From well-known Indian actor Victor Banerjee to Chinese Mt Everest conqueror Jin Feibiao, the BCIM Car Rally that flagged off here today boasts of 80 participants from different walks of life from Bangladesh, China, India and Myanmar.
Well-known Bollywood and Tollywood actor Banerjee, who is part of a 30-member Indian contingent, describes himself as "an eternal traveller and searcher.
When not working, he spends most of his time in the Himalayas -- in Landour, Mussorie, contemplating nothing, he states in his profile of the BCIM Car Rally that will culminate in Kunming on March 5, traversing 3028 kms.
Banerjee will join the rally in Imphal on February 26, on day five of the rally.
A 50-year-old Feibiao is a celebrated explorer who scaled Mt Everest with his brother on May 14, 2006.
He is part of a 20-member delegation from China as the rally hopes to develop trade reviving the ancient Southern Silk Route that will open for the first time after World War II.
Actress duo of Aye Myat Thu and Htet Htet Su Hlaing and actor Kaung Khant in the 17-member contingent from Myanmar will add glamour to the rally.
The idea to hold a rally between Kunming and Kolkata took shape with a resolution at the 2006 Delhi Forum meeting and the suggestion was soon affirmed between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Chinese President Hu Jintao later in the same year with a joint communique.
The BCIM Car Rally of 80 participants in 20 cars will be passing through Benapole and Petrapole, Dhaka, Sutarkandi, Imphal, Ka Lay, Mandalay, Ruili, Tengchong, Dali before ending in Kunming on March 5.
