10 bikers, 4 days, and 1 mission: kNOw Hunger Ride
Written by Impuri Ngayawon, Photos by Daniel Mung and Tiatemjen Jamir
Day One: October 9
As the clock struck 6 in the morning ten people united by their love for riding motorcycles stood in front of the India Gate in New Delhi, ready to take on a challenge to drive to Baran with a common goal - nutrition for every child.
The distance ahead was hardly a challenge - as most of them have driven longer distances like from Kashmir to Kanyakumari - but none had been a famine fighter before. The World Vision India’s ‘kNOw Hunger Ride’ bike rally was organised as part of our national 24-Hour Famine campaign to spread awareness on hunger and malnutrition. World Vision India and the Delhi Bikers Breakfast Run (DBBR) jointly organised the bike rally.
“kNOw Hunger Ride is about 10 bikers on a mission to learn what it's like to not have access to nutritious food. Delhi Bikers Breakfast Run is a group that cannot ride without eating, so it is apt that such a group should take part in this awareness campaign,” shared Joshua John, one of the bikers from Delhi Bikers Breakfast Run. Photo: Daniel Mung
Meeting community people, sharing smiles and chai. On our way to Baran, Rajasthan our convoy stopped at Jaipur and Tonk. The bikers met with children and families from communities supported by World Vision India’s programming to understand the realities of living with malnutrition in Jaipur. Photo: Daniel Mung
The younger members of the community also organised a nutrition exhibition, which showcased their daily diet in comparison to the ideal consumption to maintain a healthy diet. Photo: Daniel Mung
Riding into the sunset, our team reached Illahipur village in Tonk district where the community welcomed us. Photo: Daniel Mung
The community leaders welcomed the bikers to Chai pe Charcha or Discussions over Tea. Photo: Tiatemjen Jamir
Village women with Pallavi, the only female biker in the group. “I am overwhelmed to see so many women who have come out to discuss the issue of malnutrition during Chai pe Charcha. It is heartening to note that all the girls in the village go to school and the communities are proactive to address the issue of malnutrition,” said Pallavi. Photo: Daniel Mung
Day 2: October 10
Reaching Bundi was easy; the highway was smooth and wide. No traffic and no potholes. The booming sound of our bikes raised a lot of curiosity and at each tea stop, people gathered to enquire about the ride. Mile after mile, the bikers talked about the issues that they want the nation to consider. Photo: Tiatemjen Jamir
Hunger is an endemic issue across the world. The latest annual hunger report by the United Nations states that India is home to the largest malnourished and hungry population - 194 million, surpassing China. By this measure, India holds a quarter of the undernourished population across the globe, with 44% of the country’s children under 5 years being underweight.
We shared our meal with children in Bundi. Most of these children were from the lower caste families and had never shared a meal with outsiders before. Photo: Tiatemjen Jamir
Day 3 – October 11- The ultimate Baran Challenge
The bikers were given a hand drawn map to Bamendah village which is around 70 km from Baran city. Joshua, the group leader explained the map and each of the bikers gave suggestions as to how they could find the village. The first easiest way they thought was GPS, but they could not find a single trace of the village on the GPS! Defeated by technology, the bikers then decided to use their road tracking sense to find the village. Photo: Daniel Mung
The country road take us to the village which does not exist on the map. Photo: Daniel Mung
Finally after getting lost twice, the bikers reached Bamandeh village.
Team Challenge: Cook, Eat, or Fast
The task was to find the five households, whose details were given to them, and collect the ingredients needed to cook a meal. They later shared how uncomfortable it was to enter a stranger’s house and asked for food, though the community opened their homes joyfully.
They collected whatever they could – dal, rice, oil, turmeric powder, salt, garlic, and onion and cooked Khichidi at one of the homes.
Pallavi nominated herself to be the head chef and cooked as she chatted with the village women who had all gathered to see her cook. Photo: Daniel Mung
With the ride successfully completed, the 10 bikers united by their love for riding will keep standing united in their fight against malnutrition and hunger. Photo: Daniel Mung
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has,” Margaret Mead.
The 24 Hour Famine is targeted at addressing issues of hunger and malnutrition that severely impact the lives of children, especially those under the age of 5. Conducted in 21 cities across the nation, the 24 Hour Famine consists of events from art exhibitions to literary and cultural competitions driven by local communities, school children as well as civil and public officials to drive home the message. It hopes to engage the public and youth from ages of 13–30 on the problems faced by children due to malnourishment.
