Six Years After Heroic Ride, Indian Teen Still Waiting for Promised Support

Six years after her heroic bicycle journey across India captured global attention, Jyoti Kumari finds herself back in poverty, with the financial promises made to her largely unfulfilled. The 22-year-old from Bihar rose to international fame in 2020 at age 15 when she cycled more than 700 miles from northern India to her village, carrying her injured father on the back of a hot pink bicycle she had purchased for just $20.

Her father, Mohan Paswan, had worked as an autorickshaw driver in Gurugram for two decades, sending remittances to his wife and five children in Sirhulli. Following a severe road accident in January 2020, Kumari and her mother traveled to Gurugram to care for him. Five months later, with his recovery incomplete and funds depleted, the family decided to return home. However, pandemic lockdowns had halted public transportation, leaving no clear way to transport Mohan Paswan.

Kumari volunteered to make the journey herself, seating her father on a pad attached to her bicycle seat. She pedaled for seven consecutive days, often on an empty stomach during the height of the lockdown. The endurance test revealed a natural talent for cycling, but it also launched her into the spotlight.

Media coverage brought numerous pledges of cash rewards, professional sports training, and even a film deal. Yet, according to Kumari, most of these commitments went unkept. Politicians who promised support for her education or athletic career provided nothing, she said.

“The politicians who made promises, saying they would give money for my sports or education — nobody actually gave anything,” Kumari told NPR. The only funds received came from individual donors and a government award. Her family used this money to complete their home, transforming a structure with bare walls into a livable house with a toilet, bathroom, and running water—a significant upgrade in Bihar, where an estimated 300,000 people remain homeless despite government schemes.

Tragedy struck in May 2021 when Mohan Paswan died of a heart attack, just months after his daughter brought him home. Since then, the family’s financial situation has deteriorated. Kumari’s mother works as a cook, earning a meager income that supports Jyoti and her three younger siblings. An older sister has married and moved out, and their brother-in-law, now supporting his own family, can offer little assistance.

“There are days when we go to sleep hungry,” Kumari admitted. Her daily routine begins at 7 a.m. with cooking and caring for her siblings before her mother leaves for work. She handles cleaning, laundry, and chores, leaving little time for study. Despite her exhaustion, she remains determined to finish her education, which is essential for university admission and employment opportunities.

Kumari has yet to pass her Class 12 final exams, a critical milestone for disadvantaged students seeking upward mobility. While she still loves cycling for the freedom it represents, she no longer has time for recreational riding or competitive training. Instead, she bikes only for errands.

The family now places its hopes on Kumari’s younger sister, scheduled to take her 12th-grade exams in mid-2027. If she succeeds, the family believes their prospects will improve once she graduates and begins working.

“When you’re poor, fame doesn’t help. Only education can help you out of your difficulties. Otherwise, life becomes a never-ending obstacle course,” Kumari said, reaffirming her commitment to stay in her native village rather than seek urban employment like her father did.