UAE expat to embark on solo drive across country spreading the Mahatma's message

Inspired by Gandhiji’s vision of a clean India and her father’s fervent wish to see her contribute to her homeland, UAE expat, Sangeetha Sridhar has made it her one-point mission to embark on a solo drive across 150 cities of India. The drive will take her through 29 states and five Union Territories over six months, starting August.

But, this is not just another ‘Explore India’ drive. Sangeetha has charted out a Clean India Trail, and will conduct a first-hand experiential audit of toilet and sanitation facilities, the condition of national roads and highways and the safety quotient for solo woman travellers, during the course of her six-month-long journey.

A Tata Hexa SUV sponsored by Tata Motors has been modified with reclaimed materials into a 24 sq ft home, complete with a sleep area, kitchen sink, garbage bin and work space with charging points for her gadgets. “Clean India Trail is an NRI’s dream to see India the Gandhian way, emulating Gandhian values of minimalism, self-reliance, vegetarianism, cleanliness and yoga” said Sangeetha, who is clearly in awe of Mahatma Gandhi and all that he stands for. Her journey has been officially approved by the Ministry of Tourism and she will carry the Incredible India banner on her drive, which will take her through all the UNESCO sites.

Sangeetha Sridhar poses with her modified Tata Hexa, which will be her car-cum-home as she drives through 150 cities over six months, starting from the Gateway of India in Mumbai on August 12.

Originally from Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu, Sangeetha has planned this drive across 150 cities to coincide with Gandhiji’s 150th birth anniversary. She will start her voyage at 12 noon on August 12, from the Gateway of India in Mumbai, a place she has chosen for its historic significance. “It was the exit point of the last British team, when they left India and made it totally free in 1948,” she pointed out.

During her trip, Sangeetha will restrict her wardrobe to khadi sarees given to her by Gandhiji’s great grandson Tushar Gandhi and blue worker overalls in recognition of the service of blue collar workers to ‘Make in India.’ To neutralise the carbon footprint created by her drive, Sangeetha will donate saplings and plant trees in each city that she visits, and recycle all waste generated along the way to create bio-energy to cook food on her bio-stove.

My dad always asked me what I have done for India, and I always wondered where I truly belong and where my loyalties should be directed – my janma bhoomi or my karma bhoomi , she recalls. After her father’s death in 2016, Sangeetha quit her job as consultant to the Government of Oman and decided to fulfil her father’s wishes and contribute to the betterment of her homeland, in her own inimitable style.

Gandhiji said “My life is my message”. In my case, “My drive is my message” said Sangeetha, who turned 51 this month. “At the end of my journey, I will be able to see how well the Swachh Bharat initiative has panned out, what the actual condition of the roads and highways are and how safe India is, whether Gandhiji’s dreams of a clean and safe India are a reality today. Over the last eight months, she has prepared her body to survive on two square meals a day, and has also gone on trial runs of 400-500 km across a few cities.

An inside view of Sangeetha Sridhar's modified Tata Hexa.

She will use ‘Made in India’ technologies for her entire journey, with navigation partner MapmyIndia, route tracking and logistics support from HiVayKing Club, emergency logistics services support from IATA, fire safety equipment from Universal Fire Solutions, outdoor gear from Ironman India, and an Anti Collision Detection System from Horus Intellisys and sustainability partner Tata Group, which is also celebrating 150 years. FICCI FLO (ladies organisation) is her event coordinator for the events organised in different cities.

During her drive, Sangeetha will interact with sanitation workers from 6am – 7am, while they are at work, spreading the message of Clean India among school and college students and promoting responsible tourism through women’s associations, corporates and NGOs, among others. Asked what her family thinks about her mission, she said “My husband and son have supported me right through. My son has taken a break from university in the US to help me with all the ground work that needs to be done. If I can embark on this solo drive with a purpose, then anyone can do it. Age is just a number, it’s all in the mind,” she signs off.

COMMENT NOW