Kalimpong

On 18th August, 2013, I(Roshni Rai) was attending the last weekend class of one year course Team, Management and Leadership Program (TMLP) from Landmark Education in Bangalore. I got a sms from my friend Preimka,  ’call me, its urgent’. During my break, I saw, there were 10missed calls from her, followed by the above sms.
As soon as, Premika picked up the phone, she told me that she is leaving Kalimpong with runners for Hyderabad Marathon because from 19thAugust, 2013 there was going to be an indefinite strike in whole of Darjeeling. I asked her, why only ten runners, what about other three runners. She said, she tried to call up those three runners, Dilip, Ramesh and Binod on their mobile nos but they are not reachable. Understanding the situation, I told Premika to leave Kalimpong immediately and I started calling up those three runners but all in vain. I tried to keep myself calm but I could not control. I started crying. My TMLP colleague Zohair asked me, why I was crying?  I said that my team had to leave for Hyderabad Marathon four days before the schedule date and three strong runners were not reachable. He suggested me to speak to the people in Darjeeling to seek support. I called up Aamaa (my mom) and I told her, how helpless I was feeling. She told me not worry and be happy because  ten runners were already on their way to Hyderabad.
After that I spoke to few people and told Premika that I was seeking supportfor those three runners to reach Siliguri, where they were supposed to stay for four days before boarding the train to Hyderabad.
I returned back to Mumbai on 18th August, 2013’s night. Early in the morning of 19th August, 2013, I got a call from Premka. She told me that Dilip, Ramesh and Binod walked 75km and they have reached Siliguri. I was in tears to hear that news. Premika again told me that when she got to know that there would be indefinite strike from 19th August, 2019, she decided to leave Kalimpong immediately with the runners but she had no money. However, she started her packing and suddenly she saw bundle of notes. On counting, it was Rs. 10500/- (ten thousand five hundred). She asked everybody at home, if anybody had left that money but answer was no from everybody. With that money she left Kalimpong. I was amazed to hear such miracles happening.
Runners from Darjeeling reached Hyderabad on 23rd August, 2013. My plan was to board train on 23rd Aug evening and to reach Hyderabad in the afternoon of 24th Aug. But after hearing all about the runners’ suffering, I could not stop myself from taking a flight to Hyderabad. I took the evening flight on 23rd August, 2013, which got delayed by 2hrs after the passengers boarded the flight, due to some technical problem. While sitting in the flight, I started chatting with my co-passenger, who happened to be Mr. Lokesh.



I told Mr. Lokesh that I was going to Hyderabad to run the marathon and my team was coming from Darjeeling. I told him about the story of three runners, who walked 75km. I also told him that after hearing that some runners walked 75km, from my TMLP colleague Sachin Mehta, Mr. Mohan, the owner of SaiKrupa Hotel in Chikkadpally have decided to give us the rooms in his hotel free of cost.  Mr. Lokesh asked me about the runners schedule in Hyderabad. I told him that next day, we would be going to Hitex City to collect our bib nos. He told me that the distance between Chikkadpally and Hitex City is quite long and asked me, how I was planning to travel? I told him that after reaching hotel, I would speak to hotel people to arrange something for us. He asked me call him up the next morning and he would send us his cars.
By the time, I reached SaiKripa Hotel, it was already 11.45pm and most of the runners had gone to sleep. I got fresh and went to sleep. Next day, I called all the runners in a room and I started asking them about their journey. Most of the runners had complains about those three runners, who were left behind and walked 75km. They told me that those three runners were not in communication with any of them, hence they were left behind. Premika, who is my main contact point to get the updates of all the runners, told me that she is tired of chasing those three runners and she has no hope that they would change their attitude.
After hearing the complains from all the runners, I asked those three runners the reason for not being in communication with the team. They were not talking at all. I told them, unless they speak up, we don’t understand their problem. I gave the example of one runner, who was not in communication with Premika and me for two months and afterwards, he told us the reason for not talking to us was – he was not having running shoes and he was not running, hence he was feeling awkward to talk to us. But once, he communicated that to me, I have requested my runner friends to donate second hand shoes and now our problem is getting is solved. I told them, being poor is not our mistake.
After hearing me,Vinod got up and he said that, Premika was collecting money for food and other expenditure, while travelling in the train and he had no money to give her. He was working in a shop and when he is working, he could not go to school and when he goes to school, he does not have money. When he was telling us his story, he was trying hard not to cry but we all could not hold back our tears. I told him that, whatever was the reason, he should have communicated to Premika, instead of being out of communication. After him,Dilip said that his parents were not allowing him to leave for Hyderabad during the strike in Darjeeling. He lied them saying that he was going to friend’s place, he left for Hyderabad. He too had no money to contribute for travelling; hence he was out of communication. Ramesh also told the same story.
After three of them finished talking, Prabal told all of them that he too had financial problem but he saved money by working in a shop, where he gets Rs. 2500/- (twenty five hundred) per month. He added that he told Premikadidi that he was not having money and requested her to help him to get a part time job. After which Premika found that part time job for him. He told all those three runners that it’s always good to be in communication with Premikadidi and Roshni didi.

After hearing Prabal, Ramesh started crying and he said sorry to the entire team and he promised that he would never be out of communication with them.  I was also in tears but I told Ramesh that whatever happened it happened for good. Till than I had not told them that we have got the hotel rooms for free. I told Ramesh, Dilip and Binod that we got the hotel rooms free because of them. After hearing their story of walking 75km, my friend Sachin Mehta decided to help all the runners and he spoke to Mr. Mohan, who agreed to give us the rooms for free. All the runners started clapping and everybody came forward and started hugging Ramesh, Dilip and Binod. We all felt complete and fully connected to each other in that moment. After that Samiksha shared with us, how she got married with all the hilarious stories, which cheered up all of us.
We had brunch at 11 am and 11; 30am, Mr. Lokesh’s sent one Innova and Ford for us to go to Hitex city. Premika, Samiksha and Menuka got lift from Mr. VenkatPichumani, who had carried 12 pairs of second hand running shoes for all the runners from Darjeeling.
We reached Hitex City around 12.30pm. From the very day of registrations, I have got all the supports from the organizers of Hyderabad Marathon. They welcomed all the runners from Darjeeling in Marathon Expo; they even gave the food coupon to have lunch for 15 runners. I wish the organisers of Mumbai marathon learn from them, how to treat the runners. Since I have started the project ‘Run with Roshni’ in 2012, I have raised charity of more than Rs. 2 lacs by doing the registration of runners for Mumbai Marathon but they have never supported to get any media mentions. I never get any reply to my email; however, they will reply me not to mark them in all the emails. I have written several emails to the Comrades marathon organizers of South Africa and I have received reply to each and every email of mine. I had always wished that in India also, marathon organizers to be like them. After visiting the Hyderabad marathon expo, I felt like my dream is coming true. Since organizers of Hyderabad Marathon are being runners themselves, they can understand the plight of the runners.
Hyderabad Marathon Organizers told many media people in the expo that the runners from Darjeeling had walked 75km to participate in the marathon. Many reporters took our interview. With the reference of my Coach Daniel Vaz, I went to Nike stall. I met the Brand Manager and told him about the project ‘Run with Roshni’. I told him that one runner was not running for two months because he had no running shoes. Brand Manager told me that why I did not go to him before. He asked all the runners to get their gait analysis done and we were recommended various shoes. We send the details of shoes and sizes to the Nike and hopefully the team ‘Run with Roshni’ will be getting brand new proper running shoes to practice for Mumbai Marathon 2014.
From Expo, we went to Maradpally, where we were invited by Hyderabad Nepali Church for dinner.  After the prayers for the runners, we all were felicitated. After dinner, we reached hotel at 9pm. We kept all everything ready for the next day’s marathon and went to sleep. I was very nervous because all the runners were very tired from train journey and we did not have proper carbo-loading a day before the marathon. 
Marathon day, Joseph daju came to pick us up. He took us to start line in two batches by his van. We all reached the start line at 5.30am. Full Marathon was starting at 5am and half marathon was starting at 6am. Runesh had gone to stay with Amar Daju, as soon as, we went back to hotel from Church. After doing some warm up, we chanted Gyatri and moved towards the start line.
I was feeling very low because in 2009, I had come sixth in Hyderabad Marathon and I got the prize money of Rs. 1000/- and in 2013, I was very clear that completing the distance of Half Marathon would be difficult. I was trying to convince that my priority had changed since 2009 to 2013. In 2009 my main aim was do personal best in each every marathon and in 2013, my aim is to produce the best runner of India. But still I could not cheer up myself. To add to that I had not slept for two night. I was in a very grumpy mood. I was just avoiding talking to people. Suddenly a volunteer came and stopped me, I told him that I want to be with my group, let me go. He said, don’t worry, you will be with your group in no time. I asked him, why did he stop me, he said, to avoid stampede. I said, in that case, you should have made the shedding system like in all the international marathon. He said sorry and by that time other two volunteers also came to say sorry to me. I again shouted, why you don’t have lady volunteers to control lady’s crowd, and I felt offended because of his pushing. That volunteer was very sorry and he told me that I could go ahead and join my group.
I joined the group and Premika was very surprised to see me like that but she did not say anything. Vaishali noticed that something was wrong; she came from behind and just gave me hug, which I really needed at that moment. Vaishali asked me,’ how are you?’ I said, I am not feeling good. She said, ’I  could see that you are not feeling good’. Further, she asked me, ‘did you sleep?’ I said no. I was in tears. Vaisalitold me, ‘Roshni, whatever you are doing is fantastic. Don’t worry; everything is going to be alright’. I hugged her and cried on her shoulder and then onlythe counting 10, 9, 8…….started forthe marathon. Wiping tears, I started running. I knew, I would finish it but I did not know how long it would take to complete the marathon.
When I found my legs too heavy on the first fly over, I remembered three runners, who have walked 75km and I wondered, how they would be running. Suddenly I remembered a saying, CHATTAN MAPHULNEY SUNAKHARI HARI, whose literal meaning is ‘Orchids that bloom on rocky mountain’. I felt that Gorkhas are like Orchids, who are never scared to take the physical challenges. That saying was getting repeated on my head again and again and it was the only thing, which motivated me to keep on running.
I was in the worst mood still. I was wearing the t shirt with slogan, ‘We are Gorkhas, proud to be Indians, Jai Gorkha, Jai Hind’. A lady runner came from behind and said ‘Jai Gorkha, were you running Mumbai Marathon as well’. I said, ‘may be’. She must have thought what a rude answer. She overtook me. Around 7km, one gentle man was running with me and suddenly asked me, what your target is today? In a very rude tone, I said, “I have no target but I am supporting 14 runners from Darjeeling, who are far ahead of you and me”. He increased the speed and left me behind.
 Around 8 or 9km, one guy before over taking, looked at me and said,‘I am so sorry madam’. I asked, for what? He said, for the incident at the start line and he was the same volunteer, who stopped me and I alleged him that he pushed me and I was offended. I said,its okay and he also over took me.  After 10km, running was more difficult but somehow, I could keep on pushing my body and reached the finish line still with the grumpy face. Met a runner friend from Mumbai, who asked me, ‘what’s your finish time?’ I said, 2 hrs36mins. He was asking, ‘why slow?’ I felt like salt on my wound, I just ignored him and started looking for my team.
They all were not happy with time and I realized that I should pull down my grumpy face and started telling them, whatever they have done was commendable.  We had breakfast together and after that we went to stand in the queue to check our finish timings. Suddenly a loud music started and the entire team ‘Run with Roshni’, started dancing, some runners were trying to do all the stunts and I had to stop them and remind them that they have just run 21km. We all went to see the prize distribution and all the runners from Team were saying that they were regretting for not getting the podium finish. I said, they need to learn a lot before they get the podium finish and it’s just the beginning.
After the prize distribution, we met Maj. DP Singh who lost leg in Kargil war and he is the first India's blade runners. He encouraged 25 blade runners to participate in Hyderabad Marathon on 25th Aug, 2013. Team 'Run with Roshni' was highly inspired and motivated to meet Maj. DP Singh.
Team met Mr. Ram Singh Yadav as well, who represented India at the 2012 Summer Olympics, London. He is the second Indian athlete ever to be qualified for the marathon event of the Olympics. He was the winner of the Hyderabad Marathon on 25th Aug, 2013.
All the runners were telling Mr. Yadav that they are following his footsteps and will represent India in Olympic Marathons soon. He said, ‘work hard, you all will achieve your DREAMS'.
From GachibowliStaduim, we returned back to hotel around, 1pm. After getting fresh, we had lunch and took rest. Around 4.30pm, we saw ourselves running and dancing in the local channels. At 5.30pm, we all met in one room and started sharing our experience of running Marathon in Hyderabad Marathon.
All the runners said that they are feeling bad with their performance. I explained to them, it was due to residual exhaustion, which was in their body. Premika was the only happy person in the team because she came first among four girls for the first time.Nitesh told that he is feeling very guilty for running 10 mins slower than in Mumbai. I told him that, he should be proud of himself for coming to run all the way from Siliguri to Hyderabad, leaving behind his ill mother, who had gone to Kerala for treatment, where she had several failed dialysis. I explained to him that due to his mental fatigue, he could not improve his time. I told Prabal also the same thing because his mother is also not keeping well for long time. Ramesh, Dilip and Binod really surprised me by completing Half Marathon in 1hr 22 mins and 1hr 27mins respectively, even after walking 75km 4 days before. I was expecting them to take more than 2 hrs to complete, half marathon. Most of the runners said that they felt burning sensation in their chest, and they all guessed that may be it was because of eating too much of Biryani a day before the marathon. They all said that they could not control their pace in the beginning, which Coach Daniel keeps on telling them again and again. I assured them that they would learn it with their own experience.  We did not realize that we spent two hours’ time, sharing and discussing our experience and it was time for me to leave for the airport.
With the promise, that we remain united and we would be the examples to all the youths in Darjeeling, I left for the airport.
Details of runners’ timings are below;
Sr. No.    Name    Hyderabad Marathon Timing.   
1    RuneshTamang    03hrs 01mins    Full Marathon 42km
2    Amar Subba    3hrs 18 mins    Full Marathon 42km
3    PrabalChettri    1 hr 21 mins    Half Marathon 21km
4    Ramesh Chettri    1hr. 22mins 27 sec    Half Marathon 21km
5    Dilipsubba    1 hr 27 mins    Half Marathon 21km
6    BinodTamang    1hr 27mins 5 sec    Half Marathon 21km
7    BikramThapa    1hr 28mins 18 sec    Half Marathon 21km
8    Ranjeet Rai    1hr 34mins    Half Marathon 21km
9    Kamal Thapa    1hr 36mins    Half Marathon 21km
10    NiteshGhatraj    1 hr 41mins27se    Half Marathon 21km
11    Sanjay Chettri    1hr 54mins 55 sec    Half Marathon 21km
12    Premika Rai    2hr 5mins    Half Marathon 21km
13    Samiksha Rai        Half Marathon 21km
14    Menuka Rai        Half Marathon 21km

Team ‘Run WithRoshni’ would like to conveytheir special thanks to;
Coach Daniel Vaz for always guiding and providing the personalized training schedule to all the runners.
Mr. Rajesh Saraf, Promoter of Nol Group of Company, Chennai for train ticket from NJP to Hyderabad.
Mr. Mohan, Owner of SaiKrupa Hotel Chikkadpally for free accommodation.Sachin Mehta for requesting Mr. Mohan for our accommodation to Mr. Mohan.
Mr. Lokesh for providing free transport to Hyderabad Marathon Expo in Hitex City from Chikkadpally.
Thanks and gratitude to all the supporters and well-wishers of the project ‘Run with Roshni’.