Jyoti Kumari is the 15-year-old girl whose story has gone viral on social media. It happened after her commendable peddling stretch surfaced. She cycled 1,200 km from Gurugram to Bihar, over eight days with her ailing father in tow. Both father and daughter duo had feared that they would soon be told to vacate their lodging by their landlord in Gurugram; a tensed Jyoti had then suggested that they should return home. However, when her father had pointed out that their chances of finding any trains or buses were bleak and moreover, his injury would not allow him to walk; it is then that she took a tough decision to cycle back home, regardless of how long it might take.
This gallant story of Jyoti has now reached the White House in the USA as well. Ivanka Trump, President Donald Trump’s daughter, had also tweeted about the same, complimenting the Jyoti.
15 yr old Jyoti Kumari, carried her wounded father to their home village on the back of her bicycle covering +1,200 km over 7 days.
This beautiful feat of endurance & love has captured the imagination of the Indian people and the cycling federation!🇮🇳 https://t.co/uOgXkHzBPz
— Ivanka Trump (@IvankaTrump) May 22, 2020
Not only that, but her saga also caught the attention of the Cycling Federation of India. Onkar Singh, Chairman of the Cycling Federation of India on Thursday, told PTI that if Kumari, an 8th grader, clears the trial, then she will be selected as a trainee at the National Cycling Academy at the Indira Gandhi Stadium in Delhi. He said that they had contacted her and will be called to Delhi as soon as the lockdown is lifted. The authorities state that they will be bearing all the expenses of her travel, lodging, and others. And further, if she requires that someone from her house accompanies her, that will also be allowed. Currently, they are coordinating with their Bihar state unit on how she can be brought to Delhi for the trials.
When asked about the justification behind the trial being offered to the girl, Onkar Singh points out that there is something special in her; it is next to impossible to cycle down more than 1200 km. She has to satisfy seven or eight parameters on the computerized cycle at the academy to get selected. After that, she will join the other trainees for further training.
Furthermore, the recent reports say that the famous IIT-JEE coaching institute, founder and mathematician Anand Kumar of Super 30, has also offered to train Jyoti Kumari. He took to his Facebook page and stated that his brother had met Jyoti’s family, and added that she was welcome to join the Super 30 family. He also promised to arrange for all the expenses for her engineering studies.
Apart from these offers, other offers were also put forward by some ministers –
Bihar’s former chief minister Rabri Devi and Tejashwi Yadav, had spoken to the girl’s family on 24th May through a video call. Rabri Devi has also offered to provide financing for Jyoti’s education, her wedding and promised to provide a job to the teen’s father.
7 दिन अपने हौसलों से मुश्किलों को पराजित कर घायल पिता मोहन पासवान जी को साइकिल पर बैठाकर 1200 किमी का सफर तय करने वाली बिहार की जांबाज बेटी ज्योति से बात की। माँ श्रीमती @RabriDeviRJD जी ने फ़िलहाल आर्थिक मदद के साथ-साथ ज्योति की पढ़ाई, शादी और पिता की नौकरी का वायदा किया है। pic.twitter.com/dleVoBvkxH
— Tejashwi Yadav (@yadavtejashwi) May 24, 2020
Chirag Paswan, MP from Lok Janshakti Party has also offered to sponsor her education.
Lok Janshakti Party offers to sponsor education of Jyoti Kumari who cycled almost 1,200 km to Darbhanga in Bihar from Gurgaon carrying her injured father on pillion during coronavirus lockdown
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 24, 2020
Ashwini Kumar Chaubey, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare has also stated that he is considering to make Jyoti the “health ambassador” of India.
Ram Vilas Paswan, Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, called Jyoti a “modern Shravan Kumar” and appealed to Kiren Rijiju, Union Sports Minister, to provide scholarship and training to her.
कोरोना महामारी के इस संकट से पूरा देश लड़ रहा है। ऐसे कठिन समय में आधुनिक श्रवण कुमार, बिहार की बेटी #ज्योति_पासवान ने अपने पिता को साइकिल पर बिठाकर गुरुग्राम से दरभंगा तक 1000 किमी से ज्यादा की यात्रा कर जिस हिम्मत और साहस का परिचय दिया है, उससे अभिभूत हूं। 1/2 @narendramodi pic.twitter.com/p6TGz9PXsa
— Ram Vilas Paswan (@irvpaswan) May 24, 2020
मैं केन्द्रीय खेल मंत्री @KirenRijiju जी से भी आग्रह करता हूं कि पूरी दुनिया में साहस की मिसाल कायम करने वाली देश की बेटी #ज्योति_पासवान की साइकलिंग की प्रतिभा को और अधिक संवारने के लिए इसके उचित प्रशिक्षण और छात्रवृति की व्यवस्था करें। 2/2 @narendramodi pic.twitter.com/H3JVsNSM6q
— Ram Vilas Paswan (@irvpaswan) May 24, 2020
Responding to the tweet, Rijiju said Jyoti will be chosen as a trainee in Delhi’s National Cycling Academy after her trials with the Cycling Federation of India.
मैं विश्वास दिलाता हूं @irvpaswan जी, SAI अधिकारियों और साइक्लिंग फेडरेशन्स से ज्योति कुमारी के परीक्षण के बाद मुझे रिपोर्ट करने के लिए कहूंगा। यदि संभावित पाया, तो उसे नई दिल्ली में IGI स्टेडियम परिसर में राष्ट्रीय साइक्लिंग अकादमी में प्रशिक्षु के रूप में चुना जाएगा। https://t.co/OdgEVqfrge
— Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) May 24, 2020
Ravi Shankar Prasad, Law and Justice Minister also appealed to Kiren Rijiju to give full support to the girl.
Also requested the Sports Minister @KirenRijiju to give full support to this courageous girl from Bihar- Jyoti Kumari Paswan by way of training & scholarship to develop her as a cyclist of repute, if she is willing. I salute her courage and determination. (2/2)
— Ravi Shankar Prasad (@rsprasad) May 23, 2020
However, she turned down the offer. Earlier, she had to give up on her education because of her family situation. It forced her to take up odd jobs, such as domestic help. However, now she wishes to complete her matriculation. She said that she is physically exhausted after the journey.
Former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav has also offered Rs 1 lakh to Jyoti for her remarkable ‘feet.’
सरकार से हारकर एक 15 वर्षीय लड़की निकल पड़ी है अपने घायल पिता को लेकर सैकड़ों मील के सफ़र पर… दिल्ली से दरभंगा. आज देश की हर नारी और हम सब उसके साथ हैं.
हम उसके साहस का अभिनंदन करते हुए उस तक 1 लाख रु. की मदद पहुँचाएंगे. pic.twitter.com/amO502S6dj
— Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) May 21, 2020
