'Indian bicycle missionary' arrives in Doha, felicitated by Kannadigas
Daijiworld Media Network - Doha (GA)
Doha, Aug 11: Last time this man appeared in Daijiworld columns, he was not so well-known; he had just travelled across four countries. That was way back in 2006. But today he is on his way to be named as ‘legendary missionary’, spread ‘goodnews about India and Indian culture’, and created awareness on HIV/AIDS to millions of people in 82 countries. He has done all this all alone on his bicycle.
Yes, we are referring to Somen Debnath, the ‘Bicycle Missionary’ who creates awareness on HIV/AIDS and conducts seminars of Indian culture among the youths at different schools, colleges and universities which he visits during the course of his journey through different countries.
Somen Debnath has a mission at hand and wants to cover another 109 countries by 2020. By then he would have covered a total of 191 countries, paddling around 200,000 kms, reached out 20 million people. A gigantic record in itself not just because of the figures involved but due to the commitment and enthusiasm of this 30-year-old man from Basanti in Sundarbans in the West Bengal.
As part of his unique expedition he arrived in Qatar recently and was accorded a grand welcome. Karnataka Sangha (KSQ), Bunts Qatar, Tulu Koota Qatar (TKQ) and Qatar Billavas took the lead in organizing a felicitation cum face-to-face programme with Somen on Wednesday August 7 on behalf of all the Kannadigas in Qatar. Somen was felicitated by presidents of KSQ, Bunt Qatar & TKQ Deepak Shetty, Ravi Shetty and Seetharam Shetty respectively. Tarun Basu, president of ICC handed over the fund raised during the event to Somen on the occasion.
Somen then addressed the gathering and narrated some of his experiences in the last 9 years of world tour. The gathering got goose-bumps after hearing his hair-raising narration of journey and captivity of 20 days in Afghanistan. He spoke about his mother who is the inspiration behind such a mammoth mission, his motivation and his intention that made him to set out on this journey soon after completing his BSc in 2004.
The felicitation programme was mooted by philanthropist and entrepreneur Ravi Shetty who also took initiative of offering Somen accommodation and other logistical support during his stay in Qatar.
Ravi Shetty welcomed the gathering while Seetharam Shetty proposed vote of thanks. Deepak Shetty introduced Somen to the gathering. Qatar Billavas president Diwakar Poojary compered the programme.
Prominent community leaders such as V S Mannagi, past president of KSQ, Arvind Patil, Nagesh Rao, Prabhakar, Vivian D’Souza as well as committee members of KSQ, Bunts Qatar, TKQ were also present on the occasion.
Presently Somen is set towards South Pole Antarctica via Middle East, Africa and South America covering 49 countries from June 2013 to July 2015. A tentative schedule is as follows:
Middle East (8 countries): Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Yemen.
Africa (36 countries): After the completing the expedition of ME countries, he will continue to East of Africa: Eritrea, Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Somali, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Madagascar, Mauritius to continue to Swaziland, Lesotho to South Africa, then continue to West coast: Namibia, Botswana, Angola, DR Congo, then from Congo continue to Gabon. Then Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Nigeria to Niger. Then continue to Benin to go to Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea to South part of Mali and Mauritania to continue to Senegal. These 36 countries will include North, East, South, West and Central Africa.
He will then move towards South America (5 countries visiting Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Argentina and Patagonia. From here Somen will march forward to Antarctica, to South Pole.
He will then continue to all South and North America till 2017. On the last leg of his expedition he will visit Canada, then to Alaska, Russia including Siberia, and then Mongolia and China 2018, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Philippines, Papua-New Guinea to New Zealand and Australia 2019. He will reach Sumatra, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar, Bangladesh to India 2020. So approximately he will be back to India on May 27, 2020.
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