This doctor from Kerala is all set to dog-sled across the Arctic
This doctor from Kerala’s Calicut district, is now growing apples in Manali, Himachal Pradesh. Babu Ahmed Sager, fondly called Babukka by the travellers flocking the region, is all set to trip to the Scandinavian Arctic Circle to participate in Fjällräven Polar Expedition.
Dr Babu came first in the ‘The World’ category with 82,715 online votes. This is the second time that an Indian is selected for the Fjällräven Polar Expedition. Last year, Niyog Krishna from Kerala, became the first Indian to qualify to the high-adventure event.
“I’ve stayed in extremely cold places in Russia close to that area. So, I thought I’d give it a shot,” says Sager who owns a 13-acre farm in Manali.
Dr. Sager has put up a welcome signboard in Malayalam at the entrance of his farm that reads, “Come on up buddies.” He is very popular among the regular travellers and Himalayan trekkers. There has been mass campaigns in the social media for Babu Sager.
Fjällräven Polar, one of the most adventurous arctic expeditions, began in 1997 and since then, has been holding yearly expeditions. Based on the country of citizenship, candidates were placed into 10 ‘Regions’ and each person who secures the most number of votes in that particular region was shortlisted for the expedition. Also, a jury from the organising team have selected a candidate from each region based on his/her profile. The voting for the 2019 expedition concluded on December 13 and the winner was announced on the next day. The chosen ones would have to travel from Norway to Sweden in temperatures reaching a low of -30 degrees Celsius. The organisers will sponsor the flight tickets and all the winter gear for the winners.
Fjällräven Polar 2019 is slated to be held from April 8 to April 13.
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