191 countries and 200,000 kms later a Global Village for all
Venkat Raman
Auckland, March 21, 2020
Going around the world on a bicycle covering about 200,000 kms across 191 countries over 16 years may look impossible or even crazy but for Somen Debnath of India, it is life’s dream and a vision for the future for Somen Debnath of Kolkata, India.
He is currently in New Zealand as a part of his worldwide tour.
He calls his self-assigned project, ‘Around the World on Bicycle Tour for HIV/AIDS Awareness and Seminars on Indian Culture 2004-2020.’
The Tour so far
His dream began on May 27, 2004, shortly after graduating in Science (BSc) in Zoology from the University of Kolkata. He later obtained the ‘Visarad’ degree in Fine Arts from the University of Sarbabhartiya, Kolkata.
His impressive chronology of World tour accounts for the following: 57 countries since 2004, with New Zealand as a part of the final phase of his 16-year journey.
Over this period, he has logged 169,870 kms. His itinerary between 2004 and 2007 covered 28 States and five Union Territories in India. He visited 23 Asian countries during the following two years (2008-2009). The years 2009-2012 saw him in 45 countries in Europe and Greenland in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago.
He visited Africa and eight countries in the Middle East from 2012 to 2015. Thirteen countries in South America, six counties in the Caribbean and the South Pole in Antarctica were covered in 2016 and 2017, while eight countries in Central America, North America, the Arctic Circle, Japan, Russia, Mongolia, China and South Korea in 2018-2019.
Somen plans to visit 34 countries in Asia and Australasia in 2020 before returning home.
How it all began
Somen said that he was inspired to undertake this arduous journey while reading an article titled, ‘AIDS is more deadly than cancer,’ written by a homeless person.
“I was just 14 years old then and was deeply moved seeing the man sitting in front of a medical college in Kolkata, abandoned by his family and left alone to die. I asked my teachers at school about HIV/AIDS but go no answers,” he said.
Two years later, Somen received got special training from the Society of West Bengal State AIDS Control) and started an awareness campaign on the disease.
“The stigma and lack of awareness about this deadly but preventable disease motivated me to create awareness in India and the rest of the world. Since then, I have gone through a myriad of experiences, difficulties, trials and tribulations. The strength of the human spirit and the peace mission has persevered to a global belief and understanding that has proliferated through him as well as everyone who he has met in 191 countries including those he is yet to visit.
Troubles across the Continents
Somen has had his share of trouble since his global journey began 16 years ago.
He was robbed six times in Central Asia; beaten by skinheads eight times, lived for 20 days with the Jarawa tribe, stated to be the oldest living in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and with wild animals in forests.
Future Plans
Following the completion of his world tour, Somen hopes to create a Global Village at which people from everywhere would be invited to reminisce their experiences with him during his journey across the globe.
“The Global Village will be located on an eight hectare land encompassing accommodation as well as an ecological and sustainable farm,” he said.
Somen has set up ‘GoFundMe’ to mobilise the requisite financial resources.
He can be reached on his New Zealand Mobile 029-02001980
http://www.somen2020world.com/donation-by-paypal/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/worldsomen/
Twitter : https://twitter.com/worldsomen
Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/worldsomen/?hl=en
Website: www.somen2020world.com
English Blog: http://www.somendebnath.com/
Blog in Russian: http://somen-debnath.livejournal.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpyR0yoYU3N8U563QLJ5hdg
Skype: somen2020 WhatsApp: +91 70315 37391 (India) +1 210 894 9896 (USA)
