70-year-old MLA’s cycling expedition to Kanyakumari draws PM’s attention

At a time when politicians are in the news for the wrong reasons, this 70-year-old MLA and former Minister has caught the Prime Minister’s attention by proving that it is possible to regain physical fitness with determination, irrespective of health complications.

BJP MLA for Rajajinagar, S. Suresh Kumar, was laid down for months by neurological complications due to a rare variant of chikungunya encephalopathy that made it difficult for him to even fold fingers. But now he has cycled from Bengaluru to Kanyakumari, covering 702 km.

Mr. Kumar was hit by the neurological complications that spread to his brain in August, 2024. But he surprised even the doctors by starting to walk, though with help, a few months after he was discharged. Being a cycling enthusiast, he resumed cycling along with swimming, which slowly helped him return to normalcy.

After a few cycling expeditions to nearby places, Mr. Kumar successfully took up the Kanyakumari expedition with the 15-member team of “Rajajingar Pedal Power”. During five-day expedition that started from Bengaluru on December 23, the members peddled for 48 hours.

“Earlier, I used to take up weekly expeditions on cycle, but after recovering from health complications, I cycle almost on a daily basis,” says Mr. Kumar. Most of his expeditions begin at 4 a.m. when there is not much traffic. “Cycling has helped me re-invent myself besides boosting my confidence. For me, cycling is like meditating. Its an opportunity to converse with yourself.”

Expedition to Kanyakumari was an emotional event for him as he had cycled to this southernmost tip of the country in 1974. “I wanted to visit Kanyakumari in 2024 to mark 50 years of my earlier visit. But that did not materialise due to my health complications,” notes Mr. Kumar.

After completing the trip a surprise awaited him on the New Year’s day on Thursday when he got a call from Mr. Modi to congratulate him. “I will cherish those moments forever,” Mr. Kumar said, adding that the Prime Minister made enquires on the expedition, team members, his cycling practice and health condition.

“I told him that one of the reasons for taking up cycling seriously was due to his call to take up cycling in all the assembly constituencies.”

Mr. Kumar is happy that his regular cycling expeditions have encouraged other people including youngsters to take up cycling for physical fitness.

“This could happen as I did not lose hope and confidence,” says Mr. Kumar on his Kanyakumari trip, adding he has has recovered nearly 75% now.