This man cycled across eight countries to be reunited with the love of his life (Picture: Dr. P.K. Mahanandia/Facebook)

The story of a poor man and a rich girl who met four decades ago and fell in love has been breaking hearts all over the world after it was re-shared on Facebook last week.

This is the story of Dr. Pradyumna Kumar Mahanandia (PK) from India and Charlotte Von Schedvin from Sweden. Their epic romance stretches across 40 years and eight countries and proves that love really can conquer all.

In 1971, PK, who was a gifted artist but was born into what was considered an ‘untouchable’ caste in India, joined the College of Art in New Delhi. Once there, he gained popularity for his portraits, Satyanarayan Patri explains in his Facebook post, which has been liked over 100,000 times.



https://www.facebook.com/satyaroland/posts/929706937121060


Four years later, in 1975, 19-year-old Charlotte Von Sledvin, then a student in London, heard about his work and travelled to India to have her portrait painted.

Over the weeks while Charlotte sat for her portrait, the two fell in love. They married shortly after.

However, Charlotte had to return to Sweden and PK wanted to finish his studies. So, they were forced to separate. ‘When she offered to send air tickets later, he refused saying he would come to meet her on his own. After she left, the two kept in touch through letters,’ Satyanarayan explains.

Determined to pay his own way, three years later, PK sold all his possessions, bought a second-hand bike, and set out on an epic journey that would cover eight countries and take him almost five months.

(Picture: Satyanarayan Patri/Facebook)

He cycled through Afghanistan, Iran, Turkey, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Germany, Austria and Denmark, surviving for days without food, often having to stop to fix punctures along the way.

Four months and three weeks later, he arrived in Gothenburg, Sweden, where Charlotte was waiting for him.

The couple have now been married for forty years and have two children together. They haven’t been separated since.

Today, Dr. PK Mahanandia is a celebrated artist in Sweden and serves as the Cultural Ambassador of India to Sweden.

The village which once shunned him as an untouchable, now gives a thundering welcome every time he visits.

Bollywood film maker Sanjay Leela Bhansali is interested in making a film about PK and Charlotte’s love story.

The story of a poor boy who fell in love with a rich girl and made her a promise that he gave up everything and journeyed across eight countries to keep.

Faith in romance restored.

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