Real horse power

It is quite a common demand of young students nowadays for cars and bikes to ride to college. But imagine the shock of this father in Mangalore who did not want a car or bike but a horse to ride to college!

Yes, Avinand Achanahally, a final year Master’s in Social Work student actually demanded a horse to ride from his father; that was the condition he out if his father wanted him to complete his Masters. And the father relented. So today, this student, who lives with his parents on a coffee plantation in Mangalore, first thing in the morning, cleans the stable of his horse, Sikandar and then takes, rather, rides him to the gym. While he works out, the horse is ‘parked’ outside the gym, tied to a pole. Then he goes back home and gets ready to leave for college. Once again, he rides to his college, Roshni Nilaya on Sikander, who follows all traffic rules, waits some 5 feet behind cars at signals and moves only when other cars around him move. At college, which is spread over acres, the student studies while Sikander grazes on the grass.  Like people fearing car thieves, Avinand also fears ‘horse thieves’.

And yes, just like the youngsters need new cars and new mobiles every couple of years, Avinand is also now hoping to change is ‘horse’ model. Sikander, bought for Rs.70,000 is black and white while Avinand now wants a pure white horse and will cost around Rs.1.5 lakh. Once the new horse comes, Sikander will go to his coffee estate and we wonder if Avinand will ride this new horse to work too?