38-year-old IRS officer 'running' life to the fullest

LUDHIANA: Unlike a normal Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer who would spend hours in his office in stack of files, deputy commissioner of income tax (central), Ludhiana Amit Pratap Singh’s day is incomplete if he doesn’t runs for kilometers early morning. 38-years-old, 2009 batch IRS, Singh has so far successfully led close to 60 raids and surveys in the region and he attributes this success also to his habit of running which apart from keeping him energetic and fresh, also gives him time for planning and execution of such actions.

Singh’s passion knows no bounds and in addition to running daily for hours he has also been participating in several marathons. So far he has participated in more than 35 competitions including several prestigious international events like Full marathon in Paris and Istanbul. Singh is a regular face in the Mumbai Full Marathon (42.2 kilometers) in which he has been participating from last 6 years to raise funds for NGO “Aarushi”. Running which is inseperable part of life is in blood of his two daughters 5-years-old Sufi and 3 years old Shifa. Infact Sufi has already started participating in competitions and is already doing 3 kilometers run in just 20 minutes.
So far Amit Pratap Singh has participated in more than 35 competitions

In another unique feat Singh has also been participating in bare foot running competitions and has taken part in prominent events in Bangalore, Hyderabad, Sangla, Jim Corbett, Shimla etc. Singh had also hit limelight in his previous posting when he used to cycle all the way from his home in Panchkula to his office at Parwanoo (Himachal Pradesh) and in July will be cycling from Kashmir to Kanyakumari.

Along with being a runner, Amit Pratap is an avid trekker as well and he has done more than 10 treks including Chaadar (Leh) and is eyeing to climb mount Everest and has already enrolled for training for the same at Nehru Institute of Mountaineering, Uttarkashi.
Along with being a runner, Amit Pratap is an avid trekker as well and he has done more than 10 treks

Speaking about his passion for running, Singh says, “For me fitness is like meditation which gives me positive energy and enthusiasm for whole day. Running is a big stress buster for my professional as well as my personal life. If I am unable to go for running even for a single day I feel very lethargic whole day. I generally run upto 10 kilometers on working days or cycle 20-25kms day and after the sweating I feel very light, energetic and very surprisingly humble, calm, cool, self contained like we feel in meditation.”

Amit Pratap Singh who belongs to Ayodha is a family man and says he is successful in professional and personal life only due to his family including his father and mother and wife Shuchita Singh who is communication skill trainer. Before making it to IRS, Singh got selected into Indian Defence Accounts Services (IDAS) in 2006 but kept on trying for IRS and made it in 2009. Speaking about his passion for becoming an IRS, Singh said, “IRS gives you a platform where you can do a lot for your society, economy and betterment for future of the country. This service also gives you an exposure of each and every class and also an opportunity to serve them in a very effective manner. It is really a service of future”
Singh's daughter, Sufi, has also started participating in competitions and is already doing 3 kilometers run in just 20 minutes.

Singh, who has inspired several youngsters, is also founding member of two famous groups of running enthusiasts, Chandigarh Runners and Ludhiana Runners which have over 750 members who participate in group running and other activities every week. Giving tips to youngsters, Singh said, “My advice to youngsters is that they should devote at least half an hour for their body and those who do sitting job and cannot workout should at least do some exercises while sitting on the chair itself. They should always take stairs instead of lift for at least up to 4th floor. Youth should stay away from supplements and only take natural food, seasonal fruits and consume a lot of vegetables. Eat a lot of ghee, house made butter, curd, milk and in place of fresh juices try to eat the entire fruit and lastly listen to your body don’t do extra and when your body is not ready do some other exercise.”