The Hindu : Kerala News : Youth on a cycling mission

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Sep 04, 2006

Kerala

Kerala

Youth on a cycling mission

He started his journey on May 27, 2004, a few days after completing his final year B.Sc. examinations

UNTIRING CAMPAIGNER: Somen Debnath's campaign is for an HIV/AIDS-free world.

Somen Debnath, 23, will be in his late thirties when he completes his globetrotting on bicycle for a cause.

For him, the mission he has undertaken is worth all the hardships he may have to endure for achieving his goal to cover 191 countries.

Hailing from Basanti, a village in the Sundarbans in West Bengal, Somen Debnath is on an ambitious cycling mission to spread awareness on HIV/AIDS. He had covered Bhutan, Myanmar, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

He will complete his pedalling across the world in 2020. "My mission around the world on bicycle is for the cause of an HIV/AIDS-free world," says Mr. Debnath, who is now touring the district.

He started his journey on May 27, 2004, a few days after he completed his final year B.Sc. examinations. So far, he had covered 44,000 km.

In the country, he covered 15 States and the Union Territories of Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Pondicherry. He had already toured eight districts in the State.

His plan now is to go to central and then to northern parts of the country from where his mission will cover Pakistan, Afghanistan, China and to Russia before he leaves for Europe, Africa and finally to South and North America.

"I met 48 tribal communities, covered 2,517 schools, 1,204 colleges, 28 universities, 46 centres of sex workers, 152 non-governmental organisations and scores of roadside dhabas," says Mr. Debnath.

He met 15 Governors and 13 Chief Ministers, including Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan. His mission is supported by State AIDS prevention and control Societies.

Apart from HIV/AIDS awareness, Mr. Debnath is also promoting Yoga and Pranayama. He covers an average 75 km a day on his bicycle.

His journey is not without difficulties. He says he faced insurgents during his tour of insurgency-hit areas in the country, especially, Assam, Nagaland, Manipur, Tripura, Andhra Pradesh and Bhutan.

In some of these areas, insurgents gave him accommodation, food and even financial support.

When the youth started his journey, he had Rs.400.

"As the journey progressed many people and organisations came forward to offer small help," he says.

At present, he has no sponsor for his journey as he is about to start a new phase of his world-wide programme.

Mohamed Nazeer

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