At an age when most people begin to slow down, Parimal Kanji from Kolkata is racing ahead, quite literally on his bicycle. Known as the 'Cycle Man of India', this 56-year-old mechanic has travelled across the length and breadth of the country, powered only by his determination, grit, and two sturdy wheels.
Parimal is a familiar sight on the highways of India with his white hair and long beard. What sets him apart is the incomparable energy and passion he carries along. People can't imagine that this man, well past his fifties, pedals tirelessly through steep terrains and unpredictable weather without a rupee in his pocket.
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The man who pedals against the odds
Parimal’s journey began with a dream - to travel and see his country. But with limited means, travelling seemed impossible. Instead of giving up, he chose his cycle as his companion and began pedalling toward his dream. “I didn’t have money to travel,” he says. “So, I decided to travel with what I had, my bicycle.”
From Ranchi, Raipur, Bhubaneswar, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Mumbai, Jaipur, Delhi, Dehradun, Patna, Itanagar, Kohima, Imphal, Agartala, Aizawl, Shillong, to Kolkata and many- Parimal proudly recalls visiting every Indian state capital by 2022. His adventures didn’t stop there. He said, “Between 2023 and 2024, I cycled from Kashmir to Kanyakumari via Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh, becoming the first bicycle camper not in Kolkata, West Bengal or India but in the world to complete this extraordinary route.”
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Now, he has already begun another thrilling journey to Ladakh. "This time my motive is different," he said. "I've been there three times, but now I want to explore the whole of Ladakh. I'll stay through the entire winter and return in 2026 or earlier if my journey finishes before that."
Though Parimal never completed his schooling, his journeys have now become his classroom. “Now, while travelling, I gather knowledge,” he smiles. One of his backbones has been the Riders Community of Bengal, providing assistance and motivation on each new journey. He also says that he now dreams of going on international trips.
The 'Cycle Man of India' lives as proof that dreams don't need money and luxury, only courage, kindness, and a pair of wheels strong enough to carry hope.
