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Indy100 Staff
Dec 15, 2015

This week the story of a man who cycled across eight countries to be reunited with his wife was re-shared on Facebook, and in just a few days it has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times.
In 1973 Pradyumna Kumar Mahanandia, from the 'untouchable' caste, was studying at the College of Art in New Delhi, where he shot to fame after painting a portrait of Indira Gandhi.
Posted by Dr P.K Mahanandia on Thursday, 13 August 2015
Swedish student Charlotte Von Schedvin, who was living in London at the time, heard of his work, and travelled to India in hopes of meeting him.
Glad midsommar till allaFestival to honor Mother Earth!
Posted by Dr P.K Mahanandia on Friday, 19 June 2015
In the course of Charlotte sitting for a portrait, the pair fell in love.
Posted by Dr P.K Mahanandia on Sunday, 9 August 2015
They got married in a traditional Indian ceremony - but Charlotte had to return to Sweden while Pradyumna finished his studies.
Posted by Dr P.K Mahanandia on Monday, 7 July 2014
Charlotte, whose family was connected to Swedish royalty, offered to pay for Pradyumna's plane ticket - but he wanted to figure out how to pay his own way.
He sold all his possessions and bought a bicycle, setting out on a journey across Afghanistan, Iran, Turkey, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Germany, Austria and Denmark before he reached Sweden.
Posted by Dr P.K Mahanandia on Sunday, 19 July 2015
It took Pradyumna four months and three weeks to get to Gothenburg. But he and Charlotte haven't been separated since.
Posted by Dr P.K Mahanandia on Sunday, 10 May 2015
The couple had another marriage ceremony in Sweden and had two children together.
Posted by Dr P.K Mahanandia on Saturday, 22 August 2015
Today, Pradyumna is a well-known artist and serves as a cultural ambassador between India and Sweden.
Posted by Dr P.K Mahanandia on Saturday, 23 May 2015
Pradyumna and Charlotte have been married for 40 years.
Posted by Dr P.K Mahanandia on Thursday, 19 January 2012
Famous Indian filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali has expressed an interest in making a film about Pradyumna's life.
Read the whole viral post below:
A poor guy meets a rich girl. They fall in love. Girl goes back to her country. Boy promises to make it big and visit...
Posted by Satyanarayan Patri on Thursday, 10 December 2015
HT: Buzzfeed
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