GOPIO Guadeloupe hosts Semi-Marathon to commemorate Mahatma Gandhi
Huge turnout for sporting competition promoting non-violence & Gandhi’s ideals
As part of Gandhi Jayanti celebrations, GOPIO Guadeloupe, an organisation of persons of Indian origin living in the Caribbean island territory, hosted a Semi-Marathon to promote the ideals of non-violence and respect.
From tiny tots to octogenerians, hundreds of residents of Guadeloupe, a French territory in the Caribbean, turned out enthusiastically on Sunday to participate in a unique event that commemorated the memory of Father of the Indian Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, through sports.
Organised by GOPIO Guadeloupe, an association of persons of Indian origin living in Guadeloupe, the Semi-Marathon of Non-Violence sawhundreds of athletes, fitness enthusiasts as well as others turn out to participate in the event under which various races were organised, including a 5-km race, a 5-km walking race as well as a Semi-Marathon.
From those barely able to walk, be it infants or people in their 70s or 80s, to athletes and fitness fans, from teachers and businesspersons to students and elected officials, the entire spectrum of Guadeloupean society was well-represented at the event which attracted almost 250 competitors and hundreds more of their family-members, supporters as well as other residents eager to witness a race with a unique theme.
The organisers of the Semi-Marathon say that the idea of building the event around the theme of non—violence was two-fold. “One, we can see that rapid rise in violence in all its forms – mental, verbal, physical, domestic or social and at all levels of our society here in Guadeloupe and of course around the world. So when we were planning to observe Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary, there could have been hardly any better way than to adopt his principles and philosophy which not only gained independence for India but also led other countries and their leaders to emulate Gandhi,’’ Michel Narayaninssamy, President, GOPIO Guadeloupe, tells Media India Group.
Narayaninssamy says that increasingly people of Indian origin have become targets of the social conflicts in Guadeloupe and the Semi-Marathon is part of an effort of the Indian community to create greater awareness about their situation to the authorities in Guadeloupe and also to promote greater social harmony and peace in the entire society.
He says that even though the name Mahatma Gandhi does not figure on the event’s name, he is present in every aspect of the competition. “Whether it is Guadeloupe or Gujarat, non-violence is synonymous with Gandhi. One can not talk of one without thinking of the other. Thus, for me and members of my association, this was the best way honour Gandhi’s memory and also for us PIOs to reconnect with our roots and the land of our forefathers,’’ Narayaninssamy adds.
The race was hosted by Capesterre Belle-Eau, a city in southeast Guadeloupe and for the officials of the city council hall, the event presented an important occasion to raise the issue of rising violence in the society. “The City of Capesterre Belle-Eau is very pleased to be associated with the Semi-Marathon of Non-Violence as it presents an occasion to connect the values of sports with the idea of non-violence and values of society and family, while also sensitising each person about the responsibility of each individual to play his or her due role in opposing the violence, in all its forms, which is gripping the modern human society,’’ Jean-Philippe Courtois, Mayor of Capesterre Belle-Eau tells Media India Group.
Like Narayaninssamy, for Courtois also non-violence is indelibly connected with Mahatma Gandhi. “Gandhi lived his entire life propagating non-violence and even 100 years later when we speak of non-violence, we instinctively think of Gandhi and work in propagating the ideals of non-violence and mutual respect,’’ Courtois adds.
He says that he at a personal level and the elected officials of Capesterre Belle-Eau have always been working closely with the Indian community in the city and in Guadeloupe to enhance the ties between India and the city.
Besides fitness enthusiasts and amatuer athletes, the race also attracted professional runners from varoious parts of Guadeloupe and mainland France as well. To ensure that the race followed all the norms laid down by World Athletics, the global governing body of athletics, the organisers had roped in a renowned Marathon judge, Jean Jacques Cachou, who was amongst the six French experts who supervised the organisation of Marathons during the Paris Olympic Games as well as Paris Paralympic Games held just a few weeks earlier in the French capital.
Cachou says that he got interested in playing a role in the organisation of the Semi-Marathon when he was informed about the unique theme and the plans that the organisers had in terms of making the event bigger and better in the futre. “I am always looking for challenges like these that will help various organisations mount very professionally-organised events and which propogate sports and athleticism in the society,’’ Cachou tells Media India Group.
He says that while the race was a bit difficult due to the hilly terrain of the route, it attracted athletes of the highest levels, including former national champions from France. Cachou adds that he was particularly attracted by theme of the race. “I personally believe in the importance of mutual respect in the society and the theme of non-violence is all about respect of others and hence I found it to resonate with me very personally,’’ Cachou adds.
On the connections with India and Mahatma Gandhi, Cachou says that for him, like for anyone else, the values of non-violence and respect are synonymous with Gandhi and adds that he would be glad to associate with the event to help it grow further. “I would be back here next year, certainly,’’ he says. “If the organisers want me, of course’’ he adds jocularly.
For the residents of Guadeloupe, too, the event represented sports and much more. Murielle Dorville Ingadassamy, an elected official of Capesterre Belle Eau, turned up with five of her friends for the 5-km race and she says all of her friends were thrilled to be part of the event. “It is one of the best ways to remain fit, mentally and physically, by running and by bonding with each other, be it your closest friends or strangers that you meet during the race,’’ Ingadassamy tells Media India Group.