‘Crossing Ram Setu Changed Me’: Bharat Sachdev on Faith and Fear
Bharat Sachdev, author of Ram Sethu (Image Bhawna Malik)
Bhawna Malik, Editor of Junta Unmuted, sits down with Bharat Sachdev—author, international swimmer, Ironman triathlete and wellness coach—to talk about his new book Ram Setu: The Bridge Within, and the extraordinary journey that led him across one of the most storied stretches of ocean in the world.
Q: Why did you decide to swim across Ram Setu?
Bharat: Ram Setu is not just a mythological site; it is a living legend deeply embedded in India’s cultural and spiritual consciousness. My partner Shashwat and I wanted to do something with real cultural resonance. Very few international open-water swimmers even attempt this stretch. Through this swim, we wanted to put it on the global map.
Q: How challenging was the attempt?
Bharat: The sea is a paradox—it inspires awe and fear at the same time. There are sea creatures, unpredictable currents and total uncertainty. We used car grease for protection. You cannot rest or touch the boat; you must swim non-stop while a team watches over you.
Just a day before the swim, both of us were throwing up due to motion sickness. During the swim, fatigue hit me hard.
Q: In the book, you speak of the ‘internal’ and ‘external’ Ram Setu. What do you mean?
Bharat: The internal Ram Setu is the bridge of self-doubt and hesitation we all carry. We block ourselves more than circumstances do. Whether it’s crossing the physical Ram Setu or the inner one, both require reflection.
My journey taught me that uncertainty is constant—but faith must be the starting point, whether in sports, art or life.
Q: Tell us about the intense training behind this feat.
Bharat: Shashwat and I trained 4–5 hours daily for nearly one and a half years. We combined swimming with strength training and recovery. We reached Sri Lanka three days before the swim, but didn’t practice much due to conditions.
Q: What about mental training, which you emphasise in the book?
Bharat: Internal dialogue is everything. You have to be ready for the unexpected.
During the swim, the heat was brutal and the currents extremely strong. After 2–3 hours, my body was exhausted. It was a 30-km stretch, needing 7–8 hours of continuous swimming. All you see is water—nothing else.
I told myself: one stroke at a time.
You can’t win against the sea; you learn to move with it.
Standing before that vast ocean, fear is natural. As a Hanuman devotee, I draw strength from faith—strength, courage and devotion. With faith, everything becomes possible.
Q: Your book reads like a self-help guide. Was that deliberate?
Bharat: Yes. My goal wasn’t to prove the historicity of Ram Setu, but to inspire young people to discover inner strength. I write about taking life one breath at a time. Your internal conversation shapes your resilience.
Mental regulation is as important as physical conditioning.
Q: You emphasise ‘Rest and Grow’, while many coaches insist on constant action. What is your philosophy?
Bharat: Balance. Our minds and bodies need rest. We’re constantly in ‘doing mode’, which causes burnout.
Rest allows reflection, introspection and resetting.
Resilience isn’t perfection—it’s persistence. Mental detox is as important as physical detox.
Q: You began in Sri Lanka and ended at Dhanushkodi in India. How was that experience?
Bharat: Magical. Ending in India felt like a homecoming. Our intention was people-to-people connection—bringing hope, faith and a spirit of exploration.
(Bharat Sachdev is the author of Ram Setu: The Bridge Within. He is also a health and wellness coach, Ironman triathlete, international swimmer, explorer and a recipient of the 40-under-40 honour. This interview first appeared in Junta Unmuted, Delhi’s newly launched quarterly news magazine)
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