Gorkha youth icon Roshni 3rd in Tenzing Hillary Everest Half Marathon

6:50 PM

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sports news

The Indian youth icon Roshni Rai also the founder of Run With Roshni came third/3rd in Tenzing Hillary Everest Half Marathon, the world's highest marathon.The Everest Marathon was started in 1985 by Jan Turner and Tony Hunt on a trek to and from Everest Base Camp.The even was organised by the Himalaya Expeditions, HimEX in short, which is an Adventure Travel and Expedition Company based in Nepal and founded by Nepalese Tourism Professionals.

Tenzing Hillary Everest Marathon is an International High Altitude Adventure Sports Event held at Mt. Everest Base Camp every year on May 29 since 2003 to commemorate the historical ascent of Mount Everest by Late Tenzing Norgay Sherpa and Sir Edmund Hillary on May 29, 1953. The trail crisscrosses the Sherpa heartlands of Khumbu Valley between the Everest Base Camp and Namche Bazaar.

Roshni Rai Receiving certificate from Indian Army Colonel, who lead the Indian Army Expedition to Everest 2016.

Roshni on her FB wall wrote the following
Universe loves me.I came 3rd in Tenzing Hillary Everest (THEM) Half Marathon & I won the cash prize of Rs.25000/- (NC).
Reached Everest Base Camp on 27th May & I got the high altitude sickness.I started suffering from lose motion & vomiting. Came down to low altitude in Dinboche yesterday by walking 21km. Today in the morning, I joined Half Marathon from Dinboche.It was tough but Bikram Pandey Kaji NuwaKott Sir has asked Deepak Rai, who is a three times winner of THEM to pace me today. It was with the support of Deepak Rai only, I managed to come third. My finish time for half marathon is 4hrs 2mins.
Now I understood God's plan to make me high altitude sick in Everest Base Camp :)
Thanks to Meenu Shrestha for all the beautiful pics. 
Will be updating more abt EBC trekking soon.

The top three runners in the half marathon have reached the finishing point. The timings of the top three runners are:
1st: Tenzing Dolmans (3:30:13 hrs)
2nd: Dominique Hopkins (3:32:18 hrs)
3rd: Roshani Rai (4:02:08 hrs)

Simarlarly The winners of Full Marathon Open Foreigners:
1. Mr. Robert Celinski from Poland - 4 hrs 24 mins 08 seconds
2. Mr. Fabrice Kah from France - 5 hrs 15 mins 04 seconds
3. Mr. Joseph Wynes from USA - 5 hrs 41 mins 12 seconds

This is indeed a great achievement by our own Roshni Rai and we on be half of the Indian Gorkha Community would like to congratulate her for her achievement. You made us proud again.

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Roshni Rai to ‪‎Ignite‬ Everest Marathon

3:01 PM

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sports news

Writes: Rajeev Ravidas

"Pedong Express" Roshni Rai has been chosen as one of the ambassadors of the Tenzing-Hillary Everest Marathon - an annual event organised by the Nepal-based Himalaya Expeditions - on the foothills of Mount Everest.

Roshni Rai, 35, who hails from Pedong, is presently based in Bombay and is a corporate lawyer by profession.

Roshni wrote a mail to The Telegraph saying she felt honoured and excited and is looking forward to be a part of the event.

"Tenzing-Hillary Everest Marathon is probably the most adventurous run in the world. A briefing session on marathon and trekking will be held in Kathmandu on May 17. More than 130 international runners have registered for the marathon" said Roshni.

Roshni will leave for Kathmandu on May 15.

"I first ran a half-marathon at the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon in 2007. I was badly injured in the knee because of lack of proper training. The following year, I started marathon training under the guidance of my coach Daniel Vaz. Since then I have run for more than 40 races," said Roshni.
"The marathons include 10km races, half-marathons, marathons and ultra marathons (ranging from 50km to 100km). I have also run in four international races-two in the UK, one in Czech Republic and one in South Africa," Roshni added.

Roshni Rai to ‪‎Ignite‬ Tenzing Hillary Everest Marathon

Roshni runs an NGO "Run with Roshni Foundation" in Mumbai that promotes athletes from the Darjeeling hills.

"My foundation supports underprivileged Gorkha runners from the Darjeeling hills to run marathons. We have been doing this since 2012," she said.

On May Day this year, Roshni's foundation had organised the Kalimpong half-marathon.
On the Everest Marathon, Roshni said: "It is an annual marathon organised to pay tribute to Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary who were the first to reach the top of the world's highest mountain Mount Everest on May 29, 1953".

"The Himalayan marathon is organised every year on May 29 from the everest base camp to Namche Bazar. Before the marathon, the runners undertake a 10-day trek from Lukla to the base camp, which are 62km apart, to get themselves acclimatised to the high altitude," she said.



Via: Telegraph

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Run with Roshni Foundation observed its first Foundation day

11:37 PM

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Run with Roshni

28th February, 2016, Run with Roshni Foundation (RWRF) observed its first Foundation day in Kalimpong. Venue was Shyama Devi Hall in Thakurbari. All the runners were very excited to celebrate our first ever Foundation day. Though our event was scheduled to start at 10am, the runners reached the venue at 9am itself, to make all the arrangements.

We did the registrations of all the guests and runners, who were present in the event. We had 40 guests including runners present in our event. Roshni Rai the Founding Trustee did the Power Point Presentation and shared with the guests, how and why Run with Roshni Foundation was started and its achievements till date. All the runners were called on the stage turn wise to share their experiences of running the marathons in different metro cities of India. They all acknowledged their parents and teachers for providing all the supports to them, while going to run the marathons in different cities of India.

Run with Roshni Foundation observed its first Foundation day

Speeches of some runners were very emotional. It was great to see the runners acknowledging their parents. Some runners were sad because their parents and teachers could not make it to the event.
It was an event to share our happiness with all. Laxuman and Roshni Tamang shared their experiences of running Daman Half Marathon 2015. Ranjeet and Bikram shared their experiences of doing five months’ training in Aasansol with the support of RWRF. Binod shared his experiences from Hyderabad Marathon, Daman Marathon and Mumbai Marathon. Aashika and Adipa from Shitong shared their experiences from Mumbai Marathon. Sharaswati is a mother of two kids, who started running to get rid of her gastric problem. Her sharing has inspired many guests present in the event to take up running. Premika shared her experience of identity crisis, while studying in Delhi and she said that she felt very good to support RWRF because the vision of RWRF is very close to her heart. We regret for missing to call Sankumar Darnal on the stage to share his experiences. Mala gave the vote of thanks.

We are very thankful to Tender Buds Academy Pedong, who gave us the donation of Rs.1500/- (fifteen hundred only), with which we could conduct today’s event. We are very thankful to Mr. Hira Chettri, who helped us to distribute the invitation letters to the local clubs of Kalimpong and to all the Medias. We missed the presence of local clubs like Rotary Club of Kalimpong and Veteran Club Kalimpong to whom, we have sent our invitations. We are thankful to all the runners, their parents and teachers, who were present in today’s event. We are inspired carry on our mission!


Via Run with Roshni

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Heart patients, Gorkhas are in race to spread awareness

11:06 AM

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sports

MUMBAI: Sunday's Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon will prove to be empowering in more ways than one.
A group of ten Gorkha boys and girls from far-flung villages of Darjeeling will be running the half-marathon in T-shirts that read: 'We are Gorkhas and proud to be Indians'. The Northeast has for years been fraught with cultural stereotyping and this campaign is the brainchild of Roshni Rai (35), a resident of Mumbai with roots in Pedong to assert their identity in public space.

Fed up with racial slurs, Roshni decided to change things around with a good run. An advocate with "no athletic background" Roshni ran her first marathon in 2007 as part of a leadership project to benefit her community. What started as her medium of self-expression has turned into a rallying cry of support for Gorkhas. "I formed a team of Gorkha runners and I have been using marathons as a platform to highlight grievances and identity issues," said Roshni, who has run 11 marathons across the country.
Her project 'Run with Roshni' has not been a shot in the dark. While it has inspired many from the hills to follow in her footsteps, individuals and running clubs have come forward to dole out the less privileged with registration money, train tickets, accommodation and sports gear. Some of the runners have also earned themselves a job in the Army.
"It has created an opportunity for Gorkhas to understand their potential and for non-Gorkhas to respect them," said Roshni. Talking of twin purposes, 18 sexagenarians will get on their mark on Sunday to prove that they can be happy and healthy even after an open-heart surgery. Called the 'Zippers Club' (taking off from the surgical scar left behind after a bypass that looks like a zipper running up and down the chest) these bravehearts hope to dispel the fears and doubts. "Running is liberating and for most heart surgery patients, it pulls them out of the physical and mental trauma," said Venkatraman Pichumani, who founded the cardiac support group.
Another runner to make a statement at the marathon is 47-year-old Michelle Kakade. "Women are perceived as the weaker sex and physical demanding activities are not our cup of tea especially at my age. If you have the desire and determination no one can stop you," said Michelle whose state of mind helped shape her. With a trail of running records Michelle is aiming for the Guinness World Records for fastest time to travel the Indian golden quadrilateral on foot (female).

Source -Toi

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Roshni‬ Rai selected as the ‪‎Ambassador ‬of ‪‎Everest‬ Marathon, 2016

9:06 AM

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sports news

Ultra Marathon runner, Ms‪ ‎Roshni‬ Rai for being selected as the ‪  ‎Ambassador ‬of ‪‎Everest‬ Marathon, 2016 along with ‪Meera‬ Rai of Nepal. The Everest Marathon, an annual International high altitude marathon run will take place on May 29, 2016 in Nepal. It is one of the most difficult runs in the unforgiving terrains of the ‪‎Himalayas‬.

The ambassadors for the Everest Run 2016 was announced during the event “Cross Border Tourism in the Himalayan Region”, organized by National Tourism Foundation on 6th January 2016 at Heritage Hotel Shankar in Kathmandu. The event was also attended by representatives from Sikkim Tourism Development Corporation.

Roshni Rai was invited to the event by Bikram Pandey, the founder of the National Tourism Foundation which organizes the Everest Run. Roshni’s book “From the Mountains to the Ocean” was also released during the event.

Via GYASA

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Delhi Book Release: Roshni Rai’s “From the Mountains to the Ocean”

12:15 PM

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Run with Roshni

The book release event of Roshni’s Rai’s book “From the Mountains to the Ocean” took place at New Delhi today, 29th of November 2015. Roshni Rai, an advocate by profession is also an ultra-marathon runner and a motivational speaker from Darjeeling.

Roshni Rai is also the founder of “Run Run with Roshni” foundation through which she supports underprivileged Gorkha runners from across India to run in different nation and international marathons run in Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai, Shillong since the year 2012. The vision of ‘Run with Roshni Foundation’ is to find and nurture talented runners from the Gorkha community to represent the country in international and Olympic Games. In every marathon they participate, the team from “Run with Roshni” wears t-shirts with slogan- “WE ARE GORKHAS PROUD TO BE INDIAN. JAI GORKHA JAI HIND!”

Her book “From the Mountains to the Ocean” is the culmination of her journey as a little girl from a remote village in Darjeeling to Mumbai in 2004 through self-discovery and realization in the process. The book narrates the story of Rai’s passion for Running and the vision to highlight the social issues of the Gorkha community through the medium of sports. Interspersed with the history of Darjeeling and of Gorkhas, the book also talks of her struggle to get Gorkhas recognition as Indians through her initiative `Run with Roshni’, whereby she is enabling underprivileged youth from Darjeeling to run marathons across the country.

The book launch event was organized by and hosted by the Gorkha community in JNU, New Delhi. Special shout out to Bijay Thapa for organizing and coordinating the event so smoothly. The event was graced by Major DP Singh, a Kargil War Veteran and India’s first amputee marathon runner. Several eminent Gorkha personalities including Dr. Mahendra P Lama, Prof. Shrawan Kumar Acharya, Jyoti Thapa, Bikram Pandey - Resident Consul General of Greece in Nepal and the chairman of the Tenzing Hillary Everest Marathon, world’s highest train Running Marathon, Amber Thakuri family of Indian National Army (INA) Capt. Ram Singh Thakuri who composed the song “Kadam Kadam badaye ja, khushi ko geet jaye ja” Colonel Pradhan, Reuben Gurung, Saha Yudhister, Andrew Gurung, Sagan Moktan, and other eminent personalities from across Delhi and Gurgaon attended the event helped at the conference hall of School of International Studies, Building II, JNU Campus, New Delhi.

Speaking at the occasion, Prof Mahendra P Lama emphasized on the need for the community to focus on Education. Citing examples of the contribution of upcoming writers like Roshni Rai and Jyoti Thapa to highlight the different aspects and aspirations of the Gorkha community in various subjects and fields. Roshni Rai also answered questions from the audience on the subject and theme of the book, the challenges and here experiences while publishing her maiden book “From the Mountains to the Ocean.” Roshni Rai was also extended an invitation to the Tenzing Hillary Everest Marathon 2016 in Nepal. The event ended with an informal interaction with Roshni Rai and the audience over some light refreshment. Roshni Rai also signed copies of her book and readily agreed to selfied and pictures with the fans.

Prof Mahendra P Lama 

Extending heartiest congratulations to Roshni Rai for her achievements, Gorkha Youth and Students’ Association (GYASA) wishes Roshni Rai much more success in the coming future. We will continue support in her endeavor and vision for the question of an Olympic medal from the community.

Via GYASA

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Gorkha community must reorient its focus towards education and entrepreneurship: CM Pawan Chamling

8:34 AM

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Run with Roshni

(A report on the speech made by Shri Pawan Chamling during Gorkha Mahotav 2015, Dehradun )

Shri Pawan Chamling congratulated the people of Uttarakhand and the Gorkha community across the nation for the Mahotsav to mark the glorious 200 years of the Gorkha history in Dehradun. Highlighting the contribution of the Gorkha community towards nation building of India, the Chief Minister pointed out the role Gorkhas have played in shaping the history of India from the days when Buddha marked his journey seeking and spreading knowledge from Nepal to India. Citing the example of the Khalanga he said that the Gorkha community have been natives of the land for time immemorial and are spread across the country like Sikkim, Darjeeling, Assam, and across the North Eastern region.

Reading out a list of Gorkha freedom fighters and martyrs, Shri Pawan Chamling added that right from the Independence struggle of the country, to the currently serving Lieutenant Generals from the community Lieutenant General (Retired) Shakti Gurung PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, VSM (Previously Military Secretary of the Indian Army) and Lieutenant General (Retired) Ram Pradhan AVSM, SM, VSM, the commitment shown by the Gorkhas towards the security and defense of the nation remains unparalleled. The list of people he read out consisted of Gorkha people from different parts of the country driving home the point that the community has been spread across the country, and no matter where we are we have always given our best towards nation building.

People often ask me ‘were you born in India, are you from Nepal, Your family migrated to India’?

I tell them “Yeah, perhaps they came along with Lord Buddha.”

While congratulating the people from Uttarakhand for the glorious 200 years, he also highlighted the fact that the Nepali speaking Gorkha community in India is also an example of peace in the country. Citing the example of the peaceful Sikkim merger, he added that the Gorkha community had been committed to peace in the nation and have worked with the government towards solution of issues facing the community within the constitutional framework of India. He also added that the identity of the Indian Gorkha is pan-India as the community is spread across the country.

While every Gorkha community settled in different states of India must work with their state government seeking the welfare of the community, the Identity of the Indian Gorkhas must be worked in close collaboration with the central government. The community is today facing identity issue due to the similarities of Gorkha ethnic identity of the Nepali speaking population across India and Nepal. We are often mistaken for citizens of Nepal. Thus, he emphasized that we need seek center’s intervention and urge the government to recognize the Gorkhas as an ethnic minority community and seek support under ethnic minority provisions of the central Government. He stated that there is a bigger need for us to work for the welfare of the community as a whole and beyond states and territories in India.

Even in changing times and economy, the Gorkha community continues to bring in innovation and quickly adapting to the changing needs of the nation. Citing the example of Sikkim as the first state in India to introduce and promote 100 percent Organic farming, he urged upon the Gorkha students to wake up to the rising call of the nation. He accentuated the point that India and the Gorkha community needs highly educated students in service oriented professional studies and Information Technology, top Central Government bureaucrats, IAS, Foreign services, and other top decision-making positions.

"We must explore entrepreneurship in different fields and create jobs for the people, encourage students for higher studies, aim for the top level decision-making positions of the government bureaucracy, research on history of the people, culture, and art. The youths need to be ‘producers’ and not just ‘consumers’."

The Chief Minister called upon the youth to acquire and develop entrepreneurship skills and venture into promoting tourism, and become producers and not just consumers. He suggested the youths to venture into business and market tourism, handicrafts, art, culture and create jobs and ideas in the society. While our regions have huge tourism potentials, our youths must excel in service sector and find innovative ideas to market the places.

After the speech, the Chief Minister humbly placed himself in the service of the community. He said “Malai Kaam Araunu hous, ke garnu parney bhannu hous, mo jailey pani taiyar chhu.”

Footnote:
Gorkha Youth and Students' Association of India - GYASA (represented by Rajen Chhetry and Dinesh Sharma) and Run with Roshni , VK Kunwor (6th Generation descendant of Capt. Balbhadra Kunwor along with other Gorkhas being honoured during Gorkha DWI Shatapdi Mahotsav 2015 and felicitated by Honourable Shri Pawan Chamling , Chief Minister of Sikkim.

By, Dinesh Sharma
Source GYASA

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