Save Soil – that’s a phrase that most of us might have heard at least once recently. Be it Instagram, Twitter, or YouTube – from our favourite actor to a minister, they have all talked about it.
Save Soil is a global movement initiated by the voluntary organisation Isha Foundation. It aims to raise consciousness about protecting soil and the planet. There have been numerous ways in which people took part in movement, from running marathons to posting tweets, from dancing to what not.
However, there is someone who has proved that in order to do something good one doesn’t necessarily need to be rich or have political power. A seventeen year old kid took this as his responsibility and chose to cycle a long way to spread awareness about the Save Soil movement.
Sahil Jha started his journey in West Bengal and has covered not one, not two but ten states so far! He’s cycled from West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka to Canacona in Goa. Maharashtra was his tenth state and it is estimated that he’ll cover all the states of our country in eighteen months.
This simple yet significant act of this boy inspired two cycling clubs ‘Xaxti Riders’ and ‘Propedalerz’. Talking about his journey, Sahil shared, “I have spoken in 130 plus educational institutions, met YouTubers, influencers and participated in several events, some of which were with the police, municipal corporations, hospitals and all sorts of people in the society”. He has also met with governors of Kerala, Odisha and Maharashtra. In addition to this, he has also talked to ministers of various fields like agriculture, environment, climate change, revenue, IT and science & technology.
People and volunteers from Isha Foundation are supporting his dedicated journey by providing food and accommodation. But we all have this lingering question as to how parents or family members approved a school going boy to take up this challenging task? What inspired him to do so? Let’s read it in his own words.
“Wanting to spread awareness about Sadhguru’s ‘Save Soil’ movement, I started cycling on May 1 this year, soon after my SSC board exams. I was only sixteen then. My parents came to know about my mission only after I cycled away from home one day and didn’t return in the evening. First they were anxious and didn’t approve of my idea of cycling alone across different states, however, I managed to convince them about my urge and the genuine need to carry on such a campaign. And let me tell you, now they are more than happy to support my goal. I keep them updated about my travel and safety on a daily basis,” says the young change maker.
Inspiring, isn’t it?
Sahil Jha’s family is settled in Kolkata while he is from Madhubani, Bihar. Jha loves reading and that is what motivated him to take up this journey. When asked about his favourite reads, “Alchemist, Wings of Fire, Death – An Inside Story, 1984, Animal Farm are some of the books that I am fond of,” said the fired up teenager.
Aren’t these small thoughts the one that lay road to magnanimous creations? Cycling through the entire country is no simple task but Sahil has looked at the possibilities instead of obstacles. All of us have it in us. It is just a matter of time before we break free from hesitation and head out to change the planet to be a better, kinder place.
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