By Kynsai L Sangriang
Poverty, the responsibility of an expanding family, an ailing husband — nothing could ever stop Kmoinlang Wahlang from performing her duties. So when ailments set in with age, Wahlang made a crucial choice to avoid leading a sedentary life. She started running.
Wahlang’s decision was nothing extraordinary but her determination was laudable. This is because when the mother of 12 started running, she was 69 and she never stopped after that.
Recently, Wahlang, who is 71 now, ran at the Mumbai Marathon. “It all started with a doctor advising me to exercise and jog so that I could overcome my illness caused by depression,” the septuagenarian, who is from Sngimawlein village in South West Khasi Hills, said.
Lovingly referred to as Mei-ieit Kmoin by the young ones in the family and those in the neighbourhood, Wahlang is regarded as the “pride of jaitbynriew” who has inspired several youths in the district.
Despite the accolades and acknowledgements, Wahlang’s troubles have hardly lessened. Abject poverty and the daily struggle for survival are constant hurdles.
Her husband, Mek Lyngdoh, could never work because of motor disability making it harder for Wahlang who had to raise 12 children. Even today, she is not free from the shackles of family responsibilities. Two of her daughters are single mothers and are largely dependent on their mother. The meager earning from agriculture always falls short of the needs.
Talking about her illness, Wahlang said the multitude of problems in the family made her helpless and pushed her to brink two years ago.
“My husband is a disabled person. All my married daughters and sons were moving away and my children who were staying with me were taken ill one after the other. My debt rose to Rs 1.50 lakh. I could neither eat nor sleep because I would always think about the debt and how to repay it. I plunged into depression. When I fell ill, my children took me to Mawkyrwat CHC and the doctor there told me that I should do exercise so that I could overcome the depression,” said Wahlang.
Sitting outside her dilapidated house, Wahlang narrated how difficult it becomes for the family during monsoon.
“My house may collapse anytime. When it rains, we have to move from one room to the other because the roof leaks,” she complained.
Wahlang has never run away from her responsibilities but after a harsh life, she has finally found a way to run away from her worries. “Running keeps me happy and I will run as long as I’m alive. Running makes me stronger, both mentally and physically. When I don’t run, I cannot work because of the pain,” she said.
Following the doctor’s instruction, Wahlang started running every day. After one year, her son and sixth child Trolin, who is also a marathoner, asked her to participate in the 21-km marathon in Mawsynram on January 20, 2018. Wahlang participated in the above-35 years category and came fourth.
Again on January 24, she participated in the 13-km marathon at Polo Grounds. Later, she participated in the Sohra marathon (21-km), Guwahati Marathon (21-km), Mawkyrwat Ultra Marathon (45-km) and the Mumbai Marathon.
But how does she meet her travel expenses? Wahlang said two persons from Shillong, Kong Dari and Kong Doctor, help her. “Kong Dari helps me with everything like submitting documents, food and travelling costs,” she said.
Now, the gritty marathoner is preparing for another marathon in Delhi on March 4.
Despite her household chores, Wahlang ensures that she trains for the marathons every day. She runs 10 km every morning and 13 km in the evening.
“I’m a farmer. I work from morning till evening and I think that makes me healthy. When I visited my eldest son in Ri Bhoi, people laughed at me and said, ‘she looks younger than her son’,” she said when asked about her fitness.
After a pause, she said with a mischievous smile that she had delivered 16 babies at home.
“When I was pregnant, I could still work without problems for nine months. After giving birth, the next day I would start working without any problem. I do agricultural work, carry water and clean cloths by myself. I could do that for 15 children but for the last child, I had to take rest and sleep like other women. I used to go for regular medical check-ups till I delivered,” she said.
Of her 16 children, 12 survived. Now, Wahlang has a huge family with 40 grandchildren, the first being a student at Sngap Syiem College in Mawkyrwat.
Trolin, who works in the police department, is the only one among the 12 who is a runner. Like his mother, he too has participated in several events in and outside the state. “He was a good runner. He always came first or second in the above 35-year-old category. Now he has got a government job. But he finds time for rigorous training to keep fit,” said 30-year-old Stit Wahlang, Wahlang’s eighth child, as Mei-ieit got distracted by one of the granddaughters.
She resumed talking after some time. She brought out an old photograph from her purse and held with two hands as if to display. “This is my family photo. All my children are in the photo. You see, I never thought about wealth. I love my children. I wanted to have 20 children but God gave me only 12,” she sighed and put the photo back in the purse.