Alathur, Kerala: For 27-year-old Muneer from Vanur, Alathur, a bicycle has become more than a means of transport—it symbolises survival, resilience, and rediscovery.

Seven years ago, Muneer suffered a severe head injury in a road accident that left him unconscious and partially paralysed. Rushed to the hospital by a stranger, he returned home with memory loss and limited mobility. Despite undergoing physiotherapy, his recovery remained slow until he got back on a bicycle.

What began as an attempt to regain balance and mobility turned into an extraordinary journey that took him across ten Indian states, ending in Kashmir. That life-changing ride is now immortalised in his 264-page book titled Spokes, a reference to the broken spokes of his cycle wheel that often brought his journey to a halt. 

A life-changing accident

The turning point came in 2016 when a speeding car hit Muneer while he was crossing the national highway on his motorbike. He sustained a serious head injury as a result of the accident. Though he eventually regained his memory, the paralysis on the right side of his body persisted, despite physiotherapy.

By learning to balance the bicycle through equal pressure on the handlebars, Muneer started practising near his home, and this small breakthrough slowly set the path for his recovery.

By 2019, he had regained a considerable degree of strength, but the pandemic and lockdown stalled the progress. During this time, he joined the Palakkad Fort Pedallers Club and the Alathur Cycle Riders Club, which would later shape his dream of a long-distance ride.

Setbacks and solitude on the road

On October 23, 2022, Muneer began his journey from Alathur to Srinagar, accompanied by a friend who was also a bicycle mechanic. But when they reached Kozhikode, his friend backed out. Muneer, momentarily disheartened, phoned his mother.

“You have set out, haven’t you? Then go on, my son. God will protect you,” she told him. Her words renewed his determination.

Challenges were constant on Muneer’s journey. He dealt with broken spokes, flat tires, and minor accidents along the way. In Punjab, he was struck by another vehicle, forcing a two-day pause as he recovered from injuries made worse by the freezing cold. Later, in Karnataka, his phone screen shattered, cutting off access to Google Maps. Despite these setbacks, he persevered.

Muneer cycled through villages, hills, and cities, often relying on the kindness of Malayalis he met on the way. He spoke only Malayalam and English, and didn’t know Hindi, but felt that love and humanity needed no translation.

4,100 Kilometres, 10 States, 52 Days

In just 52 days, Muneer covered 4,100 kilometres across Kerala, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, and Jammu & Kashmir. He returned to Kerala by train via Delhi, his heart and journal full of stories.

He now helps his father Mubarak run a small biryani stall near the service road by the Alathur Block Office. His mother is Pyarijaan, and brother, Rafeeq.

Muneer still dreams of more journeys. His travelogue, Spokes, is published exactly as he wrote it—unedited, raw, and honest.

In the foreword, academic Dr P. R. Jayasheelan notes, “A bicycle is not a toy. It is something that can inspire life itself.”