58-year-old engineer runs Vizag Half Marathon for ‘Save Soil’ cause
Subramanya Sharma Challa, a 58-year-old engineer, completed the Vizag Half Marathon to promote the 'Save Soil' movement. He has traveled over 7,000 km across India to raise awareness about soil degradation and the need for better agricultural policies.
Why it matters
It highlights grassroots activism focused on environmental sustainability and soil health, which are critical for long-term food security.
Subramanya Sharma Challa, a 58-year-old chartered civil engineer from Visakhapatnam, completed the 21.1-km run at the Vizag Half Marathon 2026 on Sunday as part of his effort to raise awareness about soil health.
Mr. Sharma, who began running as part of Sadhguru’s Save Soil movement about four-and-a-half years ago, said he had covered 7,642 km while carrying the Save Soil flag across cities including Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Kakinada, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Goa and Bhubaneswar.
“There is a lot of awareness today about air pollution and water pollution, but we don’t talk enough about the soil beneath our feet,” he said.
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