Kupwara Josh Run – Youth of Kupwara celebrate the spirit of Kupwara running through the town

@JournalistAadil

Srinagar: “It was on August 14, 2021 when for the first time I ran for a distance of 12 Km in the event ‘Run for Nation’ and it was then I felt the flow of immense energy in my body and I pledged that I will make running my life. This event motivated me so much that whenever I skipped my running, I felt incomplete. And also, this gave me a motive to prepare for getting recruited in Army”, said a Kashmiri youth who did not wish to be named.

Later it was November 2021 when again I got a chance to run to test my metal. In ‘Kalaroos Run’ I gave my best but still I felt I was not up to the mark to compete and get selected to serve my nation by joining the Indian Army. And again, I started running and practicing on a daily basis.

But now after preparing for so long today I got a chance to run and prove myself that I can compete and also, I could feel how much I improved from my last run.

It is Friday morning and I got ready to run for ‘Kupwara Josh Run’. I myself was feeling enthusiastic and could feel adrenaline rushing through my veins for this run as it was not just any run but it was meant to promote peace, positivity, sports culture and to divert youth from drugs.

Kupwara Josh Run was approx. 5.5 Km and the route was through the Kupwara town. It was not distance or location or the route that fascinated me but it was the ‘Spirit of Kupwara’, the youth, kids of all age groups and above all was the participation of girls from the Kupwara district. However, I was astonished to see that an Indian Army Officer Major Avinesh Bajpai was running in the lead with a prosthetic Leg. I was really shocked and was filled with positivity at the same time. Even after having a Prosthetic Leg, he has not given up and was fighting and was winning over all his hurdles. This gave me more reason to face my hurdles and achieve my goals in life. I could easily make out that there were more than 450 participants and out of which approximately 30 were girls along with officers and jawans from Army, CRPF, BSF, Police.

All of them came out of their houses and joined the run to give the youth a message that all of them need to join the mainstream of nation building and the Kupwara is not going to fall in trap of the anti-national elements. It was more fascinating to see people of Kupwara market coming out to cheer and clap because the previous generation has never seen such an event in their lives. Also, Senior officers of the Army and DC of the District being there to receive us in Zangli Helipad really touched me.

The amount of dedication and hard work that the Indian Army is putting in guiding the youth of Jammu and Kashmir is exemplary and worth appreciating especially in times when the tides are turning in Jammu and Kashmir and Kupwara is showing the way.