Somen Debnath, a 50‑year‑old from South 24 Parganas, has covered 200,000 km on a bicycle in 19 years, visiting 191 countries since May 27, 2004, while campaigning for HIV/AIDS awareness.
Debnath’s activism began at age 14 after a family member’s HIV diagnosis, prompting him to study the disease and lead local campaigns in West Bengal before expanding nationwide.
His global trek took him through 28 Indian states, then Asia— Nepal, China, Pakistan, Turkey— Europe— 48 countries, Africa— 54, South America— 13, the Caribbean— several islands, the United States— 48 states, and Canada, covering varied terrains and cultures.
In 2020, a Covid outbreak in China left Debnath critically ill; he spent a week in a feverish state before recovering and continuing his ride through South Korea to New Zealand, where he stayed for nearly a year.
Now, Debnath is steering the "Punar Milan Bharat" initiative, cycling from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, connecting the nation’s extremes, promoting unity, environmental stewardship, and HIV education.
Local residents in Kashmir’s Rafiabad village say they’ve never seen a cyclist cross the valley; Debnath’s presence has sparked conversations about health and heritage among the youth.