Expressnews
Chennai, May 28, 2023
A Coimbatore based Businessman, an Ultra Cyclist and a Marathon runner, GD Vishnu Raam embarks on a quest to cover 12,500 + Kms on an Epic drive to four corners of India – Kanyakumari – Tezu – Leh – Koteshwar on his indigenous Mahindra XUV 700 in 14 days, beginning May 28th 2023.
Flagged off by Thiru K Shankar, IPS, Additional DGP Law and Order, Tamil Nadu and Tmt. RV Ramya Bharati, IPS, Joint Commissioner of Police, North Chennai in the presence of other dignitaries, the first leg of the car expedition will see Vishnu drive from Chennai to Tezu, for about 3, 231 kms, from Tezu to Leh in the second leg for about 3,458 Kms, there on from Leh to Koteshwar for about 2,212 Kms and finally traversing 2,643 Kms from Koteshwar to Kanyakumari, in the last and fourth leg, before he drives 706 Kms to return to Chennai.
With six National records for expeditions (four by cycling and two by car) already to his credit, Vishnu Raam now attempts to clock 12,500+ Kms in 14 days to cover the four corners of India and break the earlier Guinness World Record of 401 hours achieved by India’s Suresh Joseph. Also, during this remarkable journey he will be connecting with the locals to spread awareness on the importance of Girl Child Education.
Speaking to the media before his odyssey for a cause, GD Vishnu Raam said, ” I am truly delighted and excited to begin my car expedition to the four corners of India. My passion for sports and fitness has brought me this far and I wish more and more youngsters take to the roads to set their fitness goals, either by running, cycling or driving and also achieve them in earnest. In the process they should also strive to give back to society in whatever way they can. This endeavour of mine is not only an attempt to create a Guinness World Record, but also to support ‘Girl Child Education’, a social cause that I strongly believe in. My inspiration stems from Dr BR Ambedkar’s advocacy for Women’s right to equal education and how he believed that education could help women achieve not only their own empowerment, but also empowerment of others through them. A Chennai based eminent artist has very artfully sketched the campaign logo- ‘Girl Child Education and Dr B R Ambedkar’. The funds raised as part of this expedition will go for the development and enhancement of girl child education in Government schools of Chennai and Coimbatore”.
Driving, running and pedalling for a cause!
From cycling to running to steering the wheel, his passion with purpose has seen him champion for social & environmental issues by integrating sports and fitness with one cause or the other!
GD Vishnu Raam’s national record accomplishments include:
Fastest cycling by an individual to cover 1000 Kms:
In November 2022, Vishnu Raam attempted a 1000 Kms cycling expedition, a national record, to create awareness around the growing menace of drugs in our country. In support of Tamil Nadu Government’s ‘Say No to Drugs’ Campaign, he undertook a non-stop cycle journey from Hyderabad International Airport to Coimbatore via Bangalore, where the ride was the toughest with high elevated roads making cycling difficult. In addition, heavy rains all through the Krishnagiri route affected his cycling speed too. With no sleep, no rest, undeterred, he pushed his limits to complete the attempt in a record time of 37 hours and 43 minutes and 22 seconds.
The fastest individual to cover 100 miles in road bicycling:
His solo cycling expedition in 2022 to create awareness on Global Warming and Climate Change saw him ride his Scott Addict 30 bicycle non-stop to reach Salem from Coimbatore airport in four hours, 28 minutes, and 19 seconds covering a distance of 161 kilometres. This endeavour fetched him the National record of being ‘The fastest individual to cover 100 miles in road bicycling’ and enter the India Book of Records and Asia Book of Records.
Maximum distance covered by an individual on bicycle:
The following year saw him cycling in support of the frontline covid warriors from Coimbatore International airport to Salem via Madurai, Trichy, Tirunelveli, Kayathaaru and Kanyakumari covering 623 kms in 23 hours and 52 mins and entering into the Asia Book of Record and India Book of Record.
Fastest Man to cover the Golden Quadrilateral by Car:
High on adrenalin his unstoppable adventures continued with a car drive through the epic golden quadrilateral, traversing 5853 kms across Chennai- Kolkata- Delhi- Mumbai in 82 hours, 20 minutes in his Toyota Fortuner to commemorate the 99th birthday of Iconic leader Kalaignar Karunanithi last year, thus entering the Limca Book of Record, Asia Book of Record and India Book of Record.
Maximum distance covered by an individual in 24 hours by car:
2020, the year of Pandemic saw Vishnu drive 2152.32 Kms in 20 hours 40 mins starting from Bangalore via Hyderabad to Nagpur and back to Bangalore by his car, as a tribute to the frontline Covid workers, creating a record for the maximum number of kilometres driven by an individual in India.
