Race In The Clouds: Indian Army’s High Altitude International Marathon – OpEd
Apparently , it is all about showcasing the breathtaking beauty of this Himalayan foothill town housing an ancient Buddhist monastery with possible gains anticipated in tourist traffic.
But when the Indian Army and the Arunachal Pradesh government started organising an international marathon in the border town of Tawang last year, it had a subtle message to offer the world — Tawang and much of the whole state of Arunachal Pradesh claimed by China is actually India’s. Held by the Indian Army and administered by the State government of Arunachal Pradesh, one of India’s 28 full states.
Earlier this year, Chinese names were given to dozens of places in Arunachal Pradesh by Beijing which calls the province “Southern Tibet”. India hit back publishing names of nearly thirty places in Tibet in ancient Indian languages to highlight the close historical connections between India and Tibet.
But last week, India and China stunned the world by announcing a landmark deal for de-escalation and disengagement in Ladakh, scene of fierce clashes four years ago. The deal was announced just before Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Moscow for their first bilateral in five years on the sidelines of the BRICS summit. The two leaders pledged to implement the border disengagement deal in Ladakh and take forward the process of resolving the long festering border dispute.
But amidst the bonhomie, the Indian Army went ahead with the scheduled marathon race at Tawang ( altitude: 10,000 feet) on 24th October. That was not only the UN Flag Day but also reminded Indians of this time of the year in 1962 when the Chinese launched a surprise military offensive and overran Tawang , Bomdilla and many other towns of Arunachal Pradesh before it retreated.
The Tawang 2024 marathon was marked by participation of 4,400 runners from across India and 11 participants from different countries.
Alamu Tadasa Gido from Ethiopia won the 42-km marathon for men.
“The event showcased Tawang’s potential as a world-class adventure tourism destination while highlighting the rich cultural heritage of the area. Visitors had the unique opportunity to experience the traditions and lifestyle of the indigenous Monpa community,” Army spokesperson Lt .Col. Athul Sreedharan said.
“The collaborative effort in organising the event emphasised the deep bond shared between the people of Arunachal Pradesh and the Indian Army,” he added.
Beyond being a race, the Tawang Marathon provided an economic and cultural boost to the region. The influx of thousands of participants and visitors greatly benefited local businesses, particularly in tourism and hospitality.
The Marathon was graced by presence of Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Pema Khandu and senior army commanders like Lt Gen Gambhir Singh who commands the army Corps that guards Tawang.
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