MRF 79th Kila Raipur Sports Festival 2015 was from 29th January till 1st February. During the visit and walking around the stadium area, I saw a customized truck parked near the fields. I walked nearer to know what actually it was – something related to nomad travel. – I guess. I too had a similar dream since years, but this is what I am watching in real. A middle-aged handsome gentleman was sitting next to the truck with a friend, preparing tea. He invited us for tea. Upon the request to know more about the  customized truck below is what he said:

I am Captain Suresh ex-army officer (who served the army for 6 years) from Panchkula near Chandigarh. I was lucky to meet the right kind of people (during the fifth year of service) who were working on herpetology – the study of snakes and reptiles. I took leave and joined them, and it worked. It was like their project was mine, and mine was theirs. I was running a project to teach people about snakes and their bites. I do not want to run an NGO. It was my duty to give back something to society and nature because whatever I am, it is because of nature and society. Then I thought, who will fund my project? Getting funds is a challenge in India. And I started self-funding by giving lectures. Yes, if you wish bigger impact, you need an external source such as corporate support. So, in short, it is a self-funded project.

To have my own freedom and self-funding, I started tourism because I love traveling and I can handle this type of machine – Eicher 2010. Only the chassis is shorter because of mountain travel.

The total cost of the vehicle is in lacs after customization. 8 people can sit inside. There is a tent on top of the van, which comes out, and 4 people can sleep under it.

I question – who drives the van?

He said – He only.

And a helper?

Currently, there is no helper.

And he introduced me to Dr. Desai, who is from Mumbai and joined him on his overland truck tours a few days back. He is also a photographer and is on the 3rd trip because the caravan trip is the 3rd trip only. A few times wife joined, but due to her busy schedule, she is at home.

I have been traveling for the past 25 years. I was having my first caravan in the year 2000, which was also customized out of a Tempo Traveler. Then I thought of having something which helps to get self-funding and I have freedom too, because I am a photographer, and a wildlife expert, especially for snakes and travel. So, a total of three subjects I know.

Another question – How do you convince people for overland truck tours?

If you make a good product, you don’t have to convince people. Your product tells about you, He said.

Do you have a website?

Yes – I do, and I am very active on the internet too. I conduct planned tours. Dr. Desai recently joined one such tour for 4 days from Chandigarh to Kila Raipur and back. The next trip is 3 days Hola Mohalla, and the next is Teerthan Valley > Mcleodganj and all – 10 day trip.

If in winter I am traveling, it will be for example: Chandigarh > Hanumangarh > Churu > Tal Chappar > Sambhar Lake > Jaipur, one trip, then from Jaipur will take another trip so Jaipur > Tal Chappar > Pushkar and then another tour Pushkar > Bikaner > Kheechan > Jaisalmer > Jodhpur. Another group, Jaisalmer > Barmer > Churu, like that. By that time, it will be summer, and I will be back home.

Tea was ready. Thank you – said I. Tasty it was.

Continue talking.

I have two toilets in the field, which I made via a machine that will dig a hole in the field and a tent over it, and a folded seat inside to sit for the toilet. I believe the spare tyre of the vehicle should be the best tyre.

How was the sleep last night? – I question Dr. Desai.

The sleep was very cozy inside the van. It is a home away from home. Even during overland truck tours, we don’t have to stop for food anywhere. We make tea, breakfast, lunch, and dinner ourselves. It is fun to tour together and make to eat food together.

I can feed 50 people on board – Captain Suresh said.

Very interesting project. I wish you the best of best wishes. And I walk towards the overland truck to have an inside look.

I reached Amar Shaheed Sukhdev Interstate bus terminal, Ludhiana at 11:30 am from Ajitgarh (Mohali) – approx. two hours journey, but the question was – How to reach Kila Raipur from ISBT, Ludhiana?

Upon the query – bus for Kila Raipur, I was told to walk a little approx. 50 meters to enter the local bus stand, which is also part of this terminal, to get a bus for Kila Raipur. At pillar no. 9 at 12 Noon hours, the bus for Kila Raipur arrived, and we continued our journey.

At 12:05, the bus started its journey, and at 1:15 pm, we reached Kila Raipur. Total journey hours for Kila Raipur from Ludhiana are approx. one hour and bus fare – Rs. 18 per person. Kila Raipur’s distance from Ludhiana bus terminal is approx. 18-20 km. A comfortable journey it was, and picturesque as bus travel via various villages.

In short, if you are arriving from Chandigarh/Mohali and visiting Kila Raipur, get another bus from the Ludhiana Interstate bus terminal.

79th Kila Raipur Sports Festival 2015 was from 29th January till 1st of February. During the visit, we had an opportunity to meet and talk with Jagbir Grewal – Organizer of the Grewal Sports Association (an autonomous body having 150 members) and Kila Raipur sports festival. Upon the query about The History of Kila Raipur Sports Festival, he shared knowledge as follows:

In 1932-33, our ancestors from Kila Raipur and nearby villages visited Amritsar to play games and won a cup, which is till dated with us. After winning the cup, great-grandfather and his group of friends collectively decided to start games here at Kila Raipur. Thus, the Kila Raipur Sports Festival started is currently 79th year.

Kila Raipur Stadium is a self-owned stadium, i.e., a private stadium. I – Jagbir Grewal joined as a member in 1990, about 25 years ago. Sukhvir Grewal is the chief organizer of the Kila Raipur Sports Festival.

Our future plans are to make it a big sports academy by installing hockey turf and tracks for athletics, but we need support, though we have members related to sports. Currently, corporate such as Maruti Suzuki and MRF are the main title sponsors. The very first time when we visited a corporate Coca-Cola, we received Rs. 50,000. Later, we hired an event management company for sponsorship requirements.

In this 79th game athletics, kabaddi, hockey, horse race, dog race, and traditional games are the major events. We also invited singers from Punjab for entertainment evenings.

This festival years ago was participated by my great-grandfather and grandfather also. They played Hockey and Kabaddi. My father, Apchal Singh Grewal, represented Punjab in hockey during pre-partition. My uncle represented Punjab University in Hockey. And my big brother, Rupinder Grewal, was the first person to be selected for the Indian Airlines hockey team. Sukvir Grewal – The current chief organizer played for India in the 1978 Asian Games and was the coach of the Indian Hockey Team 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games. I, too, played hockey in college and university. Hockey is somewhat like our family game.

I question – Have you met the great hockey legend – Dhyanchand?

He said – Yes, and even met Ashok Dhyanchand – the son of the legendary Dhyanchand.

Fantastic history. Thanks for sharing. And we proceed towards the stadium office to watch history represented via framed photographs.

Balancing Act – This photo was taken at 79th Kila Raipur Sports Festival 2015 in Punjab.

Primary 200m Race – This photo was taken at 79th Kila Raipur Sports Festival 2015 in Punjab.

Dog Race – This photo was taken at the 79th Kila Raipur Sports Festival 2015 in Punjab.