Arav Bhardwaj, a 12-year-old student from Heritage School, Rohini, Delhi, has been awarded the prestigious Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar (PMRBP) 2025 in the Sports category, from the hands of the Hon’ble President of India on 26th December 2024. It marks a recognition on national fronts of the honor’s high condition awarded to him in spectacular passion and tribute for the nation’s heroes, which will go down into the memory of the young.

Arav doesn’t come to be an ordinary boy, born in Mumbai and living at Paschim Vihar, New Delhi. His life’s outstanding holistic journey comprises two stupendous Indian bicycle yatras, both of which are known to honor the heroes of whole India and sow the feeling of national pride distinctly well in the hearts of the youth.

In 2024, Arav undertook an almost 1251 km bicycle yatra from the Kargil War Memorial in Ladakh to the National War Memorial in New Delhi that lasted for 13 days. This yatra, supported by the Ministry of Defence on behalf of the Indian Army, essentially paid tribute to the Kargil War heroes who sacrificed their lives for the territorial integrity of the nation. Along the route, Arav visited several war memorials and historical sights; these were, the Zojila War Memorial, Badami Bagh War Memorial in Srinagar, and Jalianwala Bagh in Amritsar, among others. Upon arrival, on August 8, 2024, at the National War Memorial, he was received by the Indian Army and presented with a memento.

The emphasis of the yatra of Arav, which carried the substantial message with the hearty donors of “Say No to Drugs, Say Yes to Punjab,” brought him blessings of renowned dignitaries such as the DGP of Punjab and also the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Haryana, Shri Nayab Singh Saini. On his way, he sought blessings from Veer Naris (wives and mothers of martyrs) in Jammu, thus giving another impetus to his already strong connection with the nation’s sacrifices.

This was not Arav’s first such endeavor. In a very 2022 the ambitious kid of age ten initiated a bicycle expedition lasting 32 days and spanning 2612 km, starting at the INA Memorial of Moirang, Manipur, and still touching at the National War Memorial, New Delhi, for the 125th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose alongside the celebrations of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. Rolling down eight states and union territories on this journey, he visited sites that contributed to India’s freedom movement like Naga War Memorial and Chauri Chaura.

The yatras of Arav managed to foster inspiration in many quarters, especially the youth, and received wide media coverage. The remarkable feature of his enterprise was that all three generations of the Bhardwaj family were actively engaged. His father, Dr. Atul Bhardwaj, who is an orthopedic and spinal surgeon, bicycled alongside him, while his grandfather brought in the rear in the vehicle.

These two towering yatras have seemed to revive respect among the youngsters for our national heroes and the very spirit of endurance against all odds. Arav’s determination, cycling over 100 km in a day on multiple occasions, and enduring difficult terrains like the Zojila Pass, have made his journey a testament to perseverance and courage. His efforts were further recognized when his name, alongside his father’s, was listed in the Asia Book of Records for the longest cycle yatra by a father-son duo.

In addition to his bicycle yatras, Arav’s achievements were further highlighted by the release of a documentary, Inspiration of Fire, which won the Vidarbha Film Festival award in 2023.

Master Arav Bhardwaj’s story is one of inspiration, determination, and love for the nation. His yatras, which paid homage to India’s freedom fighters and war heroes, continue to motivate the young generation across the country. His journey proves that age is no barrier when it comes to making a difference and leaving a lasting impact on the world.