The Malem Thongam peace ride has secured fresh support from civil society groups in Manipur ahead of a proposed inter-state cycling campaign from Kashmir to Mizoram. The second-leg journey is scheduled to begin from Srinagar on January 3, 2027, and conclude in Aizawl after covering 22 states. Organisers say the campaign will carry a message of peace and draw wider attention to the prolonged crisis in Manipur.
The planned expedition is expected to cover about 15,555 kilometres over 272 days. It will pass through several northern, western, southern and northeastern states before reaching Mizoram. Supporters have urged people to cooperate with the campaign while local groups prepare to assist Thongam during the long journey.
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Malem Thongam Peace Ride Receives Fresh Backing
The Malem Thongam peace ride received a major expression of support from the Lamyanba Irawat Memorial Integrated Trust (LIMIT) on October 3. The organisation announced full support for the upcoming Kashmir-to-Mizoram campaign and appealed to people in Manipur to support the initiative.
LIMIT described the proposed journey as part of Thongam’s continuing efforts to promote peace following the prolonged conflict in Manipur. The organisation also referred to her earlier cycling campaign between Delhi and Imphal.
That earlier journey began at Qutub Minar in Delhi on October 2, 2025. Thongam reached Imphal’s Kangla on December 19 after travelling through several states. Her subsequent attempts to continue towards Churachandpur encountered security-related restrictions.
More recently, Thawai Meerel also appealed for public support for the second leg of the campaign. General secretary Paonam Sanahanbi outlined the proposed route and encouraged people to support the initiative. Representatives of local organisations attending the meeting also assured that Thongam’s mother would receive support during the journey.
The backing therefore comes from civil society and community organisations rather than representing a formal government endorsement. That distinction remains important because the proposed route will cross multiple states and may require coordination with local authorities.
Kashmir-to-Mizoram Route Covers 22 States
Thongam’s second inter-state ride is scheduled to begin at Lal Chowk in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir. From there, the route will pass through Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Punjab before moving through several western and southern states.
The planned route includes Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka and Kerala. It will then continue through Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Jharkhand.
West Bengal and the northeastern states of Assam and Meghalaya will form part of the later section of the journey. The campaign will ultimately conclude in Mizoram, with Aizawl identified as the destination.
According to the details shared by Thawai Meerel, the expedition will cover approximately 15,555 kilometres over 272 days. The planned duration makes it substantially longer than Thongam’s previous Delhi-to-Imphal campaign.
Furthermore, Thongam submitted the route map for the proposed journey to the President of India’s office on October 1, according to LIMIT.
The scale of the proposed route means that the campaign will extend beyond Manipur’s immediate political and social environment. Supporters hope that the journey will create opportunities to discuss the conflict with people in other parts of the country.
Campaign Builds on Earlier Peace Efforts
The upcoming expedition follows several earlier initiatives by Thongam. In 2025, she undertook a long-distance bicycle journey from Delhi to Imphal under the “Cycling for Manipur Peace” campaign. The journey sought to highlight the need for peace and normalcy in Manipur.
During that campaign, Thongam travelled through several states before reaching the northeastern region. She eventually arrived in Imphal in December 2025, completing the journey from Delhi.
In 2026, she also announced a separate peace ride covering all 16 districts of Manipur. The initiative aimed to promote peace and free movement while engaging people across different parts of the state.
That effort faced restrictions during its implementation. In March, security personnel stopped Thongam at different points during the journey, including while she was attempting to travel towards Churachandpur. Authorities cited prevailing law-and-order concerns in at least one instance.
Thongam later expressed disappointment over the restrictions and maintained that her campaign was intended to promote peace rather than division. The episodes also demonstrated the security sensitivities surrounding movement between areas controlled or influenced by different communities.
Local Groups Encourage Wider Participation
Support from organisations such as LIMIT and Thawai Meerel has provided a local platform for the upcoming expedition. Their appeals focus on public cooperation and assistance as Thongam prepares for a journey lasting several months.
The involvement of community organisations also reflects the broader role civil society groups have played during Manipur’s prolonged crisis. Various organisations have organised peace initiatives, relief activities, public meetings and campaigns linked to the conflict.
For the new cycling campaign, supporters are seeking to extend the conversation beyond Manipur. The route through 22 states creates opportunities for Thongam to meet communities and communicate her message in different parts of India.
At the same time, the proposed campaign should be distinguished from formal political activity. Available reports identify support from organisations such as LIMIT and Thawai Meerel, but they do not establish an official endorsement by a political party or government. Therefore, the description of the backing is best understood as local civil society and community support.
The campaign’s final destination also gives Mizoram a specific role in the planned journey. Aizawl is expected to mark the conclusion of the expedition after Thongam travels through the northeastern states included in the route.
Peace Campaign Faces Logistical Challenges
A 15,555-kilometre journey across 22 states will involve significant logistical requirements. Route coordination, accommodation, local support and communication will become important as the campaign moves between states.
Thongam’s earlier experiences also show that security and administrative permissions can affect long-distance peace campaigns. Her previous Delhi-to-Imphal journey faced restrictions near conflict-sensitive areas, while her 2026 Manipur-wide ride also encountered interruptions.
Consequently, the new expedition will require careful coordination wherever authorities impose movement-related conditions. The proposed route itself has been publicly outlined, but individual arrangements may depend on circumstances at the time of travel.
Meanwhile, supporters are using the period before the January launch to build public awareness. The latest appeals from LIMIT and Thawai Meerel indicate that organisers want broader community participation before the campaign begins.
The campaign will also carry the experience of Thongam’s earlier rides. Those journeys established a pattern of using long-distance cycling to draw attention to peace, movement and the humanitarian impact of Manipur’s conflict.
Conclusion
The Malem Thongam peace ride has gained fresh support from Manipur-based civil society groups ahead of its planned January 2027 launch. LIMIT has backed the campaign, while Thawai Meerel has appealed for wider public support for the second-leg journey from Srinagar to Mizoram.
The proposed 15,555-kilometre expedition will pass through 22 states over 272 days before concluding in Aizawl. Its progress will depend on route coordination, public support and the security conditions encountered along the way.
FAQs
What is the Malem Thongam peace ride?
The Malem Thongam peace ride is a planned long-distance cycling campaign intended to promote a message of peace and draw attention to the prolonged crisis in Manipur. The second leg is scheduled to begin in Srinagar on January 3, 2027.
How far will the Kashmir-to-Mizoram ride travel?
The proposed journey will cover approximately 15,555 kilometres across 22 states over 272 days. It is scheduled to begin in Srinagar and conclude in Mizoram.
Who has supported Malem Thongam’s new ride?
The Lamyanba Irawat Memorial Integrated Trust has extended full support, while Thawai Meerel has appealed to the public to support the campaign. Local community representatives have also offered assistance during the journey.
Where will the peace ride end?
The planned route will conclude at Solomon’s Temple in Aizawl, Mizoram, according to the details released by LIMIT.
Has Malem Thongam undertaken similar peace rides before?
Yes. Thongam previously travelled by bicycle from Delhi to Imphal in 2025 and later attempted a separate peace ride covering Manipur’s districts in 2026. The latter campaign encountered restrictions at some locations because of security and law-and-order concerns.
