By Viju Mangalore – Pics by Satish Ira

Mangalore, July 25: He is on a mission for a cause. On his bicycle he pedals through villages, cities, towns as a campaigner for education, health and universal peace.

A teacher by profession Bidyut Kumar Sardar of West Bengal entered Mangalore on Monday, Jul 24. This 35 year-old man uses the art of mime and skit in the campaigns.

A tricolour on his journey mate, his bicycle, Bidyut has traveled 11,000 kms to reach Mangalore. Bidyut started from Kolkata on Feb 6, 2005 and has performed in 22 states.

In the city, the enthusiast Bidyut gave a unique mime show to the students at Karavali College. Although the show was only 10-minute long, he highlighted the message of peace and non violence.

The schemes and programmes of the government for promoting health and education do not reach people equally. It is here that a need for an awareness campaign is felt, said,” says Bidyut who is a postgraduate.

Having traveled through Assam, Meghalaya, Haryana, Delhi, Jammu Kashmir, Rajastan, Gujrat, Maharastra, Goa and several other states, Bidyut will enter Kerala and then proceed to Tamil Nadu on his world mission.

“It’s my mission and my training in theatre (mime) is my media. I visit schools, colleges, orphanages to conduct my shows,” Bidyut explained.

On his priority list is to travel to countries abroad and thus visit 100 countries. With no finance of his own, his friends have funded the campaign.

Journey to alien lands is not smooth sailing. While varying topography and food does affect to a certain level, threat to life is also from other elements.

Bidyut recollects his encounter with militants in Assam who tried to burn the tircolour flag with him. In Manipur, it was the army who rescued him from miscreants who attacked him.

A life dotted with insecurities has not put him down. He carries on his mission tirelessly.