Pursuing post-retirement goals through trekking, cycling

It has been almost two-and-a-half years since Gursharan Bahia retired as the Deputy Chief Engineer from PSPCL. A civil engineer by profession, his job was mostly desk-bound, remotely supervising the maintenance of power lines.

A resident of Gurmeet Nagar in Jalandhar, Bahia says he has always been fond of nature, but due to job requirements and family responsibilities, he hardly got a chance to venture into the wilderness. “I had always dreamt of spending time in dense forests, walking on trails, enjoying the sight of flora and fauna, listening to the sounds of birds and soaking in the serene, calm and pleasant environment. When I turned 50, I started feeling weak, with slight pain in my legs. At that time, I had almost given up the thought of this dream ever being fulfilled. But then I was posted at the Shanan Power House of PSPCL in Joginder Nagar. Due to the terrain, I had to walk several miles daily to check power transmission issues. My pain vanished and I started feeling healthier again,” he said.

Bahia says that his posting in Himachal Pradesh turned things around for him. “I started trekking daily. While in Kangra, I also took a trek to Triund. I enjoyed it so much that the Triund trek became a routine adventure for me. I even started spending nights at the camp there, gazing at the beautiful skies and stars. It gave me such a heavenly feeling.”

After he retired, Bahia says, “I told my family that I wanted to do difficult treks. I started preparing myself for it. I began gyming and cycling 20 km daily. My first big one was a six-day trek in Bhutan up to a height of 4,000 metres. Then I trekked to the Everest Base Camp, covering 160 km in 11 days. One of my most beautiful treks was in the Great Lakes of Kashmir, which I did in August last year. In eight days, I covered a 90 km trek starting from Sonmarg. It was during this trip that I realised the real beauty of nature lies in the interiors of Kashmir. I had planned another trek in Kashmir, but I don’t think my family will allow me to go, given the prevailing situation after the terror attacks.”

The 60-year-old has now set his sights on a new goal. “I intend to go to Nepal and take the Annapurna Base Camp trek sometime soon. I always go in a group, as food, water and other needs are better managed that way. I carry only a small, light bag with essential items.”

Regarding his nutrition, Bahia says, “I do not really relish non-veg food. But I often take two eggs a day. The rest is only home-cooked, simple food. I do not take any fried or junk food. There has been no sugar intake in my diet for the past many years.”

Punjab