i am and was proud to be a number-memories revisited

                                               I am proud to be a number!

                                                      By

                                          Vivek Hande

                                                                     

I am number 13112 and proud to be so. I am happy and privileged to carry this number .

I am quite comfortable if someone were to address me by this number . I am happy to be  one more number and be part of a large number of people who came out on the roads of Mumbai this Sunday morning to be a part of the Marathon.

I proudly carried this number across my chest and got past the finish line of the twenty one kilometer half marathon. I am proud to carry this number for a large number of reasons.

I was proud because Mumbai came out in large numbers and showed yet again that nothing would get this great city down. I was proud to see huge numbers of people donning their running shoes and running for the sake of running. I was proud to see scores  of people –kids, housewives, even wheelchair bound and infirm- by the roadside-cheering the runners with great spirit and enthusiasm and genuine affection. It was amazing and touching to be offered an outpouring of affection, encouragement , refreshment and an all pervading sense of bonding .  It truly seemed the whole city was speaking out in unison –through each other and collectively-nothing will get us down. We will stand together and help each other heal and help each other rise and move ahead. It really and truly felt that Mumbai was one.

I was proud of many other reasons too. I was proud that I completed the half marathon, notwithstanding the creaking knees and the groaning back –I was not out to set records; but I wanted to do this for myself and I was proud I did it. I was proud that I made many of my patients standing by the road and cheering and egging me on happy and feel good about their doctor. I was proud that I ran the half marathon getting off the start line with my son. It felt nice having him receive and welcome me at the finish line as if I were a conquering hero.

I just felt proud to be there on the roads. I felt proud to be a Mumbaikar; I felt proud to be one among many; I truly feel proud to be a number!!