Malem Thongam, a 27-year-old transgender social activist from Imphal East, has successfully concluded her long-distance peace expedition by reaching Imphal on Friday overcoming logistical, political and security hurdles that underscored the profound divisions in violence-hit Manipur.

Thongam said she embarked on her cycling mission, titled “Cycling for Manipur Peace” — also described by her as a Pilgrimage for Peace — on October 2, 2025, from Qutub Minar in New Delhi.

The campaign was conceived as a nationwide appeal for harmony and restoration of normalcy in a state shaken by prolonged ethnic conflict since May 3, 2023.

Over a period of more than two months, Thongam pedaled across Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Assam and Nagaland, covering over 2,300 kilometres before entering Manipur.

Along the way, she said she was supported by all and she engaged with residents, civil society groups, church bodies and volunteers who offered support, sometimes hosting her and other times joining her briefly to promote her message of peace and unity.

In Patna, she paused her journey to offer prayers at Jama Masjid, highlighting the importance of inter-faith harmony, and in several towns and cities she was greeted with placards and solidarity gestures.

While her movement was welcomed in many places, the final leg of Thongam’s mission faced sharp resistance within her home state. The Committee on Tribal Unity (COTU), representing Kuki–Zo civil society voices in Kangpokpi district, warned her to stop the journey or face dire consequences.

In response to these objections and ongoing tensions in the region, security forces deployed a heavy escort led by the Border Security Force (BSF) to ensure her safe transit. Rather than cycling through the area under threat, Thongam was accompanied by the security convoy along National Highway-2, ultimately reaching Sekmai in Imphal West early on Thursday in secure conditions.

She stayed at Sekmai and on Friday, Thongam proceded with large numbers of people and formally concluded the first phase of her journey at Kangla Fort in Imphal, a historic symbol of Manipur’s heritage today.

Upon arrival, she was warmly welcomed by women from different sections of society, offered prayers, and was felicitated at the Khwairamband Ima Market with garlands and applause.

Thongam said her expedition was about peace and unity, and even though she faced opposition, she succeeded in crossing sensitive areas peacefully with the support of security forces.

She announced that the second phase of her peace cycling mission will begin in 2027, which will extend beyond Manipur to other parts of India, sending sustained calls for dialogue and reconciliation. A magazine documenting the first phase of her journey is expected to be published in 2026 in Kolkata and later submitted to the Government of India.

Malem Thongam’s initiative has drawn national attention not only because of its length and ambition but also because it underscores a deeply personal plea for healing amid a conflict that has fractured communities and upended lives.

As a transgender activist, her journey has also spotlighted inclusivity and dignity within social movements that seek to transcend ethnic divides.

Her peaceful mission, now completed for 2025, stands as a testament to civil activism in challenging times — and as a reminder that even amid fear and mistrust, voices for peace continue to pedal forward according to a woman who came to welcome her.