Asutosh

I am a 31 year young PhD graduate who has decided to travel the length and breadth of India on my cycle, to document the journey of meeting a vast array of people. In my journey, I intend to understand the characteristic features of the people of this nation and categorize them based on their demographics, age, profession, gender, traditions, and cultural differences.

Life of scheduled tribe person in Karnataka

How is the life and mindset of a scheduled tribe in Karanataka?

1 Comment / Karnataka, People /

The first thing that comes across our mind when we speak about scheduled tribes is a reservation category. Bred and reared in cities, most of us are hardly aware of how the life or the mindset of a scheduled tribe person is.

Most of the scheduled tribe people are allocated in pockets close to the villages. The reason they tend to stay outside of the mainstream areas is that they are looked down at. Our culture has quite a bit of casteism making it hard for the lives of people who belong to these lower categories.

What exactly is the mentality of these people who are looked down upon and made to reside outside the village premise?

How is the life and mindset of a scheduled tribe in Karanataka? Read More »

Issues of caste-based system

The issue of caste based system in Karnataka seen from four different perspectives

1 Comment / Karnataka, People /

Caste-based demarkation and hierarchy are long-standing issues passed on over the ages. As city dwellers, we are hardly aware of how much impact it has on the life of people in remote locations.

There have been innumerable arguments from both sides, defending and attacking one another. Both sides, however, can not be completely right or wrong.

On my all-India cycle tour journey starting from Karnataka, I got asked multiple times what caste I belong to. This stirred up some thoughts in my mind. I want to ask why people still thrive forward with the caste-based system.

I was offered perspectives from an 8th-standard category-based kid, a Bhraman, and a mixed group of people sitting together on the caste-based system of the society.

The issue of caste based system in Karnataka seen from four different perspectives Read More »

Importance of culture

What is the importance of culture? Is it necessary to follow your culture?

1 Comment / Karnataka, People /

When it comes to following culture and age-old traditions, the first thing that younger generations say is “it is a thing of the past”. Cultures hardly exist in cities that raise a mixed breed of people.

In such communities, people are negligent and ‘culture-less’. It isn’t surprising at all that the newer generations deny culture. It is not their fault. They just don’t understand its meaning because of their upbringing.

On my all-India cycle tour, it took me only 5 and a half days to understand the importance of culture. To go from ‘culture-less’ to ‘want to be cultured’. So, why is it necessary to follow your culture? And what is the importance of culture?

What is the importance of culture? Is it necessary to follow your culture? Read More »

13th Century copper plate from the Wadiyar dynasty depicting the tradition

Age old traditions of Wadiyar dynasty you will be surprised to hear exists to date

1 Comment / Karnataka, People /

Some cultures and traditions are followed over centuries together, passed on from generation to generation that exists to date. The Wadiyar dynasty were the kings of Mysore who ruled the kingdom from the late 1300s until 1950. Some of the traditions they must have followed in the past must seem obsolete today. However, that is not the case!

Age old traditions of Wadiyar dynasty you will be surprised to hear exists to date Read More »

Why couchsurfing events are the best platform for all-India cycle touring

Why couchsurfing events are the best platform for all-India cycle touring?

Cycle /

Why couchsurfing events are the best platform for all-India cycle touring? If you are planning on an all-India cycle tour, you must have already heard of couchsurfing by now. Couchsurfing is an app-based platform where hosts across the country accept travellers as guests. It is a purely service-based platform requiring no money to be paid

Why couchsurfing events are the best platform for all-India cycle touring? Read More »

All-India cycle touring vlogger

Most famous all-India cycle touring vloggers

Cycle /

All-India cycle touring is an unforgiving, punishing, and at the same time extremely rewarding journey to undertake. Several riders from India have attempted this uphill task.

While some of them have successfully completed their journey, many are still in the process. Of the handful of people who initiate this journey, a few have also been documenting their experiences through vlogging.

Most famous all-India cycle touring vloggers Read More »

How long does it take to do an all-India cycle tour?

How long does it take to do an all-India cycle tour?

Cycle /

An all-India cycle tour could take as long as only 6 months to as much as 3 years and 5 months. The amount of time that it takes to tour the nation on the bike depends on what the interest of the rider is in travelling India.

The least amount of distance that is to be covered to cycle across all the 29 states is around 20,000 Kms. That is if you wish to cross each state in the shortest distance possible.

How long does it take to do an all-India cycle tour? Read More »

What it is to complete PhD at Indian Institute of Science

How and what it is to complete PhD from IISc (Indian Institute of Science)

2 Comments / Karnataka, People /

There is a world of difference in completing a PhD from one of the state universities in India compared to that of a national institute, especially of the stature of IISc. So what makes the Indian Institute of Science unique and special? How does it feel to pass out as a doctoral student from the Indian Institute of Science?

How and what it is to complete PhD from IISc (Indian Institute of Science) Read More »