Let’s delve into the inspirational journey of the Golden Girl, Hima Das, and how she shaped her dreams and became a world champion.
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From running with old shoes to chasing dreams on the international tracks, the proud daughter of Assam, Hima Das, has an incredible story of success, aspiration, and passion that has inspired a huge crowd over time.
Born and brought up in a small village named Kandulimari, near Dhing in the Nogaon district of Assam. Hima Das is a budding athlete who has already made the nation proud with her legendary success in sprint running at such an early age. A farmer’s daughter who practiced in paddy fields with old shoes, creating history at an international sports event, is not only a matter of pride but truly an example of sheer determination and hard work.
Image Source: Instagram handle of Hima Das
Hima Das has inspired many young athletes not to give up on their dreams and to turn every struggle into an opportunity to rise higher.
At the IAAF World U20 Championships, she became the first Indian woman, in fact, the first Indian athlete in history, to win a gold medal in any kind of international track competition. She also became the second Assamese athlete after Bhogeswar Baruah to win an international gold medal.
How the Journey Started?
It all started since her school days. Hima Das was a keen football player in school, as many northeasterners. As a farmer’s daughter, life was not very luxurious for her.
Hima took part in interschool competitions and played matches representing her football club only to collect some amount. A member would get around 400-500 rupees per match at that time, and she was happy to save those. She was determined to pursue a career in football because of her passion for the game, but life has other plans for her, greater and bigger.
She was a student of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Dhing. When her physical education teacher, Nippon Das, saw her flair, he suggested that she should work on sprint running. Hima Das, like an obedient student, started waking up early and kept practicing. She told her father about continuing it, and being a sports enthusiast himself, her father showed immense interest.
Soon after, she started competing in interschool and district-level competitions and did exceptionally well. Hima Das started running her races in her old shoes, which were not really running shoes, but a winner is unstoppable even in dire situations.
The Struggles and Family Support
Hima, the eldest of five children born to Ranjit Das and Jonali Das, had always aspired to be an all-round player. She was a born athlete. Since her parents could remember, she had a passion for participating in all sports. She won her first gold medal in a 100m sprint when she was only 13.
As a proud parent, Ranjit Das was delighted to see his young daughter participating in sports and winning medals. He was her first coach. Going on long runs with her was a part of his routine. She was not particularly feminine as a child and enjoyed playing sports with the boys; her father was always supportive of her interests.
Hima Das has proven to be an inspiration to people all around the world. She was raised in a one-story brick house in a farmer’s family, particularly in a far-off village like Kandulimari. She overcame many financial and personal setbacks as a child and went on to make history at the Finland racetrack.
If she hadn’t overcome the difficulties, she would have never arisen. She accepted challenges and won gracefully.
Hima Das: The History Creator
Hima Das is the first woman athlete who represented India and achieved gold in the running event of the IAAF World U20 Championships. She took home seven gold medals in July and August 2019, adding to her five 200-meter wins, two 400-meter wins, and one silver from 2018. Since 2018, she has served as India’s UNICEF Youth Ambassador.
After Bhogeswar Baruah, Hima is the second Assamese athlete to win a gold medal at an international competition. On September 25, 2018, the Indian President awarded her the Arjuna Award. Her most recent accolade is the chance to join the Assam Police as Deputy Superintendent of Police.
Inspiration from Hima Das
“I never dreamed about success. I worked for it.” —Estée Lauder.
Life was not filled with glitters and sunshine for Hima Das. Some bittersweet memories complete her childhood. It takes us back to the first time she went to the paddy field to assist her father when she was approximately twelve years old. She also used a cow to plow and level a paddy field.
From a very early age, Hima has grown up as a mature and disciplined person whose determination and passion know no boundaries. She started a group named ‘Mon Jai,‘ meaning ‘I feel like’ in 2013, with the help of six friends from the area with the intention of helping the less fortunate sections of society. The ‘Mon Jai’ group is actively involved in social work and has been formally working since 2016.
She never cared how many times she failed; thus, she never gave up. Despite lacking the necessary tools and training, professional practice areas, and certain obstacles, Hima Das has shown the country the value of perseverance. At an early age of 24, she’s an idol for many future athletes and dreamers.
Rimjim Bora is a passionate researcher, writer, and storyteller. Being an Assamese, she takes pride in writing the vibrant stories of Assam, sharing its essence beyond the region. Contact Rimjim at rimjim@diversityassam.com.
