You're reading: Indian bicyclist pedals to great adventures abroad

Travel does not always require money.

Some people dare to see the world with little means, on a bicycle and with just a simple backpack. One of the more unique traveler is from a small village in India, came to Ukraine recently as part of his world bicycle tour.

Somen Debnath, 27, has traveled to all 25 states in his native India, while venturing abroad to 43 countries in Asia and Europe – all by bicycle. He arrived in Ukraine last week after he crossed over the Moldovan border.

“I got the idea after graduating from Kolkata University in 2004,” Debnath said. “I wanted to see the world and reach people. I also planned to speak about peace and spread the message of HIV/AIDS awareness. Back when I was 14, a man in a nearby village died from this disease and that had a tremendous impact on me. When I started, I had no idea that I will also become a people’s ambassador of India in the world.”

The bright-eyed, smiling young man instantly takes a liking to people – and them to him. Coming from a tiny village of Basanti in West Bengal province of India, Debnath says his parents were divided about his wanderlust at first.

“My father said it was too dangerous. But my mother said: ‘If you are my son, you are going to do that.”’ So my father surrendered and even gave me 2,000 rupees (less than $50). He told me to come back home when I run out of money.”

He started his journey on May 27, 2004, by cycling to Kolkata to get his passport. From Kolkata, Debnath went to Bihar state, then Sikkim.

“I had to go 10 kilometers though the jungle in the northern part of India,” Debnath said. “I got really scared when I saw four big elephants nearby. But they just watched me. I spent nights on the tree and saw three small leopards playing with my bicycle below. I was terrified, but they just left in the morning.”

While cycling on the Andaman Islands, he spent 15 days with local tribes – an experience he recalled with great awe.

“People live so simple there. They even do not wear any clothes. They hunt and save water during rainy seasons inside tanks made of leaves,” Debnath said. “This was the tastiest water I have ever drunk. Once I had fever and thought I was going to die without any medicines. But a man from a tribe picked some leaves crushed it and gave me to eat. In about 15 minutes I felt much better. It felt like a miracle.”

In fact, he said, leading a tribal life makes you never want to come back to civilization.

From India, Debnath went to Nepal, Bhutan, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan and Afghanistan. Debnath worked a lot with local Indian embassies and ended up receiving a letter of visa support from Indian Foreign Affairs Ministry. He became a people’s ambassador of India.

In Afghanistan, he faced more serious challenges than wild animals in a jungle. He was kidnapped.

“I was cycling from Kabul to Herat and there was no one on road – no vehicles and no people,” Debnath said. “Everything was so empty. Suddenly a jeep drives to me. Men came out and put a gun to my head. Lucky for me one of them spoke very little English. They put a veil on my head, took me and my bike and drove away. When they removed the veil, I found myself in a tiny dark room.”

He spent four days in the room with no food and no water, wondering when he was going to die.

Then his kidnappers got him an interpreter, who immediately asked him what he thought about Muslims, the Koran and their mission.

“I said I am Hindu, but I respect the Koran and if they respect my mission, I respect theirs. They asked me what I am going to do if they do not release me. I said I can help them, maybe cook,” Debnath said.

He spent the next two weeks cleaning weapons, carrying things and preparing Indian meals for his kidnappers. After a couple of weeks, he was put in a jeep with his bike and driven to the same spot where he was picked up.

From Asia he traveled to southern Europe via Georgia and Turkey. In Georgia, he met Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili and was even granted Georgian citizenship. “People in Georgia are amazing; they are so hospitable and curious about my journey. It felt like being home,” Debnath said.

However, in Turkey he was robbed and had to work in a local bar for a month to earn some cash. Soon after that he was robbed again, this time in Bulgaria, and was also beaten by skinheads.
But Debnath said most people are hospitable and willing to help with shelter and food.

“To thank them, I always cook Indian food and share knowledge. I show a short video about HIV/AIDS. Everywhere I am invited to lecture at schools and NGOs. I show photos of India, speak about my culture and my adventures. I am often giving free yoga classes as well,” Debnath said.

In each country, Debnath tries to pick up a bit of the local language. In Kyiv, he amused people who came to meet him with accent-less phrases in Russian and Ukrainian.

He estimates that he has cycled 67,000 kilometers. He had to change bikes three times. The one he is riding now is a present from a man he met in Romania.

He definitely travels light. He carries only a backpack with laptop, cell phone, camera, a journal and some clothes.

From Ukraine, he headed to Poland, to be followed by Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, the Scandinavian nations, Germany, Netherlands and the United Kingdom.

He plans to finish his journey by 2020, when he hopes to end his 16 years of traveling by visiting 191 countries.

“After it is over I want to write a book about my experience. I really have a lot to tell. The most important thing I have learned so far is that, despite any differences, people are basically the same everywhere. I am in awe of so many people I met. People are my God now,” Debnath said.

Some people join him for parts of his journey.

“I think if more people would travel like this, the world would be a better place, with more understanding and compassion. But not everyone actually needs to travel like I do. Internal travel into one’s own soul is just as important.”


Kyiv Post staff writer Svitlana Tuchynska can be reached at [email protected].