Gangtok, May 15 — Shanti Ram Nepal, a 34-year-old marathoner from Samdong in Gangtok district, returned to Sikkim on Thursday after completing an extraordinary 71-day solo run across 26 Indian states. His journey, launched to commemorate 50 years of Sikkim’s statehood, concluded with a traditional welcome at Rangpo on the Sikkim-West Bengal border.
Nepal began his expedition on March 5, flagged off by Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang, with the mission of spreading awareness about the Golden Jubilee of Sikkim’s integration into the Indian Union, which took place on May 16, 1975. Despite encountering "unforeseen circumstances" that prevented visits to Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh, the runner successfully traversed most of the country on foot.
“Shanti Ram Nepal’s homecoming marks not just the end of a physical journey, but a symbolic tribute to national integration and resilience,” said a state official.
The state will honour his feat with a felicitation ceremony at Paljor Stadium in Gangtok during the Statehood Day celebrations on Friday.