Speed Post News Network
New Delhi : Defence Minister Arun Jaitley released a Coffee Table Book ‘Ganga Avahan – The Epic Tale of a Historic Swim’, here on July 14, 2017. The ‘Ganga Avahan’ was a pioneering and historic exploratory open-water swim expedition in river Ganga River. This was the first ever human effort to swim down the entire stretch of the river and also the longest ever social campaign undertaken through an adventure sporting activity for the Swachh Bharat National Mission, Clean Ganga project and `Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ initiative.
A nine-member team of three swimmers and the rest rafters from the three Services of the Indian Armed Forces, led by acclaimed international open-water swimmer Wg Cdr Paramvir Singh was flagged-off in New Delhi by Union Minister of Urban Development, Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation and Information & Broadcasting M Venkaiah Naidu on first anniversary of Swachh Bharat, on October 1, 2015, according to a PIB release.
The expedition commenced on October 8, 2015, at Devprayag, where Bhagirathi and Alaknanda merge and the Ganga begins. Wg Cdr Paramvir began the expedition which continued for 43 days, through Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal and culminating on November 19, 2015, at Bakkhali Beach, Frazerganj, covering a total distance of 2,800 km, according to the PIB release. The then Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had flagged-in the expedition on October 23, 2015. PM Narendra Modi had lauded Wg Cdr Paramvir Singh and his social outreach, in his address to the nation in ‘Mann Ki Baat’ radio broadcast.
The Coffee Table Book chronicles their entire extraordinary and fascinating journey detailing experiences. The Foreword of this epic expedition is written by the Prime Minister, according to the PIB release.