Marathon Man of India – Dr. Ashish Roy

Passion sees no age no boundaries .Dr. Ashish Roy is the example of this .Dr. Ashish started running marathons at the age of 52 and is still running them at the age of 82. Till now he has participated 115 full marathons and 18 half marathons in 20 countries. He has suffered for his passion but it gave him a lifetime title ‘The Marathon Man of India’.  Here Sports Kreeda correspondent Vaishali  Khulbe takes you to the success, thoughts and miseries of the Marathon Man.

Unsung hero

A sad part to his story is that the respect he deserved, he never got it from his own country, India. Europe and America do call him the true ambassador of sports from India. But people hardly write or recognize him in India. He was the only Indian who participated in Norway’s Midnight Sun Marathon but no regards were given to him by government or Indian media. Under the title most marathons, his name is mentioned in the Limca book of records ‘2013’.Still there is no Padma Bhushan, Bharat Ratna or Arjuna Award for him.  

Views on Marathon

 Everywhere marathon is for the common man. India has Olympics, CWG but only marathon could be a thing for all common people. With marathon not only comes the pleasure of running but also good health. We have highest numbers of heart attacks, diabetes, obesity but least number of marathons. Last year USA had 323 marathons in all but India had only 3 or 4.
Not only health, marathons bring money and boost the economy too. If large number of people joins the marathon then automatically the hotel industry and local business will grow. In Japan, Tokyo marathon, 3, 23000 people participated; even half of this number can easily fill most of our hotels. But government or industrialists here don’t want to listen to such plans. Marathons even bring happiness and slow down the ageing process (Ashish is 82 but seems no more than 60 though.)
Roy has even written a book on running in 2009 named ‘Joy of Running” and soon will be launching his new book named “Wonderful Joys of Running.” 

Ashish’s hard times.
In November 2011, after his 113th Marathon Roy suffered from spinal injury and was operated, with six nails fixed in his lower two vertebrates. Roy fought hard to recover, struggled even to walk. He fought and within next one year ran 2 full marathons and 6 half marathons.

 A thing wrong with Ministry

According to Roy, the name itself says what is wrong with Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs. He says it should be all India affairs rather than youth affairs.
“I think sports should not be restricted only to youth. Sports can be continued till the last day of life. Every Indian has the right to be helped by Ministry of Sports. It should give importance to all people, all sports. No age or gender bar should be there.” says Ashish Roy. Adding to this he says that everyone is aware of past glories but government should be bothered more about upcoming talent and present glories.

A thought on Bharat Ratna to Sachin

Sachin Tendulkar, our leaders say is the greatest player of the world. But in reality he has played only in 10 countries out of which India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Pakistan are one part of Asia. A player who has played only in 10 countries and is intellectually poor (academic terms) is a member of Rajya Sabha and is given Bharat Ratna. Here is where leaders are making fool of us.