''We are Gorkhas and Proud to be Indian. Jai Gorkha, Jai Hind, ''
Born and brought up in Kalimpong, Darjeeling, Roshni Rai moved out of her hometown in search of better education and a better career. But, after reaching Mumbai, she was startled by the identity crisis of Gorkhas in India, which changed her completely. Roshini has been referred as ‘Chinki minki, Chinese doll,’ etc while running on the streets as well. She felt the urge to do something in her lifetime to highlight the fact - Gorkhas are Indians (still so many people are not aware of it). She started a campaign 'Run with Roshni' with an objective of empowering Gorkhas and supporting Gorkha runners to run Olympic marathon representing India and enlightening non- Gorkhas, how Gorkhas are Indians.
There has a lot of political leaders who might have put forward the demand of Gorkhaland, but they are silenced when they cross the hills. But, Roshni Rai, a proud Gorkha girl has been trying her best to eliminate the identity crisis faced by Nepali speaking Indian in their own motherland. It would not be surprising, if people outside of the hill station know more about her than people in Darjeeling, especially in Mumbai. It is due to her efforts that she has earned a number of friends from the bollywood industry and the who's who of India as well.
When she participates for India in international competitions, she wears a tee with a slogan ''We are Gorkhas and Proud to be Indian. Jai Gorkha, Jai Hind, '' thus placing Gorkhas on a global map as Indians.
Ashim Sunam (AS): When did you first feel the need to highlight the issue of raising awareness about Indian Gorkhas?
Roshni Rai (RR): In a three days course in June 2011, Mumbai, people were sharing that they know Gurjrati, Hindi, Marathi etc, somehow, I was feeling uncomfortable to say, I know Nepali. With some courage, I said I know Nepali and felt like 300 people staring at me in a surprised state. From that moment, I started enquiring, why I am feeling uncomfortable to introduce myself as a Gorkha girl or a Nepali girl? I realised that whenever, I said, I speak Nepali to people in Mumbai, pat came their reply, ‘so you are from Nepal?’ I have also heard many people referring to their watchman as Gorkha.
These two things have given me so much of inferiority complex and I was hesitating to introduce myself that I am Gorkha or a Nepali. In due course, I learnt that people are asking me such question because they are not aware as to how Darjeeling is an integral part of India and they are not aware that Nepali is already a recognized language under the constitution of India. It is one of the language mentioned in Indian currency. So, by running marathons, I decided to bring the awareness about Nepali speaking people being Indians also.
AS: Have you ever undergone any sort of racial discrimination?
RR: Racial discrimination as such, I have been taunted by comment such as - ‘Chinese doll, Chinki minki’, while running marathons or normally walking on the road. I have slapped more than five people, who have taunted me with such comments in Mumbai.
AS: How did the thought of 'Run with Roshni' campaign kick-off? What is its objective?
RR: While doing ‘Self Expression and Leadership Program’ from Landmark Education, I had to take a project, which is close to my heart and it should benefit my community. So, I started the project ‘Run with Roshni’. Its objective is to empower Gorkhas and support Gorkha runners to run Olympic marathon representing India and enlightening non- Gorkhas, how Gorkhas are Indians.
AS: How successful has this venture been in highlighting the identity crisis?
RR: It has been highly successful. Team ‘Run with Roshni’ ran Mumbai marathon 2012, 2013, 2014, Hyderabad Marathon 2013 and Chennai marathon 2013, wearing t-shirts with slogan-‘We are Gorkhas and Proud to be Indian. Jai Gorkha, Jai Hind’. And this slogan attracted many media houses. We have got media mentions in more than 15 national media houses.
Through media, after reading my interview, many colleagues confessed that they were unaware that Gorkhas are Indians. Further, Gorkhaland agitation is going on since the last 107 years in Darjeeling. Many people have died for the same but none of the media houses have properly covered the issue of Gorkhaland, but our marathon running has got lots of media mention, hence I say that ‘Run with Roshni’ is highly successful.
AS: Why marathon and not other sport to support the cause?
RR: I chose marathon and not any other sports, as it is my ‘self expression’ and passion as well.
AS: Was it from your school days that you were interested in running long distance?
RR: No, I was not an athlete during my school days in Kalimpong, Darjeeling. I ran my first Half marathon in 2007 in Mumbai.
AS: You are a corporate lawyer by profession. How do you balance your work and passion (running)?
RR: Running gives me that special high to handle all issues in my profession.
AS: As a long distance runner, what are your major achievements?
RR: Till now, I have run 38 races. I have represented India in three international marathons - Prague International Marathon 2010, The Comrades Marathon 2012 of 89km in South Africa and Maiden head Half marathon 2013 in UK.
The longest distance I have run is 89 km Comrades marathon 2012. Till date only three Indian women have completed this distance and I am still the fastest Indian woman out of the three. In Comrades marathon, one has to complete the distance of 89km in 12 hours otherwise, they will declare DNF (did not finish in marathon lingo). That’s why it is known as ultimate human race. My Comrades marathon was a tribute to all the Gorkha sahids, who have sacrificed their lives for mother India.
AS: When marathon races are held, you sometimes invite runners from Darjeeling to run under 'Run with Roshni' flag. What is your purpose behind the move?
RR: Darjeeling being a hill station, people are very good in long distance running but they don’t know how to register for international marathon like Mumbai marathon. If they get support and enough encouragement, in another 3-4 years, they will start competing with Kenyans / Ethiopians and make India proud by winning International Marathons. Out of the 30 runners, whom I have been supporting since 2012, six runners are very strong. They can run 21km in between 1 hr 17 mins to 1hr 30 mins, without proper coach and guidance. Three runners from team Run with Roshni - Prabal Chettri, Sanjay Chettri and Puran Rai are recruited in the Indian Army, which is one of the pathways for these runners to reach Olympic Marathon.
Darjeeling has received enough dead bodies of her son with India’s flag on their chest, now she should start receiving sons with India’s flag on their shoulders, the way sportstars return home after winning Olympic Medals.
AS: Do you receive any financial help in the regard?
RR: I raise funds from my runner friends from all over India to support these runners from Darjeeling to run marathons.
AS: What are your future plans?
To empower and enlighten Gorkhas in India.
To support strong runners from economically backward class in Darjeeling to run national and international marathons.
To make India proud by winning International and Olympic Marathons by the runners from Darjeeling.
To eliminate the identity crisis faced by Nepali speaking Indian in their own motherland.
Bringing awareness among Indians, how the Nepali speaking people are Indians.
To bring awareness all over India that Nepali is a recognized language under the Constitution of India and it is one of the languages mentioned in the Indian currency.
To let the world know, who the Gorkhas are by getting media mentions through running and winning marathons.
AS: Will the current demand for Gorkhaland solve the identity problem?
RR: Gorkhaland, if achieved, will help a long way in solving the identity problem of the Gorkhas living in India as well as abroad.
Born and brought up in Kalimpong, Darjeeling, Roshni Rai moved out of her hometown in search of better education and a better career. But, after reaching Mumbai, she was startled by the identity crisis of Gorkhas in India, which changed her completely. Roshini has been referred as ‘Chinki minki, Chinese doll,’ etc while running on the streets as well. She felt the urge to do something in her lifetime to highlight the fact - Gorkhas are Indians (still so many people are not aware of it). She started a campaign 'Run with Roshni' with an objective of empowering Gorkhas and supporting Gorkha runners to run Olympic marathon representing India and enlightening non- Gorkhas, how Gorkhas are Indians.
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| We are Gorkhas and Proud to be Indian. Jai Gorkha, Jai Hind, |
There has a lot of political leaders who might have put forward the demand of Gorkhaland, but they are silenced when they cross the hills. But, Roshni Rai, a proud Gorkha girl has been trying her best to eliminate the identity crisis faced by Nepali speaking Indian in their own motherland. It would not be surprising, if people outside of the hill station know more about her than people in Darjeeling, especially in Mumbai. It is due to her efforts that she has earned a number of friends from the bollywood industry and the who's who of India as well.
When she participates for India in international competitions, she wears a tee with a slogan ''We are Gorkhas and Proud to be Indian. Jai Gorkha, Jai Hind, '' thus placing Gorkhas on a global map as Indians.
Ashim Sunam (AS): When did you first feel the need to highlight the issue of raising awareness about Indian Gorkhas?
Roshni Rai (RR): In a three days course in June 2011, Mumbai, people were sharing that they know Gurjrati, Hindi, Marathi etc, somehow, I was feeling uncomfortable to say, I know Nepali. With some courage, I said I know Nepali and felt like 300 people staring at me in a surprised state. From that moment, I started enquiring, why I am feeling uncomfortable to introduce myself as a Gorkha girl or a Nepali girl? I realised that whenever, I said, I speak Nepali to people in Mumbai, pat came their reply, ‘so you are from Nepal?’ I have also heard many people referring to their watchman as Gorkha.
These two things have given me so much of inferiority complex and I was hesitating to introduce myself that I am Gorkha or a Nepali. In due course, I learnt that people are asking me such question because they are not aware as to how Darjeeling is an integral part of India and they are not aware that Nepali is already a recognized language under the constitution of India. It is one of the language mentioned in Indian currency. So, by running marathons, I decided to bring the awareness about Nepali speaking people being Indians also.
AS: Have you ever undergone any sort of racial discrimination?
RR: Racial discrimination as such, I have been taunted by comment such as - ‘Chinese doll, Chinki minki’, while running marathons or normally walking on the road. I have slapped more than five people, who have taunted me with such comments in Mumbai.
AS: How did the thought of 'Run with Roshni' campaign kick-off? What is its objective?
RR: While doing ‘Self Expression and Leadership Program’ from Landmark Education, I had to take a project, which is close to my heart and it should benefit my community. So, I started the project ‘Run with Roshni’. Its objective is to empower Gorkhas and support Gorkha runners to run Olympic marathon representing India and enlightening non- Gorkhas, how Gorkhas are Indians.
AS: How successful has this venture been in highlighting the identity crisis?
RR: It has been highly successful. Team ‘Run with Roshni’ ran Mumbai marathon 2012, 2013, 2014, Hyderabad Marathon 2013 and Chennai marathon 2013, wearing t-shirts with slogan-‘We are Gorkhas and Proud to be Indian. Jai Gorkha, Jai Hind’. And this slogan attracted many media houses. We have got media mentions in more than 15 national media houses.
Through media, after reading my interview, many colleagues confessed that they were unaware that Gorkhas are Indians. Further, Gorkhaland agitation is going on since the last 107 years in Darjeeling. Many people have died for the same but none of the media houses have properly covered the issue of Gorkhaland, but our marathon running has got lots of media mention, hence I say that ‘Run with Roshni’ is highly successful.
AS: Why marathon and not other sport to support the cause?
RR: I chose marathon and not any other sports, as it is my ‘self expression’ and passion as well.
AS: Was it from your school days that you were interested in running long distance?
RR: No, I was not an athlete during my school days in Kalimpong, Darjeeling. I ran my first Half marathon in 2007 in Mumbai.
AS: You are a corporate lawyer by profession. How do you balance your work and passion (running)?
RR: Running gives me that special high to handle all issues in my profession.
AS: As a long distance runner, what are your major achievements?
RR: Till now, I have run 38 races. I have represented India in three international marathons - Prague International Marathon 2010, The Comrades Marathon 2012 of 89km in South Africa and Maiden head Half marathon 2013 in UK.
The longest distance I have run is 89 km Comrades marathon 2012. Till date only three Indian women have completed this distance and I am still the fastest Indian woman out of the three. In Comrades marathon, one has to complete the distance of 89km in 12 hours otherwise, they will declare DNF (did not finish in marathon lingo). That’s why it is known as ultimate human race. My Comrades marathon was a tribute to all the Gorkha sahids, who have sacrificed their lives for mother India.
AS: When marathon races are held, you sometimes invite runners from Darjeeling to run under 'Run with Roshni' flag. What is your purpose behind the move?
RR: Darjeeling being a hill station, people are very good in long distance running but they don’t know how to register for international marathon like Mumbai marathon. If they get support and enough encouragement, in another 3-4 years, they will start competing with Kenyans / Ethiopians and make India proud by winning International Marathons. Out of the 30 runners, whom I have been supporting since 2012, six runners are very strong. They can run 21km in between 1 hr 17 mins to 1hr 30 mins, without proper coach and guidance. Three runners from team Run with Roshni - Prabal Chettri, Sanjay Chettri and Puran Rai are recruited in the Indian Army, which is one of the pathways for these runners to reach Olympic Marathon.
Darjeeling has received enough dead bodies of her son with India’s flag on their chest, now she should start receiving sons with India’s flag on their shoulders, the way sportstars return home after winning Olympic Medals.
AS: Do you receive any financial help in the regard?
RR: I raise funds from my runner friends from all over India to support these runners from Darjeeling to run marathons.
AS: What are your future plans?
To empower and enlighten Gorkhas in India.
To support strong runners from economically backward class in Darjeeling to run national and international marathons.
To make India proud by winning International and Olympic Marathons by the runners from Darjeeling.
To eliminate the identity crisis faced by Nepali speaking Indian in their own motherland.
Bringing awareness among Indians, how the Nepali speaking people are Indians.
To bring awareness all over India that Nepali is a recognized language under the Constitution of India and it is one of the languages mentioned in the Indian currency.
To let the world know, who the Gorkhas are by getting media mentions through running and winning marathons.
AS: Will the current demand for Gorkhaland solve the identity problem?
RR: Gorkhaland, if achieved, will help a long way in solving the identity problem of the Gorkhas living in India as well as abroad.
Source: merinews.
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