HIV/AIDS Awareness Programme

Dear friends,

My name is Somen Debnath.  I am a resident of the village of Basanti, which is located in Sundarbans, West Bengal, India. Sundarbans is a great mangrove forest and the largest tiger reserve in India.

I started my “Around the World Bicycle Tour for HIV/AIDS Awareness Programme & Presentation of Indian Culture” on 27th of May 2004, just two days after I acquired Bachelor degree in Zoology, Geology & Anthropology from the University of Calcutta. I have also completed ‘Visarad’ in Fine Arts from the Sarba Bhartiya University.

I am on 191 countries tour and I will achieve this goal with completing my journey in the year 2020. Through my bicycle tour around the world I am attempting to spread awareness about HIV/AIDS through lectures and I am also giving seminars about Indian culture. Focus of HIV/AIDS Awareness programme is on underprivileged poor people, urban/rural and tribal population worldwide who have the lowest level of awareness about this deadly disease.

I wish to educate people from different parts of society by raising awareness among students of schools, colleges, universities and also encourage these institutions to start a chapter on HIV/AIDS awareness program, promote the use of needles & syringes among drug-addicted people and use of condoms for sex workers. My aim is also to bring awareness among the youth and encourage Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in the respective countries in the world.

The persons I meet are students, youth and communities who might benefit from awareness program will spread it in their societies of respected countries. Besides, I am also keen to present India and Indian culture through seminars.

So far, starting from my native village on the 27th may 2004, I travelled including India 75 countries and paddled 95650 km. I conducted awareness program in more than 350 NGOs in 3560 schools, 3750 colleges, 68 universities, 139 red-lights areas and numerous roadside restaurants. I feel honoured to be rewarded by 13 Presidents, 38 Ministers and Governors in different countries so far.

Now I am traveling all Middle East 7 countries, then Africa 40 countries to South of America to Antarctica, the South pole. The expenses for this part of my travel are included in my financial plan..

You can find more detailed information in my Press Kit.

If you wish to invite me for a meeting with you organization/association/school/university, do not hesitate to contact me! You can find my phone number in your country calling the closest Indian Embassy.