- Saturday, July 27, 2024
The trip in the UK-made vintage car has been planned to mark 76 years of India’s independence and also a family milestone.
By: Shubham Ghosh
A BUSINESSMAN from Ahmedabad in the Indian state of Gujarat has set off on a special journey to London in a much-cherished vintage car manufactured in the UK to mark 76 years of the country’s independence and a family milestone.
Fifty-year-old Daman Thakore will be accompanied during the 12,000 kilometre-long trop by his 75-year-old father, 21-year-old daughter and some other members of the family and close friends. They will cover 16 countries to take their 1950-made MG YT car to its birthplace of the MG factory in Abingdon in south-east England.
Fondly named ‘Lal Pari’ (Red Angel), the red 1950 MG YT has stood the test of time for the family for many generations over the years and set off for the UK this week with a special monogram of the Sardar Patel Statue of Unity which is located in Gujarat.
“On this Independence Day, a 73-year-old British car – having spent all her life in India – along with three generations of its family are on a personal journey from India to UK,” said Thakore, as he set off from Mumbai in the western state of Maharashtra on Tuesday, August 15, when India celebrated its 77th Independence Day.
“Our adventure journey with Lal Pari, or Red Angel as we lovingly call her, has been from bedtime stories since I was three to real-life journeys now. Lal Pari spreads happiness and joy wherever it goes and we wish to share that with the rest of the world,” he said.
“A sterling silver hood monogram of ‘Sardar Patel Statue of Unity’ has been specially commissioned to adorn the hood of Lal Pari and will be gifted to the people of UK from the people of India on conclusion of the journey,” he added.
The expedition was symbolically flagged off by Mangal Prabhat Lodha, the minister of skills, employment, entrepreneurship and innovation in the government of Maharashtra. The ride started from Gujarat with a visit to the Statue of Unity and after the stopover in Mumbai for the official flagging off, it set sail for Dubai, UAE.
The route will encompass Iran, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Switzerland, Germany, and numerous other countries, before reaching its final destination in England.
Thakore, managing partner at Amin Equipment which specialises in large construction equipment, says the road trip is a heartfelt homage to his parents who nurtured his love for adventure through extensive car journeys during Diwali holidays.
Despite its top speed capped at 60 kilometres per hour, the Thakores have not set any firm deadline for completion of the journey.
(With agency inputs)
