From a Home Haircut to One Crore Smiles: Restarting the Ride
There’s a barbershop back home where the stories are sharper than scissors and the silences teach more than sermons. The barber’s name is Ninganna. As a teenager, there was a careless moment—jokingly twisting his name and turning away to find him standing right there. He said nothing. No complaint, no anger. That silence stayed. Years later, after growing up and working, that quiet dignity began to mean everything. Since then, whenever at home, the haircut belongs to him—not for fancy styling, but for his innocence, his effort, and the way he carries his family on his shoulders.
This September, the loyalty came with a twist. On the 23rd, a quick visit for a trim turned into an experiment gone wrong. He forgot the clip on the trimmer. One stroke, and the plan changed. It wasn’t a good cut. He meant well; the result wasn’t. The next morning, on the 24th, there was a meeting with income tax officials in Hubballi regarding the ATG application for the NGO. Walked in with a funny haircut and a straight focus. Finished the submissions, walked out smiling. Some days remind that purpose looks better than perfection.
That same clarity fueled a promise: to begin the school construction without fail. The project got its name—Project One Crore Smiles. It’s not about cement and steel alone; it’s about futures. A groundbreaking ceremony at the school campus turned dust into direction. Spades in the earth, prayers in the air, children peeking from the corridor corners—everything felt aligned. Every brick laid will carry a story, and every story will carry a child forward.
With that grounding came motion. The ride restarted from Bengaluru, heading out toward Hubballi to continue the Kanyakumari to Cape journey. The road held the same rhythm—early light on the tarmac, chai at small stalls, curious smiles from people who always ask where the journey began and where it ends. Two days later, the wheels touched Hubballi again—this time for a different milestone.
On the 10th of October, a traveling documentary screened in Hubballi in association with Rotary Club of Hubli Midtown and Hubballi Bicycle Club. The hall filled with familiar energy—cyclists, volunteers, community builders, and friends who turn miles into meaning. Faces stood out: Shettappa Pirangi, Koustubh Saunshikar, and several passionate members from Rotary Midtown and HBC, all lending not just their presence but their belief in what this journey stands for. Stories on screen met stories from the streets; applause met resolve.
The next day brought a pit stop for the machine that makes it all possible. The cycle went in for repairs at Born2Pedal—minor fixes, tune-ups, the usual checks that keep the cadence clean. There’s a quiet joy in watching a mechanic’s hands calibrate the thing that carries a dream. Every tightened bolt feels like a small blessing.
From there, Belagavi called. Another screening, another community. This time it was the support of marathon runners and the Venu Gram Cycling Club that turned an evening into a memory. Met so many committed people—Raghuram, Pawan Patil, Muthu Angadi, and many others who carry their cities forward with action more than talk. Every handshake added strength; every conversation added clarity.
Then came the kind of lesson only the road teaches well. A cassette change and a square-cut later, the bill arrived far above the actual price—almost double. Usually, prices are cross-verified, and there’s a habit of asking for a fair discount. This time, trust went first; verification came later. It turned into a small scam and a big reminder. The takeaway is simple: always verify and go. It doesn’t mean losing faith in people; it means respecting effort with diligence and keeping emotions out of transactions. On a long ride, money saved is distance gained.
Through it all, one thread kept weaving the days together—gratitude. For a barber who showed what quiet grace looks like. For officials who heard the case and let the documents speak. For Rotary members, cyclists, runners, mechanics, and strangers who become friends on the road. For the children who will someday study in classrooms that don’t exist yet but already feel real in the heart.
Project One Crore Smiles isn’t a slogan. It is a promise to build, one step at a time. Groundbreaking is done; the hard part begins now—brick by brick, bill by bill, month by month. The ride continues not just on highways but into homes, halls, and hearts where support gathers like monsoon clouds—slowly at first, then all at once.
Soon, a special story from Hubballi will get its own chapter—a separate post, because it deserves the space. For now, the road points forward. The haircut has grown out. The lesson remains. Start with respect, move with purpose, verify what matters, and keep pedaling. The journey from a small hometown salon to a school full of smiles is long—but it is happening, and it is worth every kilometer.
Hi Sudarshan Bhai…We also travelled along with you in your marvelous journeys across exotic continents on your Bicycle …
Thanks for stopping by at our vibrant town of Hubli / Dharwad . Your excellent PPT to our assembled HBC ( Hubballi Bicycle Club ) and Rotary Club of Hubli Midtown Members in the KCCI ( Karnataka Chamber of Commerce & Industry ) was a jaw dropping experience for us ….if this was our response we wonder how exciting and thrilling the experience it was for you.
..We wish you the very best in exploring more enticing places in this wonderful country of ours…BHARAT ….Rtm. Kaustub.Saunshikar