Shashwat Shukla – The unstoppable Barefoot runner

Shashwat Shukla, 26, a barefoot runner, set a world record by running 15 km barefoot in 58 minutes 12 seconds in March 2019. This feat didn’t surprise him since he had been preparing dedicatedly for years to achieve such impossible feats. But it hasn’t come easy. There were days when he had to count the minutes he will live. Read his story to understand where one’s passion & dedication can lead them.

Tell us about the background of Shashwat Shukla.

Shashwat Shukla – My great grandfather was a freedom fighter. Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru had once told him- “Bas Jhukna Mat aur sab sambhaal lenge”. My great grandfather’s life was at stake. Still, he didn’t bend at all, even at gunpoint. He was imprisoned by the British. This story is important to me. That’s my foundation. ‘To not bend under any circumstances is in my blood. I can’t give up ever. I grew up in Chandrapur near Nagpur in my uncle’s house. I studied in convent till my 10th Std.

I was sent to them when I was 1.5 years old from Allahabad for studies. I was too young even to understand who my parents are? I considered my uncle-aunt as my parents. I used to call my birth parents Chacha-Chachi. It still remains the same. I lost all admiration for my birth parents. They left me with people who never considered me their own. They used to give only two rotis to eat, nothing more. I thought that’s how life is, as I had never known better. Discrimination was part of my life.

There were beatings & abuses. I lived in fear, and the idea of God repulsed me. It made me angry. But slowly, I gave in & started doing Bhakti. I started following Swami Vivekananda & Krishna’s sayings in Geeta. I started using those principles in my daily life. I learned honesty & surviving in minimum resources from my grandfather.

Did sports interest you as a child?

Shashwat Shukla – My dream as a kid was to do something big. To make a record internationally & make my nation proud. I have loved rigorous physical training since childhood. People used to wonder why this kid is always doing some exercise? I loved running because I won competitions in school, got small gifts like a tiffin box & felt this would give me some respect in my house. I believe running is God’s gift to me. He gave me speed. I developed it. Even when my left foot ligaments tore, I didn’t stop.

In my mind, I was convinced I have to fight the pain & keep practicing. Pain is a ‘thought,’ not an actual thing. My work is the actuality, and I have followed this principle throughout my life. My physical pain was sweeter compared to the torture I received at home. I kept running with pain. This lead to my legs was becoming worse with each passing day. I didn’t have money to go to a doctor. I had no one to tell about my condition. There was no internet so that I couldn’t Google my condition.

I used to take local advice. Someone suggested ‘tie a leaf’ to it, and I tied a leaf to my leg. But no good came out of it. I suffered for seven years, and finally, someone took me to the doctor. He was shocked seeing my condition and asked if I had ever eaten anything. My body was devoid of minimum protein & minerals. My condition was such that I couldn’t wear regular shoes, trousers/ jeans, and sleep on the mattress. I still am struggling with it. But running is my anti-depressant since childhood. It made me confident.

Diet is an essential part of a Sportsman’s life.

Shashwat Shukla – Water was my diet. I never had meals like regular runners or sportspeople, or even ordinary men. I used to get little rice for Lunch, two rotis for Dinner & as few vegetables as you can imagine, or sometimes I got salt with rotis. Later even salt wasn’t given.

Why did you decide to become a Barefoot Runner?

Shashwat Shukla – I was in Allahabad walking beside Ganga River barefoot. Sand doesn’t allow you to wear slippers. Slippers get immersed in it. Therefore, I realized this is giving me so much comfort. If I can walk comfortably, why don’t I try running barefoot? Why do I need shoes? Then I started training barefoot. Marathon Runner Ram Singh Yadav, who represented India in Olympics, London 2012, trained me. He is from my village. He considered me as his younger brother and told me that barefoot running has scope too.

People can perform well in it if they have enough passion. It isn’t as good as running wearing shoes. But with my condition, I would say something was better than nothing at all. So I started competing barefoot with regular runners. I was always among the Top 3. It pained but less compared to wearing shoes & running. With shoes, I could barely run, let alone compete with runners. Then I met Milind Soman, who is also a barefoot runner. I ran a 100 km race with him. He motivated me a lot.

When & Why did you come to Pune? How did you manage to survive in this city? 

Shashwat Shukla – After Class 10, I was sent back to my village as education in the city required money. I studied in my village till my graduation. I developed Bipolar Disorder during my B.Com. I still can’t fathom how I survived it. My childhood friend Sumit Sindhu took me to Chandigarh & cared for me. He felt if I survive, I can achieve the impossible. Everyone had left hope & considered me almost dead. I could not even face the light. My eyelids pained like hell.

I was bedwetting as there was no strength left in my body. Family, friends all had left. I had a girlfriend who was studying in Pune. When she called me, she kept the phone on speaker so that her friends could hear my blabbering & laugh at it. I couldn’t manage to say words correctly. I said something, and some other sound came from my mouth. I used to get angry, & the next moment starts laughing. My mind was playing games. They laughed- Look how the mad guy speaks. Only Sumit gave me moral support. I thank him every day. I got so frustrated I used to take a blade & cut my tongue.

There were suicide attempts too. Breathing took effort. People count the years they are going to survive. I counted minutes. As I recovered a little, I came to Pune because I was in love. I wanted to meet my girlfriend. I saw her with another guy & wasn’t able to stand it. My brother, who stays in Pune, beat me up. They said I am mad. Call it anything you want, madness or fancies of youth. I was in love. Period. The family threw me out. The job was not possible even though I was a graduate because of my disorder. I couldn’t even do simple math. I got a cleaning job at a restaurant.

But I had faith in God. By God’s grace, I got a job in a café near Balewadi Sports Complex. I used to make a coffee shot for myself. It gave me immense energy, and I started running on the track nearby. Esteemed people used to visit the café. Suruchi Nagpal, CEO of Cyber Crime, was one such person. There is always a woman behind the success of a man. She is that woman. She pointed me to her husband and asked me if I am suffering from some condition. After hearing my story, they put me in touch with Debashish Nayak. I didn’t know who he was. He thought I was talented, took me for breakfasts.

I used to stay in the hostel. Debashish used to come there to pick me up & feed me. I once Googled him & realized he was a big-shot Cybercrime lawyer. He gave me a book- ‘Today We Die Little’ about an athlete. He supported me throughout & I started running again.

How do you think criticism & discrimination shaped you as a human?

Shashwat Shukla – I was Poor. I had no family, no girlfriend, no money, & no worth. The only thing I had was speed. So I ran. People thought I am mad. In India, only cricket is worth a sport; running is madness. They said I should enjoy my youth making girlfriends, making gym body & not waste my time pursuing a sport nobody cares about. I have always believed in Lord Krishna- ‘Karma over Dharma’. Look at Meerabai. Once you are closer to God, you automatically start moving away from society.

I understood this. Debashish Sir used to tell me your work is your reply to people. Avoid People. Concentrate on your talent. If this man at this top position is saying this, I don’t need to listen to people around me. Who are they to stop me? What is their level, their experience? People teased me, but I saw a better future. I thank those people for they left me. Their criticism made me jump from my bed at 4 am. When a person is committed to his cause, God picks him in his arms & carries him to a better future.

How does your family respond to your career now?

Shashwat Shukla – When I was in 12th, I got offered to work in CRPF. The parents who never cared for me suddenly started giving me advice of joining it, getting married, etc. They said I could better society this way. These people never asked me what I wanted now. They all of a sudden cared about society. Their selfish nature amazed me.

When I refused to join CRPF, they started abusing me & threatened to throw me out of the house. I learned early in my life that this is my life & only I am responsible for it. People used to call me names, call me a bull. Show him a red cloth & he will run towards me. I took it positively. Yes! I will run towards my goal & become the best in whatever I do.

Friends have played an essential part in your life.

Shashwat Shukla – Yes. Sumeet Sindhu. He gave me so much without any expectations. What could I give him? Ram Singh Yadav kept me in his house in Hyderabad, trained me for three months before I broke the world record. Debashish Sir, Milind Soman sir, many prominent people I won’t call friends as they are older than me, but they gave me respect, love, direction to live life better. A man in his 50s becomes spiritual.

They shared their wisdom with me. Varun Agrawal, my roommate, has helped me so much, and I consider him my big brother. These are the people who came into my life because God willed it. My Karma bought them for me. I was not born in their families. They uplifted me, seeing my dedication towards my work. My readings also helped me remain afloat in bad times. Books are my friends. They taught me how to survive & keep working for the better. Everything happens for a reason.

What are your dreams for yourself now? 

Shashwat Shukla – My uncle used to say, ‘don’t live a Pig’s life- eat & sleep.’ If you have come into this world, then make it worth something. Do some work for society. I have opened an academy. People who can’t pay to join are given free training. I am also studying. It is my final year of Law, and I interned under Yashpal Purohit, a criminal lawyer. I want to work for society. I was wrong that I couldn’t fight it.

My knowledge will give me the power to fight for the poor who can’t afford to hire costly lawyers. In terms of running, I want to break many more world records. The problem with our society is they never think Big. They don’t think positively. I want to achieve the impossible & create an example. Mental, Physical problems do not matter, Passion & Honesty is way bigger. I hope someone out there wants to commit suicide, reads my story, & gets inspired to live.

 

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