A man tormented by India’s partition of 1947 became one of the country’s biggest sports icons
India celebrates its 79th Independence Day this August, and while this month is all about celebrating India’s freedom from the British Raj after decades of struggle, the month of August also reminds us of India’s partition, which destroyed millions of lives. However, despite having the scar that never healed, people rose from the ashes and went on to achieve great things in life – one of them was Milka Singh, a man tormented by the partition of India and PAK, but became one of the biggest sporting icons in India.
Fondly called the “Flying Sikh”, Milkha Singh’s story is well known to most of India, thanks to Farhan Akhtar’s Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, a movie that represented his journey on the big screen to millions of Indians. However, given that we are celebrating India’s 79 years of sporting history, an article without Milkha Singh is a sin that we do not wish to commit.
Born in Govindpura, Punjab, which is now Kot Addu District of Punjab, PAK, Milkha Singh had to witness the demise of his parents, siblings, and other family members during the partition of India and PAK. A kid from PAK escaped to India and grew up living in refugee camps. A lack of food and other basic necessities forced him to engage in petty theft. Singh also spent time in jail because of travelling without a ticket.
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The late sprinter even considered becoming a dacoit, but one of his brothers, Malkhan, persuaded him to attempt to join the Indian Army. Malkhan's persuasion became the turning point in Singh’s life, as it gave him a new direction.
Singh failed thrice in the entrance exams, but finally, in his fourth attempt, he got into the Indian Army and was stationed at the Electrical Mechanical Engineering Centre in Secunderabad. During his time here, he participated in a cross-country race for new recruits and finished sixth. When the army introduced Singh to sport, he acknowledged, “I came from a remote village, I didn't know what running was, or the Olympics.”
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Known as the “Flying Sikh”, the world is aware of how Milkha Singh missed an Olympic medal by millimetres. However, his other achievements aren’t highlighted enough. Singh won gold in the 200m and 400m events at the 1958 Asian Games. The same year, he also won a gold medal in the 400m at the Commonwealth Games. In 1962, he won a gold medal in the 400m and 4x400m relay races. In his career, Singh participated in 80 races, out of which he won 77.
(Credit- The Indian Express)
On June 18, 2021, Milkha Singh passed away due to pneumonia, merely five days after his wife passed away.
A recipient of the Padma Shri, the Helms World Trophy for Asia, and the Bharat Gaurav Award, the late runner had only two regrets in his life. In his 160-page autobiography, Singh had penned, “The one medal I had yearned for throughout my career had just slipped through my fingers because of one small error of judgement.” The second was the tragedy that hit his family.
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On this Independence Day, even though there cannot be another like Milkha Singh, let us hope India soon gets another runner who repeats the feats of the “Flying Singh” and pays tribute to him by winning an Olympic medal for India in a running event.
