On August 12, International Youth Day, Nitesh Square and Parth Vasavada, will begin a 65-day motorcycle journey through eight nations and 50 cities. Their mission — De Paix Yatra, The Peace Yatra — to meet over 600 people, promote peace and collect stories of peace activism.

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Beginning this journey on two Royal Enfield Classic 500 motorcycles, on the last day of the Olympics was a strategic decision, Nitesh explains. “The Olympics were created to encourage peace between nations, but why should it stop at the Games.”

Nitesh and Parth will traverse 13,000 kms by road through India, Pakistan, Iran, Turkey, Greece, Italy, France and England, organising peace talks, kindness shows, Free Hugs campaigns, music shows and exhibitions. Their experiences will later be documented with a coffee table book of photographs and stories, and short films on the three pillars of this project — youth, peace and non-violence. The duo will upload footage, twice a week, to keep everyone abreast of their travels.

“It’s not just the game-changers we want to hear from, but also the ordinary person who is going beyond and doing something to make a difference,” Nitesh says. After they return, the duo will travel to 100 Indian villages and share their stories on youth activism from January 12, National Youth Day. To spread a message of oneness, unity, love, peace and justice, a special album will be launched by Universal Music on August 11 in Mumbai with a special anthem track and songs by several known names from the Bollywood and indie music circuit. The endeavour has support of the likes of politicos Shashi Tharoor, Omar Abdullah, cricketer-turned-politican Imran Khan, Ali Azmat of Pakistani rock band Junoon, and musician duos Vishal-Shekhar and Salim-Suleiman.