimed a moment when he was quite surprised that a cycle repairing person knew him by face. Until then, he had no idea about the kind of impact that he had on the people of the city. He described the incident that happened on a hot summer afternoon when he stopped at a tiny shop as the tire of his cycle was punctured and he wished to get it fixed. He was taken aback when the shopkeeper got excited on seeing him arrive and even went on to summon others to meet the IAS officer! Mr. Choudhary exclaimed “they seem amused!”
Too much of Sedentary Lifestyle is Not Good
Mr. Choudhary is not very sure if people will be willing to walk on his footsteps. And the reason behind this skepticism is because there have been a lot of times when people have showed their underlying interest in picking up their bicycles and cycling around the city for errands or going to work, but these statements usually end up in false promises only.
In his own words, Mr. Praveen exclaims “Several times in my office and outside, people have evinced interest in cycling and inquired why I cycle. They are all positive thinking. But I am not sure anyone would take up cycling for fitness or for environmental concern by just seeing me cycle to work.”
Another thing that the DDO is disappointed in today’s generation is the people who instantly sit in their cars or motorbikes to even go to nearby distances. The officer who has enjoyed cycling since his school days finds the usage of motorbikes and scooters unhealthy for today’s youth.
