Indian man touring the world on a bicycle for Aids awareness

Mr Somen Debnath takes a break on Kenyatta Lane in Nakuru en-route to Uganda on February 24, 2014. The Indian cyclist is on a mission to pedal around the globe to spread awareness on HIV/Aids. He has so far toured 84 countries and plans to visit 191 countries by 2020 to raise funds to set up a global village near Kolkata, India. PHOTO|SULEIMAN MBATIAH

What you need to know:

  • So far, Somen has toured 84 countries covering 101,500 kilometers and is in a mission to cycle in 191 countries by 2020.
  • When Nation.co.ke caught up with him, he had taken a short stop-over in Nakuru en-route to Uganda having entered Kenya from Ethiopia through Moyale.
  • In Nakuru, he was received by county governor Mr Kinuthia Mbugua.
  • He wishes to publish a book titled ‘Around the Globe on Bicycle with USD17.’

While he was aged 14, Somen Debnath read an article from a local newspaper in his country, India, stating that HIV/Aids was deadlier than cancer.
Somen, now 30, had only known cancer as the deadliest disease until he came across that article that would change his life.

He is now on a mission to ride around the globe creating awareness on HIV/Aids with the aim of ensuring he informs as many people as possible about the disease.

So far, Somen has toured 84 countries covering 101,500 kilometers and is in a mission to cycle in 191 countries by 2020.

According to UNAids, an estimated 35.3 million people were living with HIV globally in 2012.

New infections stood at 2.3 million people in the same year.

When Nation.co.ke caught up with him, he had taken a short stop-over in Nakuru en-route to Uganda having entered Kenya from Ethiopia through Moyale.

Having read about the dangers of HIV, Somen embarked on a mission to research more about infection, effects, prevention, stigma and other aspects.

INTENSIVE RESEARCH

“It took me two years of intensive research at West Bengal State Prevention and Control Society which was close to my village,” says Somen.

At the age of 16, he already would walk in his mission within Basanti village, 80 kilometers from Kolkata the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal.

He would then move to nearby villages preaching the message of HIV prevention in schools and colleges.

Somen says he will never forget May 27, 2004 when he left home for North East India.

“A force within me pushed me to keep talking about HIV,” he says adding, “I could not stand any more new infections for lack of information or misinformation.”

He had only planned to travel for six months within India, but the strong force within caused him to cross borders.

He moved to nearby countries in South East Asia having covered most parts of India and talked in schools and colleges.

Somen also worked in organisations dealing with HIV and Voluntary Counselling and Testing Centers (VCTs).

CONDOM PROMOTION

On Valentine’s Day while he was in Nairobi, Somen was involved in a condom-use-promotion along Tom Mboya Street.

He also participated in a one-day VCT camp along the same street.

Initially, his family was hesitant when he informed them of his decision to move around the world and chase his passion of talking about HIV.

Says he, “They felt insecure, but I explained to them that I would save millions by what I was doing.”

He calls himself a ‘global child’ who does not have to meet his family until he fulfils his mission of fighting HIV around the world.

His journey is however characterised by several challenges.

When he was leaving India back in 2004, he could only communicate in his native Bengali language and a little English.

SPEAKS 10 LANGUAGES

But Somen has so far learnt to speak ten more languages in a bid to mingle and communicate better with the people he meets.

At some point while cycling in Afghanistan, Somen was captured by members of the dreaded Taliban group along a lonely road.

He was blindfolded and locked in a room for four days until the Talibans got an interpreter who explained his mission.

“Each day, someone would point me with a gun, but somehow they never killed me,” says Somen.

However, he was held captive for 11 days during which he would cook and wash for his captors before he was set free.

The fact that they did not kill him, he says, was a confirmation that he was on a God-sent mission.

MET WORLD LEADERS

Thorough his journey, Somen says he has met 18 Presidents, 49 Prime Ministers and 164 ministers from different parts of the world.

In Nakuru, he was received by county governor Mr Kinuthia Mbugua.

He is currently using his seventh bicycle.

He has lost two bicycles to thieves in Bulgaria, Germany and Poland.

He sent three others to India and hopes to auction them when he returns.

With no source of income, Somen depends on donations from well-wishers to cater for his expenses along his long journey.

Eventually, he wishes to publish a book titled ‘Around the Globe on Bicycle with USD17.’

This is because his journey started with USD17 donated by a close friend.