Motorcyclists often look forward to tours as a means to adventure and joy and now two bikers on an intercontinental ride are spreading the message of peace by collecting inspiring stories from all around the world.
Two young riders Parth Vasvada and Nitesh Square have embarked on a 90-day bike trip from India to England, covering over a distance of 15,000 kilometers across eight countries with the express purpose of honouring peacemakers in nations worldover who have devoted their lives to bring a change.
Astride their classic 500 Royal Enfield motorbikes, the duo is set to travel from India charting their route through, Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan, Iran, Turkey, Greece, Italy and France to finally reach the UK.
‘Today when we are young, we don’t have someone to look up to on national front. Even if we have then we need to see them with bias mind,’ says Parth Vasvada.
The youngster who claims to derive inspiration from cricketer Sachin Tendulkar joined hands with Nitesh Square, a Mumbai?based freelance photographer for the project De Paix Yatra (Peace Yatra).
‘The fundamental thought for this yatra, is to understand the changes of the youth in under developing, developing and developed nations,’ says Parth.
The duo are also shooting and filming their experiences, which, they say, will be made into a documentary film and a coffee-table book.
‘Once we cover these stories, we will be visiting 100 villages of India to show case those stories to inspire youngsters for Youth Activism. Our desi De Paix Yatra will begin on January 12 - which is the National Youth day,’ he says.
The DePaix team says it had spent about nine months for researching the yatra. ‘The stories that we have been covering due to local references are more inspiring and innovative. We never wanted to follow a planned trip so we unplanned everything whatever we planned and at the end of the day it is Yatra- which should not be planned,’ he adds.
The duo is ecstatic about their experiences and is inspired by the people they have met till now.
‘There are inspiring stories like that of Dr Mehta- who is running Jaipur Foot, an organization that provides free limbs to below poverty line people and have operated more than 15 lacs people so far,’ says Parth.
‘Then there is the story of 84 year-old man, RC Mehta - who has created an organic jungle near Udaipur as he did not want to be a useless fellow after his retirement and Savio, who is just earning Rs 11000 per month but raising 40 orphans in Mumbai,’ he says. .
During their trip in Nepal the duo came across Lila, who teamed up with her brother Oman Bahadur to start an organisation CHEF in 2011.
‘Small is always beautiful, Lila told us. Her initiative provides housing, food, clothing and medical care for children, all within a loving home. Her passion to love each human being inspired her to take this mission ahead,’ says Parth.
Nitesh Square talks about Pema Tshering, an inspiring young man from rural Bhutan. ‘He has no hands, comes from poorest of poor family, and would have been motivated to beg. But he chose to become an example for others. Her Majesty of Bhutan saw him working at one of the village and then asked him to move to Thimpu. He creates this Art models and sell it at one of the famous places there.’
Organisations such as Assocham, United Nations Volunteers, Indo British Trade Council and US Consulate General have also come forward to extend their support to the initiative.
Two young riders Parth Vasvada and Nitesh Square have embarked on a 90-day bike trip from India to England, covering over a distance of 15,000 kilometers across eight countries with the express purpose of honouring peacemakers in nations worldover who have devoted their lives to bring a change.
Astride their classic 500 Royal Enfield motorbikes, the duo is set to travel from India charting their route through, Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan, Iran, Turkey, Greece, Italy and France to finally reach the UK.
‘Today when we are young, we don’t have someone to look up to on national front. Even if we have then we need to see them with bias mind,’ says Parth Vasvada.
The youngster who claims to derive inspiration from cricketer Sachin Tendulkar joined hands with Nitesh Square, a Mumbai?based freelance photographer for the project De Paix Yatra (Peace Yatra).
‘The fundamental thought for this yatra, is to understand the changes of the youth in under developing, developing and developed nations,’ says Parth.
The duo are also shooting and filming their experiences, which, they say, will be made into a documentary film and a coffee-table book.
‘Once we cover these stories, we will be visiting 100 villages of India to show case those stories to inspire youngsters for Youth Activism. Our desi De Paix Yatra will begin on January 12 - which is the National Youth day,’ he says.
The DePaix team says it had spent about nine months for researching the yatra. ‘The stories that we have been covering due to local references are more inspiring and innovative. We never wanted to follow a planned trip so we unplanned everything whatever we planned and at the end of the day it is Yatra- which should not be planned,’ he adds.
The duo is ecstatic about their experiences and is inspired by the people they have met till now.
‘There are inspiring stories like that of Dr Mehta- who is running Jaipur Foot, an organization that provides free limbs to below poverty line people and have operated more than 15 lacs people so far,’ says Parth.
‘Then there is the story of 84 year-old man, RC Mehta - who has created an organic jungle near Udaipur as he did not want to be a useless fellow after his retirement and Savio, who is just earning Rs 11000 per month but raising 40 orphans in Mumbai,’ he says. .
During their trip in Nepal the duo came across Lila, who teamed up with her brother Oman Bahadur to start an organisation CHEF in 2011.
‘Small is always beautiful, Lila told us. Her initiative provides housing, food, clothing and medical care for children, all within a loving home. Her passion to love each human being inspired her to take this mission ahead,’ says Parth.
Nitesh Square talks about Pema Tshering, an inspiring young man from rural Bhutan. ‘He has no hands, comes from poorest of poor family, and would have been motivated to beg. But he chose to become an example for others. Her Majesty of Bhutan saw him working at one of the village and then asked him to move to Thimpu. He creates this Art models and sell it at one of the famous places there.’
Organisations such as Assocham, United Nations Volunteers, Indo British Trade Council and US Consulate General have also come forward to extend their support to the initiative.