Revolutions in Motion: Indian Globe Cycling and the Challenge to Empire, 1920s–30s

This article examines the long-distance bicycle journeys undertaken by Indian travellers during the inter-War period, focusing on two Bengali globe cyclists, Bimal Mukherjee and Ramnath Biswas. Through an analysis of their travelogues and press writings, the study explores how cycling served not only as a mode of mobility but also as a form of anti-imperial political expression, helping the riders craft counter-narratives to colonial discourses of dominance and project a vision of resilient, self-reliant Indian subjecthood. The article situates their travels at the intersection of international travel, knowledge production and political consciousness, demonstrating how Indian globe cycling emerged as a radical practice that challenged imperial monopolies on mobility and the making of political cultures.