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Run for Laadli: A Marathon That Portrayed the True Spirit of Delhi

The eight degrees celsius cold didn’t stop thousands of Delhiites from “running for laadli”

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India
4 min read
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For somebody who has lived in Mumbai all his life, and does not really know what winter is like, Delhi’s cold can be traumatic. And waking up at 5 am in December on a Sunday morning, wearing shorts and sleeveless t-shirt to run a marathon, seems like an impossible task to me.

The Sunday morning temperature in Delhi was eight degrees celsius, but that didn’t stop thousands of Delhiites from participating in the half-marathon organised by the Delhi police. In association with the Laadli foundation, the Delhi police organised ‘Run for Laadli’, that aimed at spreading awareness about gender equality and stop crimes against women in the capital.

The event was organised in the backdrop of the fifth anniversary of the 2012 Nirbhaya rape case that shook the entire nation and revolutionised laws for crimes against women. Delhiites flocked to Jawaharlal Nehru stadium to participate in the half-marathon categorised into 21 km, 11 km and 5 km races, and a 2.5 km race for the differently-abled.

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The races were flagged off by Home Minister Rajnath Singh and social justice minister Thawar Chand Gehlot. Hailing the Laadli foundation and the Delhi police’s efforts towards gender sensitisation and protection of women, Singh said that there will come a time when women will be able to roam freely, without having to worry about their safety on the streets.

“Sensitisation can’t be induced through speeches, the society itself needs to realise the importance of it, and that can come only after a change in the mindset,” said Singh.

As a part of the initiative, 15,000 unemployed youth were registered with the Skill India programme. The youth also took oath to become a “Laadli Rakshak” to promote gender sensitisation and raise their voice against atrocities faced by women.

Not everybody was a runner. While some were seen warming-up before the race, many came just to support the cause, and to spread awareness about gender equality.

The eight degrees celsius cold didn’t stop thousands of Delhiites from “running for laadli”
The eight degrees celsius cold didn’t stop thousands of Delhiites from “running for laadli”
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Old and young, women and children, everybody participated in the races of their choice. People from the recently organised Super Sikh Marathon also participated.

The eight degrees celsius cold didn’t stop thousands of Delhiites from “running for laadli”
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The pricking cold did not deter these young participants from running for a cause.

The eight degrees celsius cold didn’t stop thousands of Delhiites from “running for laadli”
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Volunteers of the Laadli Foundation left no stones unturned to raise the spirits of the participants.

The eight degrees celsius cold didn’t stop thousands of Delhiites from “running for laadli”

And when the whistle blew, there was no stopping them...

The eight degrees celsius cold didn’t stop thousands of Delhiites from “running for laadli”

...till they dropped at the finish line, trying to catch their breath.

The eight degrees celsius cold didn’t stop thousands of Delhiites from “running for laadli”

Ability is just a matter of perspective, they say. These participants totally justify the saying.

The eight degrees celsius cold didn’t stop thousands of Delhiites from “running for laadli”
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The million dollar smile on the faces of the winners is enough to inspire many (like me) to leave their beds in the morning and start running.

The eight degrees celsius cold didn’t stop thousands of Delhiites from “running for laadli”
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The chorus of thousands of people singing the national anthem before the race could fill your heart with a sense of pride, patriotism and inspiration. The air at the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium was filled with every kind of positive energy that one can think of. It was filled with a spirit of humanity and co-existence. It was the spirit of Delhi.

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(Breathe In, Breathe Out: Are you finding it tough to breathe polluted air? Join hands with FIT in partnership with #MyRightToBreathe to find a solution to pollution. Send in your suggestions to fit@thequint.com or WhatsApp @ +919999008335)

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