23-year old from Hyderabad exploring India, cashless

Abhitej Boda in Kohima
  Vishü Rita Krocha Kohima | December 8   With very few basic things including a sleeping bag, toiletries, stationery, snacks and chocolates in his backpack, 23 year old Abhitej Boda from Hyderabad has travelled cashless for 258 days in 13 different states across India covering about 16,000 kilometers (and still counting). He was recently in Nagaland where he visited Mon, Mokokchung, Wokha, Kohima and Kisama to also get a taste of the Hornbill Festival. All of his travels, which he started on March 22, 2017 from Delhi has been that of hitchhiking in about 800 vehicles so far.   Speaking to The Morung Express before leaving for Manipur on December 4, 2017, to further continue his 500-day journey, he says that, “I am not doing this to impress anybody but for my own satisfaction and also to explore not just the world but myself.” “I travel to think”, he says as opposed to so many people who think about travelling.   Undertaking this long journey with the whole concept of #missioncashlesstravel, Abhitej Boda travels with optimism to get ‘good times’ and ‘good experiences’ while using logic and common sense to get by. He further emphasizes on “knowledge” (about the places he has been to), “talent” (how to survive in these places) and “creativity” (the presentation he gives to people whom he meets along the way).   Through his travels, he has been bartering stories for food, clothing and shelter, and has not been disappointed so far even as he fights things which he does not have, such as money, camera, smart phone, vehicle and company. Having covered quite a few places in Northeast India by now, he relates that “there are many other cashless travellers but they have not been to Northeast.” He has already spent over 100 days in the region and impresses upon that this particular experience has been a sort of an eye-opener.   “Many of us mainland Indians are very scared of Northeast”, he states but insisting that “I am very much welcomed here. I received the best hospitality. Also, Nagaland is very safe for me and I wish more people would come here, visit, experience, and stop being judgmental.”   On being asked if he was ever refused a ride, he says, “Out of 10 vehicles, I would definitely be travelling in 3-4 vehicles and that would even be luxurious.” Very interestingly, he does not give nor take money from anybody. But he has survived months of travelling by bartering stories and many adventurous experiences of his.   In Kohima, he was hosted by Johnny D. Ascoli, a Celebrity make-up artist and stylist for a period of 4 days. Whatever modes of transportation he gets- roadways, seaways, railways or airways, Abhitej Boda hopes to complete 500 days of travelling exploring more states and places spread across the country.   A Photography graduate from the Jawaharlal Nehru Architecture and Fine Arts University, the young traveller has had several random conversations numbering to about 3500 interactions. What he would term as “creative travelling”, once he is done with all the travelling, he also plans to document the rich stories of all the places he has been to, in the form of a book.