Among the thousands of participants at the marathon organized in the city on Saturday were a number of people who beat all odds not just to accomplish personal achievements but also to selflessly spread cheer.
Here’s introducing you to five inspiring people at the TCS World 10K run in which 23,000 participants attempted to outdo each other in racing to the finish line. Many of them spread social awareness along the way.
Why teach a fish to climb a tree?
Sita Krishnamurthy from Deepika, a school for children with special needs, ran the marathon with her team to create awareness about the difficulties faced by these children in academic performances. “Math and science are not the only way to go. Do not follow the crowd and teach children what they are passionate about. Don’t expect a fish to climb a tree,” she exclaims.
A tale of inspiration:
Having run marathons for the past 15 years, 65-year-old M Srinivasa Rao is an inspiration for the disabled. He was conferred the Arjuna Award for Wheelchair Badminton in 2003 and is currently the president of the Telangana State Paralympic Committee. “The physically challenged shouldn’t take their disability to heart. They should have the will power and the confidence too, to can achieve anything if they believe in themselves.
When Kempe Gowda ran
Strolling on the streets, dressed as Emperor Kempe Gowda, Manas Kumar says he runs marathons to impart a message. “I chose the King Kempe Gowda this year, to display how disappointed he would’ve been with Bengaluru’s condition. He chose the city to be the capital of Karnataka for a reason – for its many lakes and the green cover,” laments Kumar. Last year, he dressed as Lady Justice (heh idea of justice depicted in a statue of a blindfolded woman holding a pair of weighing scales), to protest Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa’s release in the disproportionate assets case.
Meet Mr. Gigggles
For the past two years, Mr. Gigggles has been weaving in and out of the crowd at the marathon, seeking out disabled people to entertain them. “Seeing these people smile and laugh is all Mr Giggles wants,” he says, signing off to pull a trick for a bunch. He walked away refusing to reveal his identity.
From Tirunelveli, with hope:
29-year-old Mariamma from Tirunelveli had always dreamed of running a marathon. Even losing her limbs to polio did not stop her. Running her first marathon at the TCS 10K in Bengaluru, Mariamma completed 4.2 km, and says that she has never been happier. She recited a short poem in Tamil at the post-marathon event.
This marathon is not just about physical exercise
But is also helping us gain inner peace and happiness
To keep ourselves happy, let us feel young, and run with joy
With a hopeful heart, let us all run this marathon with happiness