Walking and cycling are what he is most passionate about. He is not interested in winning any competition or seeking public appreciation, but what this 58-year-old Manohar Degvekar wants is to keep fit and reduce the risk of ailments.
He has indeed changed the look of fitness becoming a role model for many youth, who still shy away from walking a small distance or riding a cycle.
The government official has in fact, set an unofficial record by touring the state on foot and cycling to neighbouring states. About four months ago, he broke his own record by walking till Shirdi – a Hindu place of pilgrimage and intends to go cycling once the monsoon season ends.
In a tete-a-tete with Herald, Degvekar recalls that he inculcated a ‘walking interest’ since he was 14 years. “I was 14 years when I decided to start walking short distances to maintain my fitness. In course of time, I developed a strong liking and walked several kilometers daily,” he said with a smile and a perpetual twinkle in his eyes.
It was just recently that he decided to walk till Shirdi and back to Goa. “It came to my mind that I could walk to the holy place and was pleased that I could make it happen,” he commented.
While this passion still remains, the employee of the Information & Publicity department was inspired to cycle in 2011. The interest developed when he decided to re-use his son’s abandoned cycle. “We gave my son a cycle which he rode for a certain period. But when he reached college-level, he stopped using it. It was lying idle at my place when I decided to make use of it,” he said.
Interestingly, he has also cycled to various places, doing so at an average speed of 15-16 kms per hour. “It has been more than four years and I still continuously cycle. I don’t cycle to office but after office hours I compulsorily go for a ride. This carries on over the weekend too,” he said proudly mentioning that his cycle expeditions starting from his house at Revora were to places at Margao, Panjim, Sattari and even adjoining regions like Sindhudurg and Sawantwadi.
This month itself, he came cycling from Belgaum to Revora in eight hours. In all, he has covered 20,500 kilometers on an average of 400 kilometers per month. “I initially took it up to maintain a fit life but now it is my hobby. I have to walk and cycle daily without which my day is not complete,” he said.
His life is not restricted to walking and cycling, but also practicing pranayam (yoga) early every morning. At the same time, he ensures that he gives quality time to his family comprising of his wife and son.
His piece of advice for people is to stay healthy besides being good human beings. On the health front, he explained how such exercises help one to control the body system. “Do these if one has to stay young,” he grins. “A healthy diet is the best diet. Our famous fish-rice-curry is the best. Stay away from junk and fast food.”
