Raju on his trip backwards. Picture by Debashis Das

Raiganj, Dec. 20: D. Muniappan aka Raju (34), a resident Tamil Nadu’s Salem district, revels in unique feats.

A few years ago, he had shot into limelight for his dental prowess. Muniappan’s achievements: he had peeled a coconut in only 28 seconds with his teeth. He had also lifted a 32-kg gas cylinder with his powerful dentures.

Encouraged by his rare feats, he is now aiming to set a new record in reverse pedestrian. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, Texan Piennie L. Wingo, the current record holder, was conferred on the honour after he walked backwards from Santa Monica to Istanbul, covering a distance of 12,475 km in 18 months and nine days.

Muniappan, who reached here early this week, has already covered 7, 150 km and plans to cover another 8,000 km within the same time, which the Texan took to etch his name in the GBWL. “I have charted my own route and plan to cover 15,000 km within this time frame. He has already visited 16 states, including riot-hit Gujarat and trouble-torn Jammu and Kashmir in the course of his adventurous journey,” he said.

Muniappan, who starts around 6 am calls it a day by 10 pm, covers 40-50 km on an average daily. At night he rests either at police stations or at roadside dhabas.

“I did not face any difficulties during my journey except in Bihar. A group of youths had robbed me off Rs 60 in Purnea. I walked into West Bengal penniless,” he added.

The unassuming Tamil, who started his journey from the Mahatma Gandhi Stadium in Salem on January 20 this year, is now heading for Calcutta after visiting neighbouring Nepal.

Muniappan’s attempt, however, does not hinge on self-glory alone. He is walking backwards to spread twin messages — a sustained campaign against global population explosion and raising awareness about the killer AIDS.

He, however, set up a date with GBWL after he won recognition at the national level. A couple of years ago, his name figured in the Limca Book of Records when he covered a 23-km stretch by reverse walking on the hilly terrain of Mount Abu in Rajasthan.

Besides, the odd attack by hooligans in Purnea, Muniappan said shoes were a “genuine problem” during his long and tiring back-walks.

He requires at least four pairs of shoes every month, which accounts for a major part of his expenses. The gritty competitor took up the GBWL challenge after he got some money from selling his coffee shop. He, however, ran out of the money a few days ago. Short on funds, he is now soliciting people’s support.