A poor guy from Orissa fall in love with a rich girl of Sweden. Girl goes back to her country after marriage and asks him to come with her. The Boy refused as his studies were still on and also he would like to meet her with his own money and promises her he will visit. Later, he picks his cycle and sets on a journey across 8 countries to meet the love of his life. This is not a story of any upcoming movie. Yes, it is the real love story of Dr. Pradyumna Kumar Mahanandia and Charlotte Von Schedvin.

How Dr. Pradyumna Kumar Mahanandia and Charlotte Von Schedvin Met Each Other?

P.K. Mahanandia was born on 1949 in an Odia weaver family, in Kandhapada village Odisha, India. He did schooling at Mahendra High School, Athmallik. He later joined the Visva-Bharati to study art as this is the passion for him. But due to his poor financial condition he had returned back to home. However, he joined College of Art, Delhi to study Fine Arts in 1971 and became a renowned artist who made stunning portraits.

Pradyumna fondly called as PK was an expert in making portraits. While studying in Delhi College of Art, he shot into fame as portraiture by drawing the portrait of Indira Gandhi. He sought permission from authorities to sit under holy fountain at Connaught Place and draw portraits.

Charlotte in Sweden and was a 19-year-old student in London who had driven all the way to India on a van in 22 days went to visit PK, to make a portrait of her. It is her where they both met and fell in love with each other. Charlotte took the Indian name Charulata and they both married following traditional rituals. She returned to Sweden alone. Although, she asked PK to come with her he refused but he decided that someday he would go on his own. They both were touch with letters as there is no other way of communication.

PK Journey to Sweden:

PK’s love-filled heart had made the promise, but the reality of having no money to fulfill it started PK in the eyes. But he was not one to give up. He sold all his belongings and bought a second-hand bicycle. Carrying all his paints and brushes along, he did the unthinkable. He traveled to Sweden on the bicycle.

He reached Amritsar from New Delhi before entering Afghanistan, Iran, Turkey, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Germany, Austria and Denmark. His cycle broke down many times on the way and he even had to go on without food for days. But nothing could break his will. After 4 months and 3 weeks of  the hard journey, he finally reached Gothenburg, Sweden. The Swedish officials were spellbound to see the man who rode all the way from India.

 

The sudden revelation made even PK skeptical whether his lady love would accept him or not.

When Charlotte learned about the man from India who cycled all the way for around 5 months, she drove to Gothenburg and received her husband with unbridled happiness. Her parents accepted Pradyumna as a part of their family by breaking a royal tradition that prohibited non-white people from residing with the nobles.

Today Pradyuman is Odiya Cultural Ambassador of India to Sweden and lives with his wife Charlotte and two children in Sweden. Utkal University of Culture (UUC) in Bhubaneshwar has awarded him with an honorary doctorate degree.

The two have completed 40 years of happily married life. This story might turn into a movie soon, as director Sanjay Leela Bhansali is planning to take up this story for his next film.

This is a perfect example of a true love story. No matter where you live, you will find a way if you want to be together