Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 24 Dec: Ex-Serviceman Kalam Singh Bist paid a courtesy call on the Governor, Lt General Gurmit Singh (Retd), on Wednesday at the Lok Bhawan, here. On this occasion, the President of the Ex-Servicemen Organisation, Major General ML Aswal (Retd), was also present.
A resident of Mundoli village in Chamoli district, Kalam Singh Bist brought pride to the nation and the state by securing first place in the prestigious, “The Hajar Ultra Trail” run competition (120 kilometres), held in Oman. This international trail running event took place from 11 to 13 December and saw participation from top runners from across the world. During the race, participants faced extremely challenging conditions, including rocky hills, steep climbs, desert terrain, and historic mountain trails. Despite these adverse conditions, Kalam Singh Bist demonstrated extraordinary endurance and strong willpower, completing the race in 18 hours and securing first place.
Congratulating Kalam Singh Bist on this historic achievement, the Governor said that his success is a matter of pride not only for Uttarakhand but for the entire country. He remarked that Bist’s courage, determination, and passion are highly commendable and that he has enhanced the prestige of Uttarakhand on the international stage. This achievement serves as a source of inspiration for the youth and proves that even in the most difficult circumstances, global success can be achieved through discipline, hard work, and self-confidence.
The Governor emphasised the need to sponsor such talented achievers under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives and appealed to society to come forward in support. On this occasion, he also discussed the possibilities of organizing ultra trail competitions in Uttarakhand. It is worth noting that Kalam Singh Bist served in the Indian Army’s 4 Garhwal Rifles. At present, he has earned recognition in India and abroad as the country’s first ultra runner, mountaineer, and social worker. Additionally, in his village, he is doing commendable work by training more than 300 children in running, mountaineering, yoga, cycling, and other activities, helping them stay away from substance abuse and other social evils.
