RNLAM – South Zone Strategy Team
Guest speaker for the subject, “positive attitude and mental toughness”.
Running – My Answer to Fight Back Disability!
Till year 1999, I had no idea about physical disability, how it is connected by the society with our past karma. How less are the opportunities for people who are fighting a battle with any type of disability and also a societal battle against inclusion.
The lone battle:
In the beginning it was not that bad as I was surrounded by many like me, there was a feel of pride in the air being Kargil injured. It is only afteran year of hospitalization that I realized how alone I was not just physically but also mentally and emotionally. There was no one to understand, what is the feeling of a highly active person suddenly going non-active at all. The transition of thoughts from being the one physically active to one who is restrained from many angles was the biggest challenge.
I wasn’t happy! Not at all with life.
I needed a purpose – a definite one and a challenging one.
First & foremost was to get on my feet – yeah! I had a new leg and I was enjoying the new organ. It brought me back on my feet and I was ready to take charge of my life – once again. While the battle of getting on my feet was won but this was just a part as injuries were all over. A long battle need to be fought to live a life of dignity. I was suffering through numerous losses – family, raising a little child without effecting his innocent heart in any negative way. But I had promised myself to not to compromise with quality of my life ever. Running ofcourse was an integral part of this quality life.
Finding the purpose:
1st Marathon which I ran in 2009, took me 3hours 49 minutes and I was absolutely fighting, struggling with my mind, body, heart & soul. Many firsts happened that day – I felt the hunger, I felt the elation and I felt the gratitude towards life. Most importantly, for the first time I could exercise control over my mind, the most difficult thing in life.
That is how started the journey of marathons. In 2011, it became the first blade run. And later few more 1sts.
Sports as the medium of Attitude Building:
I had found the purpose and I was ready to help people who were fighting the battle against disability. I vouched for inclusion of people with physical disability in the society and Sports was the medium. Sports are a great way to instill confidence & boost the mental attitude.
I found some like-minded people who were more than happy to join the cause and we were ready to bring the change.
I started a close FB group for amputees. Closed, because I did not wish anyone to get added and pass an inappropriate remark on any amputee to make him feel bad and lose whatever little courage he mustered after looking at few extra ordinary things like news about amputee running marathons.
But, it was not easy for me to make them speak to each other despite being in a secured arena. That was the effect of taboo we had made the disability into. Nevertheless, relentless efforts and basic positive instinct of every individual to live beautiful could not hold them for long. There started a journey of links. One to another and many got added as link to this chain and every new challenger, as I preferred to call amputees, passed his inspiration to other new joiners. Today TCO working life family grew to strength of 1700.
We are working through campaigns, events and tie-ups. If you know a person who is physically challenged and is seeking inspiration to be a challenger – reach us here or write to my team.
Let us vouch to convert the view point towards disability:
Someone is restricted by losing body part of its mobility because he/she is the chosen one who can perform and carry out things in much better way even in such state. He or she is not less abled, rather he or she is much more abled than any able bodied. A challenger and not a challenged.
ONE RACE Human Race SuperSikh Run
Announcing the much awaited 3rd edition of ONE RACE Human Race SuperSikh Run on Sunday, 9th December 2018.
The event made debut in 2016 and has become one of the most popular running events. With a single Loop, it makes one of the more popular runs to go for Personal Best. The 3rd edition is expected to attract more than 6000 registered runners, the event has grown by more than 100% last year and had over 4500 runners.
Large enough to have that ‘big race’ feeling but warm and fuzzy enough for every participant to get underway and running at their pace, the SuperSikh Run is all set to steal every participants heart year after year and establish itself as the most sought after run in the running calendar.
SSR vision is “To Inspire everyone to be SUPER HERO by believing in themselves; a run with a real heart, SSR raises Aid for leading charities including KHALSA AID.
By participating in this event participants get to run on one of the most scenic routes in Delhi starting from the historical Gurudwara Rakabganj in central Delhi. The unique race route is single loop covering Gol Dak Khana circle, St. Columbas School, Gole Market, Mandir Marg, Ridge Road and Army Public School.
The courses for all the three formats are mainly flat with medium range elevation at one place for the 10Km and two places for half Marathon. The route is fast and well marshalled to ensure all the participants get any assistance they need.
The face of the event and Chief inspiration officer is Major DP Singh, Kargil war survivor and India’s first amputee marathoner, Limca Record holder.
The SuperSikh Run is further supported by Daler Mehndi, Humanitarian Music artist, who has dedicated his Paraolympic Theme song ‘Bhaag Khilaadi’ to ONE RACE HUMAN RACE – SuperSikh Run.
We are also supported by Mr. Fauja Singh and the ‘Flying Sikh’ Milkha Singh along with other prominent sports personalities in India. The Half Marathon features some of the best runners and running groups from India and it is complemented by 10Km and 5Km run to inspire new runners and encourage them to embrace a healthier lifestyle.
Being true to the mission we organise weekly Bootcamps, with Elite runners who are Ambassadors of SUPER SIKH RUN and its core values, to recruit new cohort of runners by making running less intimidating, and get them to run with ease through a structured training program. Runners as we all know tend to be loyal and committed and with the right start you know you have got a runner for a life.
We also have some wonderful experienced pacers running in the half marathon and the 10Km event to help participant achieve their goals.
Gurudwara Rakabganj Sahab is conveniently located right at the heart of Delhi, less than 10 minutes from Connaught Place and just a couple of minutes from the nearest metro station at Central Secretariat. It is one of the most picturesque Gurudwara in India with a very rich history.
All participating runners get the sought after ONE RACE SuperSikh Run tee, finisher’s medal and Hot Langar at finish line along with an awesome race day experience. Participation also entitles you access to the two day ‘Festival of Humanity’ as part of the SSR BIB Expo.
Connect and Engage with over 6000 participants who matter to you.
DSR Conference 2018 – Mahindra
Speaker for their PAN India conference named as “Sada Haq” aiming at regaining strength in constantly changing and ever-increasing competitive environment.
Technology Transformation in the Data Era (Presented by TCS and Intel)
A milestone event talking about VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous)world. The talk was around Change Management and how to handle VUCA world environment as every other day a new technology challenge is emerging.
Guest of Honour @ Asian Paints UNLEASH
Interaction covering PAN India employees during the annual sales conference covering “Unleash, Innovate, Excel and Conquer” as per the agenda for their event.
External Speaker at Values Day 2018
Is saying RIP enough for our martyrs? Ask their parents.
26/11 the date etched in every patriotic Indian. Maj Sandeep Unnikrishnan, AC (P) is a hero for me since then. Its been 9 years but it appears as if it happened only Yesterday. Every year I use to think about late heroes’ parent. How and what must be going through in their mind. And when will be the day, when I will be able to touch their feet.
Today, when I pay homage to my hero, I feel blessed too. It was on 12th Nov that I not only got the chance to meet the parents in person and take their blessings but also used the opportunity to invite them as Guest of honor during the culmination day of 2nd edition of SwachhAbility Run movement. ( Read more about it on www.swachhabilityrun.com, as I am not going to talk about it today).
Parents of Martyr Maj Sandeep Unnikrishnan, Aschok Chakra (P) 26/11 attack hero
Today, I am feeling proud to share one of the most cherished pic with you all. Pic of having honor to stand next to Unnikrishnan auntie and uncle. This was clicked when I was escorting them to see off after the function. Look at the motherly hug I got from Auntie, it gave me a comfort but a sad thought too, as I could feel how much she must be missing Maj Sandeep sir today. And which mother don’t do so? Fathers can keep the emotion at bay, but mothers are full of love to be controlled.
Uncle was so happy to attend the ceremony that when he came to know, that how we are involving kids to sensitize them to become better citizens of tomorrow, he got charged up to run. He was not dressed up for a run, but he said, I am 71, but I will run with kids.
He then asked me are you going to make me run without T shirt? I said, no uncle, let me fetch you one and I got one. He said, where should I change it to remove shirt and wear this? Before, I could answer (which I didnt have) he said, let it be, we dont have time, I will wear it over the shirt itself. And that is how you see him wearing T shirt in this pic.
He did not stop there, after finishing the run, he said, I will now join kids for cleaning drive. And I saw him talking and guiding kids how polythene is eating our earth and how we should avoid it.
He then shared with me, that every day morning I clean area around my house. He said, sometime people ask me, you dont have any other work? To them he replies, this is the most important work for me, rest all works start after this. He knows how important is to take care of mother earth for which he gave his son.
These are the parents of Maj Sandeep Unnikrishnan, martyr of 26/11 Taj hotel attack of Mumbai. And they know the value and importance of sacrifice of their son for our country and its citizen.
But the question is are we doing our bit (mind you I am not asking what others are doing, I am asking you) to take care of this mother of ours?
Every other day there is hero laying his life, getting martyred for us, for our country, and what we are doing? Blaming others and authorities for not doing enough.
O, brothers and sisters. A martyr lays his life for country and country is made of you, me (citizens) and this mother earth. And both these things are to be taken care by us only.
If in 71st year of his age proud father of Martyr Maj Sandeep Unnikrishnan, can run to stay fit and clean earth around his house, why can’t we????? Is this duty of only martyrs and their family?
A question, I leave you with.
Think and pay real homage to martyrs. Flowers, FB posts, RIP and such stuff is not enough. Not for anyone else but for you and your kids’ sake. Every dump of garbage starts with the first wrapper and every inch of smog is not just caused by stubble burning, we also own enough cars to pollute it. Bhagwan Ram did not look for crackers but Deep(awli) and at least don’t show your anger of getting married by exploding cracker bombs, lol
Jai hind
People who taught me and touched my life
I was an average student and couldn’t have fared well in school without the guidance of Devinder uncle ji (spelling is different but the name is same as mine) and Kamlesh aunty ji, a next door couple.
My dream was to get commissioned into the army.
I had promised aunty ji that one day I will get actual stars and bow them in front of her.
On 6th Dec 1997, after commissioning from Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, I drove directly to their house and bowed to touch their feet.
Donning, full uniform with stars on my shoulder, I said, †These are the stars and here I bow in front of you aunty ji and uncle ji. Thank you for what you did and all the support you gave me.â€
Today, aunty ji is no more. May God bless her soul. I spoke to uncle ji, this morning, who is still in Roorkee, Azad nagar and wished him Happy Teachers’ Day. It was difficult to control the emotions.
I thank all those who, in one way or the other, mentored me, including all those who did not do what I expected of them as that helped me become an even better fighter.
I am the chosen one and blessed by Almighty HIMSELF. Thank you GOD for such a blessed life.
PS: The picture was taken during the piping ceremony at IMA. My grandparents did the honour as they are the ones who nurtured me during my childhood and groomed my personality. May their soul rest in peace.
The Shishukunj Model United Nations, 2017
With the theme Reinventing and Revitalizing the Force of Humanity, a 3-day event, Shishukunj Model United Nations was organised at Shishukunj International School, Indore from Thursday, July 20 to Saturday, July 22, 2017, to instill the delegates with enthusiasm to be aware about the problems concerning the world and to come up with effective solutions. Over 650 talented high-school students from some of the Asia�s most elite schools and colleges participated in the event.
On 21st July, 2017, Major DP Singh addressed the students and the teachers, sharing his views on the topic- I AM THE BOSS. He encouraged the students to take the reins in their own hands and be the boss of their lives. He advised them not to be disheartened by the challenges and enlightened them with the ways about how those challenges should be faced. He said that those who get to face the challenges are, in fact, lucky as the process enables them to enhance their leadership and life skills.
He compared the struggles of life to the school exams. Just as the students become eligible for the next class after passing the examinations, the struggles we face take us forward in life. Actually, struggles are a sign that something good is about to happen. All that matters is skills and knowledge along with the right attitude. He also emphasized the importance of knowing our weaknesses and controlling them, while making sure that the failures do not bring our morale down.
Major DP Singh shared with them his own experience, when he was declared brought dead at the hospital in the Kargil war. Even after his revival, he lost his leg, but he was determined to never depend on others and hence, became active in sports, earning multiple Limca records. He stated that disability is just a state of mind and when you believe that You Can, you are not disabled.
