A Lifetime on Two Wheels

For nearly two decades, the open road has been home to Somen Debnath. Hailing originally from the South 24 Parganas district in West Bengal, Debnath has turned a childhood conviction into an epic global endurance feat, cycling through 191 countries and covering more than 200,000 kilometers on a bicycle.

His extraordinary expedition is driven by two primary missions: raising critical awareness about HIV/AIDS and introducing global populations to the richness of Indian culture and heritage. Today, Debnath continues his lifelong mission with a nationwide cycling expedition across India, aimed at fostering closer ties among the country's diverse communities.

The Journey Begins: May 2004

Debnath’s monumental odyssey officially commenced on May 27, 2004. Before embarking on his international tour, he meticulously cycled through all 28 states and five Union Territories of India to understand his homeland at the grassroots level.

Upon arriving in New Delhi, Debnath met with several top-tier national leaders, including former President Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and then-Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. A crucial turning point came during his meeting with then-External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, who facilitated visas for five initial countries, provided five official letters of introduction, and granted financial support of Rs 50,000 to launch his global journey.

Navigating Continents and Adversity

Between 2004 and 2009, Debnath traversed extensive terrain across Asia, including Nepal, Tibet, China, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Central Asia, Iran, and parts of Europe and the Caucasus.

His route subsequently expanded across 48 European nations, 54 countries in Africa, 10 in the Middle East, and 13 countries in South America between 2015 and 2017. He later explored the Caribbean, Central America, 48 U.S. states, Canada, and parts of Russia and China.

Despite the cultural enrichment, the expedition brought severe physical trials. One of the most perilous hurdles occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic when Debnath found himself stranded in China. Contracting the virus left him critically ill; in an attempt to manage his symptoms, he accidentally scalded his mouth with boiling water, rendering him unable to eat for over a week before he slowly recovered and resumed his travels via South Korea and New Zealand.

Rooted in Early Conviction

Debnath's dedication to public health advocacy began long before his international journey. Triggered by an encounter with the realities of HIV when he was only 14 years old, he committed himself to reading, understanding, and educating others about the virus—laying the psychological and moral foundation for a lifetime of advocacy on the move.