What began as a three-month trip in 2004 turned into a lifetime’s journey and he plans to start a museum and village in his native West Bengal, India, once he stops cycling.
It’s been a fascinating journey which has seen him robbed on no less than 28 occasions including a three-week spell in 2007 when he was taken hostage by the Taliban.
He has also met with 72 prime ministers on his travels, but Somen, 40, believes that his most important work is simply to link common people with simple messages.
Earlier this week, he dropped by the Malaysiakini office to talk about his life of travel and grassroots activism.
“This started in May 2004 as...