This Indian Man from Uttar Pradesh Walked On Water And Cycled On High Seas Back In The 1980s

He knew what was needed, he knew where to look for it and he knew how to innovate if he couldn't find it.

His name was  Dwarka Prasad Chaurasia, a common man from UP, who became famous throughout the country at a time when social media did not even exist.

Born in the days of British Raj in 1932, Dwarka Prasad Chaurasia was born in a family indulged in farming. He got married in 1950 and moved to Mirzapur in 1960 to run a pan shop. After getting his daughter married off, he began his dream of cycling across the country in 1972.

After a few short trips he finally started his long journey and went until Punjab where he got stuck on flooded roads amidst torrential rains. But he didn't give up. He bought 4 empty cans of ghee, and after working on it for 3 months on the sides of a nearby lake, he finally created an amphibious cycle - which could float on water!

He then took his amazing cycle for a ride across the country. People across the country applauded his efforts and he became a mini celebrity. His demonstrations, like the 1980 one in Kankaria lake in Ahmedabad, drew thousands in audience.

He cycled across a stretch of 5 kilometers in high seas in Dwarka. He also cycled from Juhu to Nariman Point and from Gateway of India to Elephanta caves in Mumbai, a stretch of over eleven kilometers in sea.

In 1982, he also designed shoes - made from thermocol-  which helped people walk over water!

These shoes  were 3 feet long, 10-inch wide and 8 inch thick in size and gave users enough buoyancy to walk over water bodies.

Though the government didn't allow him to perform at the 1982 Asian Games held in New Delhi, he demonstrated his invention at the Delhi boat club. His performances gave him widespread recognition and even BBC interviewed him.

Even in the old age, the fire inside him refuses to die out. He once said that he wants to cycle across the English Channel.

We salute such innovators who prove that the spark had always existed in India and all we ever needed was some encouragement and spirit to do distinguishable stuff.

Source- Indiatimes