‘I cooked curry for the Taliban’: Activist cycling around the world to promote HIV awareness

khsomen ST20230807_202359314554 Ong Wee Jin / Wong Kim Hoh /

For WKH Meets: Somen Debnath, an Indian national, is currently in the midst of a dream journey to bicycle around the world. His mission is titled “Around the World on Bicycle Tour for HIV / AIDS Awareness and Seminars on Indian Culture". The dream began on May 27, 2004 and so far, he has travelled by bicycle through 180 countries and has completed 194,300 kms. Among other adventures, he was captured by the Taliban who released him after he cooked them curry.

Mr Somen Debnath entered Singapore, his 181st country, in August.

ST PHOTO: ONG WEE JIN

Wong Kim Hoh

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On May 27 in 2004, a 21-year-old Indian embarked on an epic journey. Starting from his village in the Sundarbans region in West Bengal, activist Somen Debnath resolved to visit 191 countries and cycle 200,000km by 2020 to raise HIV awareness.

With just US$17 in his pocket, he was on his way a mere couple of weeks after the idea of “Around The World Bicycle Tour For HIV/AIDS Awareness Programme & Presentation of Indian Culture” popped into his head.

‘I cooked curry for the Taliban’: Activist cycling around the world to promote HIV awareness

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