Like other kids his age, four-year-old Abijosh might not be able to revisit all the capitals of Indian states.
But he has already done something that his peers cannot do in their entire lifetime: visit 28 Indian states and 4 union territories.
Abijosh – accompanied by his parents, Ashok B and Prabha Ashok – went on a pan-India tour in January, and has already covered the length and breadth of the country. All this, within 100 days, in a brand new car that has covered over 15,000 kms, thus living up to what they describe as: ‘India’s first van life family.’
“In short, we have done this: eat, travel, sleep, repeat,” laughs Ashok, during his recent pitfall in Chennai, after which he plans to cover Puducherry, Rameswaram and Kanyakumari. “Despite all the various challenges, it was life changing.”
Ashok, the manager of a dyeing unit in Tiruppur, has been dreaming of this pan-India trip for over a year, but the logistics were more difficult than he thought. “When I shared my intention with my wife, a housewife, she was also game. It was the hardest to explain to my parents, especially because we have a four year old traveling with us! We promised that we would call every day and share our location, only then we got permission from them,” he recalls.
Ashok B, Prabha Ashok and Abijosh in Chennai during their pan India tour. Photo Credit: Jothi Ramalingam B
He first planned to travel in his old Maruti Zen, but fearing mechanical complications, invested in a new car (a Maruti Eeco Star) and set aside a sum of two lakhs for the journey. In the first week of January, the trio set out on a trip in the car, which includes all the essentials including a bed, fan, lights and torches, and a tent, if space provided. Equipped with a 15-liter water can and a stove and cylinder for cooking, the family not only experienced the different cultures that the kingdom had to offer, but also lived a normal life, which included sleeping in a car, petrol Bathing on the bunk and eating at the roadside dhabas
Along the way, he chronicles every major aspect of his journey on his GoPro, to ensure that his 20k+ YouTube channel subscribers (PrabhasView) get to experience his journey as well. “There were difficulties,” admits Prabha, who balanced the camerawork and babysitting while Ashok was driving, “but it’s all about adapting to different environments.” His favorite experiences include spending time in the Thar Desert, where the family slept under the stars, and in Kashmir, where he saw snow for the first time.
Apart from experiencing the cultures of different Indian states, this family trip also has a purpose: to promote and save agriculture. “We want to raise awareness about the importance of agriculture in our society.”
The family started in Tamil Nadu, moved to Kerala and Karnataka before moving north. In the frenzy of moving from state to state, did they miss the routine? “Here, too, there was a routine,” he insists, “that required us to go about our everyday business, without taking away the convenience and luxuries that a home offers us.” In colder regions, families opted to start late, due to poor lighting outside, but in other places, they covered 200 kilometers before 10 a.m. While their breakfast was usually served in a hotel or dhaba, they took an hour break in the afternoon for both lunch and dinner. “In these few months, we have bathed in petrol bunks rest rooms, small streams and even a farm pump-set! If you embark on such a journey, you will learn to adapt and not always demand luxuries like fans and air-conditioning. ,
He is talking not only about himself and his wife, but also about their four-year-old, whom they plan to home-school soon. “In this 100-day journey, they have already seen and learned a lot. Why go to school when the world has to learn from?”