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Life is a journey, not a destination.
Mahendar Uncle justifies Ralph Emerson’s words in the most magnificent way possible!
He possessed an ardent love for traveling since his childhood and began his adventure when he was just 11. Sometimes the smallest step in the right direction ends up being the biggest step of your life. This is what happened with a simple Delhi boy’s passion to travel; turning into a successful company named Crystal Tourism.
During his traveling days, he covered 75% of India exploring the diversity of the 7th largest country in the world. Not only India, Mahendar Uncle has several connections in countries across the world like Germany, Sweden, etc. Due to his passion and work, Uncle got an opportunity to enrich himself with traditions, culture, food, and knowledge of various communities around the globe. One adventure that he often reminisces about is a bike ride from Shimla to Ladakh, one of the greatest memories for any hodophile. Though he has never received any formal education, yet he exhibits excellent communication skills and speaks fluent English; qualities which helped him run a thriving business venture for decades! He didn’t limit himself to tourism. Being a nature enthusiast and an environmentalist, he even directed a short movie on animals.
At times in life, a sudden situation, a moment in time, alters your whole life, and forever changes the road ahead. This is what happened with Mahendar Uncle in 2010. He met with a near-fatal accident which led to paralysis and voice problems due to which he couldn’t speak properly.
But, you can never find a better sparring partner than adversity. He bravely accepted the challenge life threw at him and fought ferociously. Soon, the left side of his body recovered and he resumed his career with rejuvenating valor. Nonetheless, age withers all equally. When he reached a stage where he couldn’t continue travelling, he had to spend some time at a Gurudwara. For a man with no partner, dead parents, and ignorant relatives, that seemed like the only option available.
But kindness and love for mankind still reside in the heart of few. Nine months ago, Earth Saviours Foundation took in Mahendar Uncle, helping him spend the rest of his life under the care and supervision of the affectionate volunteers. He currently suffers from kidney problems and is being looked after the volunteers at ESF. Even after facing numerous hardships, he isn’t bitter towards life. He is still a man who loves drinking tea, has a cheerful smile, possesses an awe-inspiring amount of knowledge in geography, and loves to share his stories with volunteers who visit him.
He is deeply touched by the affection and care of the ESF workers and thanks them for their kindness. Visiting and chatting with him was an overwhelming and beautiful experience that helped us understand each aspect of life and the courage one needs to face them deftly.
This post is created under Project Samvedna
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