Whereas there was appreciable disturbance on the opposite facet of the road because of the poor community, I may distinctly hear the enthusiastic voice of Rency Thomas. 

The 36-year-old outside skilled, Rency, is on a novel mission: a solo voyage to navigate the Ganga River in 100 days. This one-of-a-kind expedition depends solely on human-powered sources, together with biking, kayaking, and strolling.

Tackling the mammoth activity of protecting the Ganga, which spans over 2,600 km, Rency’s journey turns into much more inspiring when contemplating that he battles rheumatoid arthritis.

“I’m racing towards time as I’m not positive for a way lengthy my physique will have the ability to take such adventures,” he tells The Higher India. 

Discovering ardour in misplaced desires

Born and raised in Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu, Rency had at all times been an out of doors fanatic.

“I cherished the outside and had nurtured just one dream all my life—to turn out to be an Air Drive pilot,” he recollects.

For him, flying an plane was the final word dream, and he labored in the direction of it for many of his younger grownup life. Whereas in faculty, he was already an NCC Air Wing Cadet, flying the Microlight Plane (a small and light-weight aeroplane designed to be easy and straightforward to fly, usually used for leisure functions).

“The signs began to indicate in faculty. That’s when my life modified drastically. Visits to hospitals and consultations turned out to be arthritis. Being identified with such a illness at a younger age can break or make your perspective on life,” he says.

Recalling the preliminary days of his prognosis, he mentions that he was left fully crippled and mattress sure. “I had misplaced the usage of my left leg and there was a number of muscle contraction which made it unattainable for me to do something,” he says. 

Whereas aspiring to turn out to be a pilot and becoming a member of the Indian Air Drive, Rency acquired medical recommendation to keep away from bodily actions.

“I used to be heartbroken. I didn’t know what to do with myself. Everybody emphasised that the Air Drive wouldn’t settle for somebody with an sickness like arthritis. It was a harsh actuality, and it took me a while to just accept the drastic change in my life,” he recollects.

Amidst the wrestle with ache and psychological agony, Rency misplaced the one dream he had ever nurtured. “It’s nearly like restarting every part,” he says, acknowledging that “the signs can reoccur, and there may be actually no stopping this illness, solely stopping.”

Regardless of the ache and the shattered dream, Rency determined to emerge stronger. “I had at all times cherished being open air, and I refused to let my dream be shattered this manner. I selected to study mild plane flying,” he provides.

“Coming from a middle-class household, and after finishing numerous programs, I realised I used to be burdened with a number of scholar loans. I needed to do one thing,” he explains.

He initiated a startup in Bengaluru, which sadly needed to shut attributable to logistical issues. He then moved to Manali to determine his journey startup, Live360 Adventures.

The startup gave wings to Rency’s outdoorsy spirit. “I don’t know once I would possibly lose the functioning of one other a part of my physique. I not too long ago had an episode that left little or no mobility in two of my fingers,” he shares. 

When Rency mentions a time crunch, he really means it. “I had been on a motor expedition throughout the Ganga in 2015. Since then, I’ve felt this sense of urgency in my head to undertake this solo journey with out the motors,” he provides.

Traversing the majestic Ganga

On November 4, 2023, Rency packed his luggage and with a coordinating crew of three, launched into his journey.

Twenty-five days into the journey, Rency is at the moment in Sangara, about 25 km downstream from the Narora barrage.

Reflecting on his journey thus far, he shares, “I began from Gaomukh, the place to begin of Gangotri, and accomplished the trek in a single day. The following day, I started my biking journey from Gangotri to Devprayag — the place the place Alaknanda and Bhagirathi converge to kind the Ganga.” 

Until Devprayag, Rency used a mountain bike after which switched to kayaking. 

“There are two sorts of kayaking — sea kayaking and white water kayaking. Given the Ganga’s robust currents, a small, extra controllable kayak is used. The stretch from Devprayag to Rishikesh is a white-water part, and I accomplished it in three days,” he says.

There are two barrages in Haridwar and Rishikesh that the adventurer drove his mountain bike on. “After Haridwar, I switched again to kayaking. The waters are calmer, so I’m sea kayaking right here. Each night time, I camp in a spot accessible to the river by highway,” he explains.

Whereas the river has been tough and foggy with low visibility previously two days, Rency anticipates that with higher climate, he can end the voyage inside 100 days.

“To not sound too assured, but when the climate is with me, I believe the journey may be completed a couple of days early too,” he says. 

When discussing the challenges forward, the one facet that issues Rency is the tidal exercise of the river as soon as it crosses the Farakka Barrage.

Near the Bangladesh border, because the river approaches the ocean, it experiences tidal actions. Navigating by way of this would possibly pose a problem, however Rency reassures, “My crew is ready for that.”

Whereas alone on the river, admiring the majestic landscapes, Rency acknowledges that there have been moments when he questioned the aim of your complete expedition.

“I begin to surprise why I signed up for this when the circumstances turn out to be powerful and painful. The river is so broad, with quite a few channels, and out of the blue you end up caught alone in a sand mattress,” he displays.

“Once I was first identified with arthritis, I felt like I had misplaced one thing. It was no fault of mine how my life turned out. The thought that I’ll by no means lose in my life is my gasoline when circumstances get powerful. It’s mentioned that ‘zeher hello zeher ko katata hai’ (The one antidote to poison is poison), and that’s how I’m approaching my ache. I’ll beat it with ache,” he declares.

“It’s simple for individuals dealing with comparable circumstances like mine to lose coronary heart and cease residing. I skilled that too for some time, however I need to convey that it’s potential. No matter you’re dreaming, in the event you push your self sufficient, you may obtain it,” he provides.

In case you want to monitor Rency’s unimaginable journey, you may click on right here. 

(Edited by Padmashree Pande)