Date:02/11/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/11/02/stories/2007110255280800.htm

Back

Karnataka

Highlighting burning issues

Staff Correpondent

Thimappa covered
85 km from Sullia to Mangalore in 13 hours

— Photo: R. Eswarraj

Laudable: Thimappa Gowda Kundaka leading a group of runners into the Town Hall premises in Mangalore on Thursday.

MANGALORE: At 59, most people would be thinking about retirement and leading contented lives as senior citizens. But not Thimappa Gowda Kundaka, a businessman and an active member of Rotary Club, Sullia. Mr. Thimappa, who has won laurels in long distance running in many senior national athletic meets, chose Kannada Rajyotsava Day to run from Sullia to this port city in order to create public awareness on many issues.

Setting out from the precincts of Sri Chennakeshava Temple at Sullia at 4.15 a.m. with a band of 10 other runners, Mr. Thimappa covered the 85-km distance to Mangalore in 13-hours, arriving at Town Hall here at 5 p.m. Exhaustion was writ large on his face even as he exuberantly raised both his arms as he came to a halt in front of the Town Hall. He was followed by his support staff in two vehicles and fellow runners on foot.

Interestingly, Mr. Thimappa chose some burning issues of the day namely the poor condition of roads in district, lack of awareness on environmental issues, slow progress in construction of a sports stadium in Sullia taluk and the general apathy of the State and central governments in encouraging sports activities. His effort was spiced by 15 youths who took out a cycle jatha from Sullia to Mangalore to highlight the cause of Kannada.

Monitoring the progress of her husband and son Sujith, who joined Mr. Thimappa at Puttur all through the run, was Asha Thimappa Gowda, a zilla panchayat member. “My husband has created several records in long distance running in senior national athletics meet,” she said. On the run, Ms. Gowda adds: “He is passionate about promoting sports and sportspersons at the local level as he is interested in various environmental issues.”

The passion of his father rubbed off on Sujith, who totally ignored the severe bruises on his right leg suffered in a recent accident. A full time social worker at 26, Sujith says, “His passion was the balm that I needed to overcome shooting pain even as I joined him at Puttur.” Interestingly, this was the first time that Sujith had run this far (nearly 50-kms). He followed the runners in a motorcycle up to Puttur. “His effort encouraged all us runners”, he adds.