Globe trotting on bicycle for a cause

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Globe trotting on bicycle for a cause

Sunday September 10 2006 10:42 IST

MANGALORE: Personal luxuries and comforts virtually have been

ignored for now. Twenty three-year-old Somen Debnath from a small

village Basanthi in Bengal has set out on a mission to cycle around

the globe spreading word on how Yoga and Pranayama can ensure

an `AIDS-free world'.

Debnath, who started on his seemingly ordinary cycle in May 2004,

has covered four countries including Bhutan, Myanmar, Bangladesh and

Sri Lanka. He also has covered 15 states, two national territories

covering an unbelievable 44,000 km.

He had visited 2,517 schools, 1,204 colleges and 28 universities.

And also visited 152 NGO offices and 46 `red-light areas'

highlighting how mind can be controlled through Yoga and Pranayama.

``Such mind exercises prevent mind from becoming prey to vices, he

emphasises and adds that youth who fall prey to vices are twice

vulnerable to contacting AIDs. His innocuous trip with a powerful

message has been fraught with many risks.

18 times he encountered terrorist groups like ULFA, Tripura BORDO,

Naxalites in Nalgunda and 36 times he was escorted to hideouts of

the terrorists. That he has come out unscathed has infused a fresh

confidence in his mission.

Debnath, however rues that his efforts to secure some kind of

sponsorship had failed. His request for an accommodation to the

district administration was turned down.

``They suspected that my intentions were fake,'' he complained.

Debnath will next cycle to his Goa, Pakistan, Afghanistan, China via

Central India.

http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?

ID=IEK20060910002121 & Page=K & Title=Southern+News+-+Karnataka & Topic=0