He lost jobs, saw his business collapse & almost gave up on life; one phone call from his wife changed everything, making him first Indian to complete marathon at North Pole

There was a time when Ram Gopal Kothari felt he had reached the end of the road. Burdened by repeated job losses, business failures and financial hardship, he stood at a Kolkata metro station contemplating ending his life.

Today, the 44-year-old entrepreneur is celebrated for a remarkable achievement. According to The Better India, Kothari has become the first Indian to complete a marathon at the Geographic North Pole, running 42.2 kilometres across floating Arctic ice at 90° North.

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His journey from despair to determination is a story of resilience, persistence and the power of never giving up.

Growing up in modest circumstances in Kolkata

Born in 1981 in Kolkata's Burrabazar, Kothari grew up in a modest home with an asbestos roof and shared facilities. With little space indoors, much of his childhood was spent on the streets outside.

His father worked in a small clothing shop, while his mother prioritised his education despite financial struggles. Kothari has often credited his grandmother as the emotional pillar of the family.

According to The Better India, he would wake up as early as 3 am to study before school. He later graduated from Bhawanipur Education Society College, overcoming financial challenges after successfully requesting a reduction in his college fees.

Repeated setbacks tested his resolve

After graduating in 2002, Kothari entered the home loan sector, where he learnt sales, customer relations and the demands of a target-driven profession.

However, the global financial crisis of 2008 cost him his job. He later borrowed Rs 4 lakh to start a clothing manufacturing business, but the venture failed after Cyclone Aila damaged his stock in 2009.

A relative later helped him secure another job in the insurance sector, but that too ended in 2011, leaving him overwhelmed by uncertainty.

The phone call that changed his life

According to The Better India, one day in 2011, Kothari went to a Kolkata metro station intending to end his life.

At that crucial moment, his wife Shipra Kothari called him.

"I told him we will face everything together. We will survive this," she recalled.

Kothari later said the conversation changed everything.

"That call brought me back. It did not solve anything immediately, but it stopped what was happening inside me and gave me hope."

Instead of giving up, he began rebuilding from scratch. He worked from cyber cafés, manually preparing insurance quotations before walking from neighbourhood to neighbourhood to meet potential clients.

On 22 May 2012, he established Epic Assurance Services LLP, the insurance brokerage firm he continues to lead today.

From entrepreneur to global traveller

As his business expanded, so did his ambitions. A visit to Dubai in 2013 inspired him to explore the world. Since then, he has travelled to 79 countries across all seven continents, including expeditions to Antarctica, Greenland, Yakutia, Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Elbrus.

His interest in endurance sports began after participating in the Tata Mumbai Marathon in 2018, despite having no formal athletic background.

Becoming the first Indian to run a marathon at the Geographic North Pole

After visiting Antarctica, Kothari set himself an extraordinary goal, running a marathon at the Geographic North Pole.

His planned attempts in 2023 and 2024 were cancelled due to logistical challenges and weather conditions.

According to The Better India, he finally reached the Arctic in July 2025 via Svalbard.

The marathon took place on 13 July 2025, with runners completing repeated loops on floating sea ice because a continuous course is impossible at the North Pole.

As temperatures hovered around minus 8 degrees Celsius, the ice gradually softened, creating slush and pools of icy water.

"My shoes were filled with icy water," Kothari recalled, describing how numbness, cramps and unstable ice made every step increasingly difficult.

Despite the harsh conditions, he completed the 42.2-kilometre race after 50 loops, finishing in around 2 hours and 45 minutes.

With that achievement, he became the first Indian to complete a marathon at the Geographic North Pole.

"When I finished, I felt I had taken India there with me," he said.

A powerful lesson in resilience

Kothari's story is about much more than completing an extreme marathon. It is a reminder that even after life's darkest moments, new beginnings are possible.

From standing on a metro platform in despair to making history in one of the world's harshest environments, his journey reflects the transformative power of resilience, family support and perseverance.

Disclaimer: If you or someone you know is having thoughts of self-harm, please seek help immediately. You can find resources in India here https://findahelpline.com/countries/in/topics/suicidal-thoughts