Muhammad Dilshad Mozambic | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Prior to his first visit to Kashmir on a Royal Enfield bike in 2019, traveling from Chelambra, Muhammad Dilshad, Malappuram donated several roles- from a bus boy to parcel lorry driver. However, he began as his Forest Jernling in YouTube, where a 29 -year -old passenger can share his 45 -day travel experiences that have developed in the Yatharatode YouTube channel, with currently 907k customers and more than 153 million. There are scenes.
In 2021, Dilshad decided to travel to Africa on his bike after a South Asian visit after an epidemic, which forced him to return from the Myanmar border. He covered 14 countries on this African visit. However, even more importantly, he faced many realities, which he had already seen in the first photos. I saw that people travel long distances with a yellow drum on their shoulders to collect water. I used to feel helpless, “Dilshad says on a phone of Qatar. Who has now created 14 wells after returning to the continent for the second time in 2023.
Dilshad has covered four countries on this visit – Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia and Mozambic. During his visit, he has faced many run-in with unfamiliar tribal traditions, civil war and officials and much more.
Muhammad Dilshad in Chingola Zambia | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
In June 2024, Dilshad built the first well in Mombasa, Kenya, while he was also reducing protests against the new Kenya Finance Bill. “We were hiding there for a few days. When we were there, we saw that people had eaten in a ditch to collect dirty water. When we decided that we should dig the well first, ”Dilshad says that who was traveling with his friend Fazal. They say that with the help of local people, they built a waterhole at a price of about ₹ 10,000.
Dilshad considers excavation of a well in a government school of one of the main attractions of his visit to a government school in Maapya village in Tanzania. It took 25 days to complete. “This area is slightly elevated and it is difficult to bring water there. About 500 families were to do with two small wells, one after another was placed on the wall by a private company, ”he says. Dilshad suspected finding water at such a place and told the headmaster that he would dig up to 10 meters and if there were no signs of water, they would have to leave the project as Dilshad’s visa was about to end.
Dilshad says, “We got water after digging for 12 days.” “Earlier, students had to travel 1.5 km every day to collect water and this became the last period of their class.”
“As soon as the water started flowing through the tap, the children came out of their classrooms. But instead of running towards the tap, they came to me, hugging me crying, ”remember Dilshad. “His father and grandfather who studied in this school also had to bring water. They do not have to do this now. ,
Muhammad Dilshad Maqaji Mapya Village, Tanzania | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
As he was about to cross the border of Zambia, Dilshad was stopped by the migration authority in Tanzania and questioned to build a well in a government school. “They were very doubtful about my actions and the school headmaster had to provide an explanation so that they would let me go.”
Dilshad says that well is ₹ 2 lakh. “For them, this is a large amount. Therefore, they will travel from far away to collect water, compared to making a well. ,
“For such a trip, revenue from YouTube will only cover about 50% of the cost,” says Dilshad. “We have to find sponsors. Some companies can take fuel costs, spare parts for jeep and so on. ,
Choosing a jeep helped Dilshad control expenses. “Transport of a bike or jeep is the same for both a carnet passport (an international customs and temporary export-aeat document), the same for both,” they say. “With a jeep, you can sleep inside it. Given how difficult it is to find a hotel in Africa, I have made provisions for cooking. ,
Dilshad is ready to travel to Uganda later in February, where he is planning to dig five wells. He hopes to cover Africa by June and is going to continue the journey through Europe for the second phase of this trip after a short holiday in the US.
Published – February 11, 2025 01:36 pm IST
