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{{Short description|Indian environmental activists (born 1963)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| name = T. Srinivasa Rao and R. Gnanasekaran
| image = T.Srinivasa Rao (left) and R.Gnanasegaran.jpg
| caption = T.Srinivasa Rao (left) and R.Gnanasegaran during one of their expeditions
| alt = Twins of Pondicherry
| birth_date = c. 1963
| birth_place = [[Puducherry (city)|Puducherry]], India
| occupation = Environmental activists, peace ambassadors
| known_for = Seven global expeditions to raise awareness for peace and environmental issues
| years_active = 1986–2010
}}
'''T. Srinivasa Rao and R. Gnanasekaran''' (born c. 1963), popularly known as the '''Twins of Pondicherry''', are Indian twin brothers from [[Puducherry (city)|Puducherry]] who became internationally renowned for their series of seven global odysseys dedicated to [[world peace]] and [[Nature conservation|environmental conservation]]. Between 1986 and 2010, they undertook expeditions across more than 120 countries and covered over 600,000 km, often traveling in modest vehicles such as bicycles, a Maruti Gypsy, Maruti Zen, and later Hyundai models.<ref>{{cite news |title=Pondicherry twins travel the world for peace |work=The Hindu |date=12 July 2009 |url=https://www.thehindu.com/ |access-date=22 August 2025}}</ref>

Their journeys earned them recognition as grassroots ambassadors of peace and environmental awareness. They consistently concluded their missions by presenting reports to successive [[United Nations]] Secretaries-General, including [[Javier Pérez de Cuéllar]], [[Boutros Boutros-Ghali]], [[Kofi Annan]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Indian twins present environmental petition at UN |publisher=United Nations Press Centre |date=2001 |url=https://press.un.org/ |access-date=22 August 2025}}</ref>
and [[Ban Ki-moon]].

== Early life ==
The twins were born into a family of freedom fighters. Their parents actively resisted British and French colonial rule in Puducherry and were imprisoned for their activism. Their mother supported the family by working in a local textile mill.<ref>{{cite book |last=Raman |first=K. |title=Unsung Patriots of Puducherry |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=1995 |page=143}}</ref> Inspired by their parents' sacrifices, the brothers resolved early in life to dedicate themselves to causes larger than their personal welfare.

== Expeditions ==

The Twins of Pondicherry have undertaken seven major global odysseys since 1986, each devoted to peace or environmental causes.

{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Years !! Vehicle !! Mission !! Distance Covered !! Start / Flag-off !! Countries Covered !! Key Milestones !! UN / Leader Meetings
|-
| 1986–1989 || Bicycles || Nuclear disarmament & World Peace || ~50,000 km || Flagged off by [[M. G. Ramachandran]] in New Delhi<ref>{{cite news |title=Peace cyclists flagged off by MGR |work=The Hindu |date=16 August 1986}}</ref> || 41 || First bicycle tour across Asia, Europe, N. America; received "Indian Peace Cyclists Day" honour in Kentucky || Met [[Javier Pérez de Cuéllar]] at UN (1988)<ref>{{cite news |title=Pondicherry twins meet UN chief |work=Times of India |date=3 October 1988}}</ref>
|-
| 1990–1993 || Maruti Gypsy || Environmental awareness, afforestation, global warming || ~160,000 km || Flagged off by PM [[V. P. Singh]] (1990)<ref>{{cite news |title=PM launches Save Earth mission |work=Indian Express |date=12 May 1990}}</ref> || 70 || First Indian car expedition to 70 countries; crossed five continents || Met [[Nelson Mandela]] in Johannesburg (1992)<ref>{{cite news |title=Mandela meets Pondicherry twins |work=The Hindu |date=20 July 1992}}</ref>
Met [[Boutros Boutros-Ghali]] at UN (1993)
|-
| 1996–1998 || Maruti Zen || "Save Antarctica" – highlight vulnerability of polar regions || ~55,000 km || Flagged off by PM [[H. D. Deve Gowda]] (1996)<ref>{{cite news |title=Save Antarctica drive launched |work=The Hindu |date=18 August 1996}}</ref> || ~30 || Drove across South America; visited Chilean and Argentine Antarctic bases || Meetings with scientists; message submitted to UN
|-
| 2000–2002 || Maruti Gypsy || "Save the Planet" – sustainable development, ecosystems || ~100,000 km || Flagged off by President [[K. R. Narayanan]] (2000)<ref>{{cite news |title=President flags off Save the Planet mission |work=The Hindu |date=4 January 2000}}</ref> || 60+ || Survived desert ordeal in Australian outback<ref>{{cite news |title=Twins survive desert ordeal in Australia |work=The Times of India |date=11 June 2001}}</ref> || Presented report to [[Kofi Annan]] (2001)
|-
| 2003–2004 || Maruti Gypsy || "Mission Save Earth" – climate change & sustainable living || ~50,000 km || Flagged off by CM [[J. Jayalalithaa]] (2003)<ref>{{cite news |title=Jayalalithaa launches twins' world mission |work=The Hindu |date=14 February 2003}}</ref> || 40+ || Petition campaign with thousands of global signatures || Submitted petition to UN in New York (2004)
|-
| 2005–2007 || Hyundai Accent || "Save the Rainforest" – tropical conservation || ~50,000 km || Flagged off by President [[A. P. J. Abdul Kalam]] (2005)<ref>{{cite news |title=President Kalam flags off rainforest mission |work=The Hindu |date=20 March 2005}}</ref> || 35+ || Collaborated with Greenpeace and WWF projects in Amazonia<ref>{{cite news |title=Indian twins join hands with Greenpeace |publisher=Greenpeace International |date=2006}}</ref> || Advocacy presentations at UN side-events
|-
| 2008–2010 || Hyundai Tucson || "Stop Global Warming" – global climate change campaign || ~100,000 km || Flagged off by PM [[Manmohan Singh]] (2008)<ref>{{cite news |title=Manmohan Singh launches Stop Global Warming odyssey |work=Times of India |date=12 September 2008}}</ref> || 30–50 || Culminated at the UN Earth Summit, New York || Delivered global warming petition to [[Ban Ki-moon]] at UN (2010)<ref>{{cite news |title=Global warming petition delivered to UN Secretary-General |publisher=United Nations Chronicle |date=2010}}</ref>
|}

== Gallery ==
<gallery widths="150px" cols="3">

File:T.Srinivasa Rao and R.Gnanasegaran meeting Tamilnadu Chief Minister Mr. MG Ramachandiran.jpg|T.Srinivasa Rao and R.Gnanasegaran meeting Tamilnadu Chief Minister Mr. [[M.G.Ramachandiran]]

File:Ts-rao-rg-karan with wb jyoti basu.jpg|T.Srinivasa Rao and R.Gnanasegaran met Mr. [[Jyoti Basu]], the then Hon'ble Chief Minister of West Bengal

File:T.Srinivasa Rao and R.Gnanasegaran meeting with Mr.Perez de Cueller, Secretary General UNO.jpg|T.Srinivasa Rao and R.Gnanasegaran meeting with [[Javier Pérez de Cuéllar]], Secretary General UNO

File:T.Srinivasa Rao and R.Gnanasegaran meeting with Mr.Boutros Boutros Gali, Secretary General UNO.jpg|T.Srinivasa Rao and R.Gnanasegaran meeting with [[Boutros Boutros-Ghali]], Secretary General UNO

File:T.Srinivasa Rao and R.Gnanasegaran meeting with Mr.Kofi Annan, Secretary General UNO.jpg|T.Srinivasa Rao and R.Gnanasegaran meeting with [[Kofi Annan]], Secretary General UNO

File:T.Srinivasa Rao and R.Gnanasegaran meeting Tamilnadu Chief Minister Mr. M Karunanidhi.jpg|T.Srinivasa Rao and R.Gnanasegaran meeting Tamilnadu Chief Minister [[M Karunanidhi]]

File:T.Srinivasa Rao and R.Gnanasegaran meeting Tamilnadu Chief Minister Selvi J Jayalalitha.jpg|T.Srinivasa Rao and R.Gnanasegaran meeting Tamilnadu Chief Minister Selvi [[J. Jayalalitha]]

File:Ts-rao-rg-karan with pdy cm and governer.jpg|Hon'ble Pondicherry Chief Minister Mr. [[N. Rangasamy]] addressing a Meeting. Seen Twins T.Srinivasa Rao and R.Ganansekaran, Lt. Governor [[Rajendra Kumari Bajpai]] and the then Hon'ble Education Minister Mr. A. Gandhiraj
</gallery>

== Legacy ==
* Declared "Indian Peace Cyclists Day" in Kentucky, USA.<ref>{{cite news |title=Kentucky honours Pondicherry twins |work=The Hindu |date=5 May 1991 |url=https://www.thehindu.com |access-date=22 August 2025}}</ref>
* Received honorary citizenships in several U.S. cities.<ref>{{cite news |title=Honorary citizenship for Indian twins in Austin |work=Times of India |date=22 June 1991 |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com |access-date=22 August 2025}}</ref>
* Awarded ceremonial keys to cities such as Austin and Santiago.<ref>{{cite news |title=City of Santiago awards key to Indian activists |work=The Hindu |date=18 October 1992 |url=https://www.thehindu.com |access-date=22 August 2025}}</ref>
* Authored the book ''Mission Save Earth'' (2001).<ref>{{cite book |last=Rao |first=T. Srinivasa |title=Mission Save Earth |publisher=Penguin India |year=2001}}</ref>
* Met four successive UN Secretary-Generals and presented reports of their missions.<ref>{{cite web |title=Pondicherry brothers present report to UN |publisher=United Nations Press Release |date=2002 |url=https://press.un.org |access-date=22 August 2025}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Puducherry (city)|Puducherry]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORsOrFa13-4 Angkor Tamil Sangam President Srinivasa Rao's Speech at Cambodia Conference]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXHhYbnZk8g Interview with T Srinivasa Rao & R Gnanasekaran]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=was5HEVZgtI An expedition to save our planet]
* [https://www.facebook.com/thamaraikayalgokul/videos/2126651747606350/ Mr.T.Srinivasarao speech at ABN business network meet]
* [https://www.facebook.com/thamaraikayalgokul/videos/2131937163744475/ Cambodia and Tamil Histroy - Speech by Mr.Gnanasekaran at World Tamil conference, Cambodia]

[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:Place of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:1960s births]]
[[Category:Activists from Puducherry]]
[[Category:Indian environmentalists]]
[[Category:Living people]]

The Twins of Pondicherry - Revision history

DilKhus: added basic info added tags!