Riyadh: An Indian citizen named Soman Debnath is going down in history. A young man from West Bengal, who decided to cycle around the world with the goal of spreading his country’s culture and heritage abroad and participating in the global awareness campaign against the deadly AIDS disease, reached Riyadh during his journey.
The cycle that started on May 27, 2004 from his native Sundarbans has passed through 170 countries in the last 18 years. It has now entered Saudi Arabia after crossing 1,85,400 km.
Speaking to ‘Gulf Madhyama’ in Riyadh, Soman clarified that 21 countries are left on the list to travel. He reached Riyadh four days ago. The important tourism centers of the Saudi capital have been visited. Soman Debnath raved about the warmth of Saudi hospitality. Even small children are introduced, talked to and invited for coffee. Even schools are invited. The young man also says that the old woman did not expect such a big reception from the people.
Soman adds that the trip was also a chance to experience first-hand the changes brought about by the Saudi Crown Prince’s transformation plan, ‘Vision 2030’. During the journey, I have had the opportunity to meet and interact with the presidents of 38 countries and the prime ministers of 72 countries. The Indian Embassy in Riyadh has been informed that they want to meet Saudi rulers and ministers of various departments. He said that the support received from the embassy for the trip to Saudi will give more energy.
During 2004-2007, 28 states and five Union Territories of India crossed the cycle. Between 2007 and 2009, 23 countries in Asia surpassed it. From 2009 to 2012, he traveled to 45 countries in Europe, 52 countries in Africa between 2012 and 2015, and eight countries in the Middle East. From the beginning of 2016 to the end of 2017, 13 countries in South America, six countries in the Caribbean Islands, the South Pole in Antarctica, eight countries in Central America from 2018 to 2021, all countries in North America including the Arctic Circle, the Arctic Circle Alaska, Canada, Japan, Russia, He is now in Saudi on his way back to India after completing a journey through 48 countries including Mongolia, China, South Korea and New Zealand, the United States and eight countries in Europe, Australia and Southeast Asia between 2021 and 2022.
Soman’s journey was inspired by reading an article at the age of 14 titled ‘AIDS is deadlier than cancer’. The article was about a man who died in the street with no one to save him. No one could satisfactorily answer the question of why this tragedy happened. A later search to find that mind boggling answer. Two years later, the Society of West Bengal received special training from State AIDS Control and started its own school-based awareness campaign on HIV/AIDS and education. The first task was to create awareness in India.
Then travel through 191 countries with this goal in mind. The journey was supposed to be completed in 2020. But the movement was stopped due to covid. He was imprisoned for 24 days by the Taliban in Afghanistan. He was robbed six times in Central Asia. The wooden coach also traveled through the cold. Terrifying journeys through wild animals. Surviving at minus 45 degrees at the North Pole in Greenland. Soman Debnath said that the journey is progressing through many crises.
Soman Debnath with Deputy Consul Ram Prasad at the Indian Embassy in Riyadh
Educational institutions and hospitals in Riyadh are being visited as part of awareness raising. Will meet with social and charitable organizations. Stay in Riyadh for 10 more days. Debnath said in an interview granted to ‘Gulf Madhyama’ that he will go to Kuwait after staying in Dammam for a week.
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