The legacy.
As a kid studying in secondary school, It was always a great
awe to see the torch bearer student of the year, on the Sports day morning,
running proudly circling the whole ground, absorbing the accolades of the whole
world around him, the teachers, the parents and the fellow students; all waving
and cheering every stride towards the flames post to inaugurate the proceedings.
Those are the unforgettable moments of memory of childhood
in school. I used to adore the torch bearers agile movements, twinkling eyes
filled with pride and glory, expression radiant with achievement, ironed sports
uniform prepared since long for this performance, head held high in pride,
chest upbeat with winds of greatness blowing with each breath, a baton made of
shining metal matching that glitter of the morning light held high with a
straight arm growing out of the strong rounded shoulder ready to bear the
responsibility of doing; bestowed upon by the applauding crowd.
The flame in the torch small yet steady and strong
reflecting the determination with which this young soul would have yarned for
this moment of spotlight, moving with stubborn springy motion with the other
hand gesturing inner power in that clasped fist cutting through the cool
morning air that sends in the sounds of the march past bugle to a great
distance showering message of awakening of a strong and young Indian future.
The whole charisma of celebrating the athletic achievements
of that chosen one, concludes in the crescendo of a huge unending shower of
claps and fireworks when the torch is lit and the annual festival of sports in
the school would begin, a day most awaited to be witnessed, to be participated
and to be cherished by each and every one, specially me.
Not to forget, all the pride and glory of that chosen one
were invariably matched by a great humble soul, mild and respectful, jolly good
and helping persona that would really have the prospects of a great leader in
making. Leader that leads by example that is unparallel, at least in the domain
under the capable commands of the torch bearer.
I always imagined how great it would be to hold the torch,
to be the select space time medium to conduct the element of the heavenly
light, the torch, the very symbol of being the best, the strongest, the
fittest, and most importantly the worthiest.
Then I thought that it was a monumental legacy that is to be
borne on the shoulders that carry the torch. It was stupendous asking to be
able to match the greatness of the great torch bearers of the past years, to be
able to reflect the same glory if not to surpass them, to be able to resonate
with the equal radiance if not beat them and to be able to go beyond the
similar thresholds of the undoable if not to outrun them.
I always wondered and shivered thinking of the great duty to
be able to be the next torch bearer, and what is it that would make one.
Very shortly after being introduced to running, the feeling
was revisited. I have witnessed the radiance of a strong yet humble, determined
yet respectful, powerful yet soft, unbelievable yet simple, the unlimited
source of inspiration and motivation in the undisputable torch bearer of the
running arena of this part of the world. I wonder in the same way that I did in
my 5th grade, of what metal that these torch bearers are made of,
and I found an answer when I stumbled upon this newspaper cutting and when
enquired, getting the answer from the torch bearer himself, and I quote: “The
old runner is my grand PA and cyclist behind him is my father” ..!
Friends, meet our torch bearer, and also meet whom he has
been passed on this torch of greatness in excelling in human endurance,
dedication to the cause of running and physical fitness to the maximum.
Only difference is that while the legends of the past torch
bearers are so eloquently narrated by my dad and the seniors, I got to see the
current torch bearer in person, and with an added element of a profound
exuberance and humor, added to the greatness of the able feats to prove the
legacy.
The one and only..! Dr Ashish Kapadia.!
