Milkha Singh: The 'Flying Sikh' who gave wings to a billion dreams

Milkha Singh continues to remain the most legendary Indian athlete when it comes to field and track events, while his achievements and accolades on the field are indeed praiseworthy. As the legend leaves us at 91, we take a look at his journey and career.

Legendary Indian athlete and Olympian Milkha Singh has passed into the ages. Coronavirus has snatched from us another priceless jewel.

 

The life of 'Flying Sikh', as Milkha Singh was proudly called, had been one of true grit and sheer determination, one that inspired many who aspired to win laurels for the country like him.

 

His life journey and glorious career continue to inspire modern-day athletes. As a billion Indians mourn his demise, let's honour him by revisiting his life.

Early life
Milkha Singh was born in Govindpura of the Punjab district during the British era in 1929. During Partition, the world around him came crashing. The 18-year-old witnessed the killing of his parents, brother and two sisters in the riots.

 

Milkha fled. He boarded a train to Delhi but was arrested for travelling without a ticket. His sister had to sell off her jewellery to get him released from the Tihar Jail. Dejected and frustrated, Milkha contemplated becoming a dacoit. However, he was persuaded by his brother to join the Indian Army.

 

He got through into the Indian Army on his fourth attempt in 1951 and was sent to the Electrical Mechanical Engineering Centre at Secundrabad. It was here that Milkha met athletics. He never turned back.

Athletics career
After Milkha finished sixth in the cross-country run in Secundrabad, he began to be seen as an Olympics prospect. Milkha, himself, hardly had any clue about it. He once told the BBC, "I came from a remote village. I did not know what running was or the Olympics."

 

Five years after joining the Army, Milkha made his international debut in the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, where he failed to progress beyond the heat stage. He met eventual 400m champion Charles Jenkins and interacted with him about various training methods. Milkha returned enlightened.

 

A couple of years later, Milkha scripted records in the 200m and 400m events at the National Games. He also won a couple of golds during the Asian Games.

 

During the Cardiff Commonwealth Games in the same year, he won a gold medal, becoming the nation's first gold medalist in the event since independence.

Athletics career
After Milkha finished sixth in the cross-country run in Secundrabad, he began to be seen as an Olympics prospect. Milkha, himself, hardly had any clue about it. He once told the BBC, "I came from a remote village. I did not know what running was or the Olympics."

 

Five years after joining the Army, Milkha made his international debut in the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, where he failed to progress beyond the heat stage. He met eventual 400m champion Charles Jenkins and interacted with him about various training methods. Milkha returned enlightened.

 

A couple of years later, Milkha scripted records in the 200m and 400m events at the National Games. He also won a couple of golds during the Asian Games.

 

During the Cardiff Commonwealth Games in the same year, he won a gold medal, becoming the nation's first gold medalist in the event since independence.

The Flying Sikh
In 1960, then Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru asked him to race against Pakistani sprinter Abdul Khaliq. Although he was against Pakistan, Nehru asked him to set his differences aside for one time.

 

Milkha beat Khaliq in the race. Following the competition, Pakistani General Ayub Khan told the Milka, "You didn't run today. You flew". That earned Milka the name, 'The Flying Sikh'.

The glory continues
Milkha continued to shine at the track during the 1960 Rome Olympics. In the 400m race, he finished fourth. However, he blamed himself for missing out on gold. He had slowed down intentionally at the 250m-mark, falsely believing that his pace could not be matched, resulting in Otis Davis, Carl Kaufmann and Malcolm Spence taking the lead. 

 

Although Davis and Kaufman earned a world record of 44.9 seconds, Spence and Milkha crossed the line at 45.9 seconds, which still broke the existing record. Although a report stated that Milkha was the first to break an Olympic track record, the official Olympics report puts Davis on the list. However, despite this, Milkha termed it his 'worst memory'.

 

Nevertheless, Milkha continued his exemplary performance at the 1962 Asian Games in Jakarta, winning golds in 400m and 400m relay. Although he was scheduled to compete during the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, he did not participate in the 400m and 400m relay. His relay team was eliminated in the heat. That would be his final Olympics appearance.

Post career recognitions
After he hung up his boots, Milkha was promoted as the director of sports under the Punjab education ministry.

 

He was honoured with the Padma Shri, the country's fourth-highest civilian award, in 1958.

 

He turned down the Arjuna Award in 2011, citing that the honour was meant for young athletes and not for the ones at his age.

 

"I have been clubbed with sportspersons who are nowhere near the level that I had achieved. The awards nowadays are distributed like 'prasad' in a temple. Why should one be honoured when he or she has not achieved the benchmark for the award? I rejected the Arjuna I was offered after I received the Padma Shri. It was like being offered an SSC [secondary school] certificate after securing a Masters degree," he said.

 

Rather than keeping his medals to himself, Milkha decided to donate them to the nation. They were honoured at New Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium before being moved to Patiala's sports museum.

 

Later, he also auctioned the Adidas shoes he wore at the 1960 400m final.

Milkha's life and career were immortalised on the 70mm screen in 2013 when Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra directed 'Bhaag Milkha Bhaag', starring Farhan Akhtar in the lead role.

 

While Milkha sold the rights of the movie for just Rs 1, he urged the filmmakers to distribute the profits equally to Milkha Singh Charitable Trust that was founded in 2003 to aid poor sportspersons. The film grossed over Rs 100 crore at the box office.

In 2017,  London-based Madame Tussauds unveiled a wax statue depicting Milkha's running stance following the 1958 commonwealth Games win.

 

Milkha's life can be summed up in three words -- Never Give Up. His life had its share of ups and downs, yet he kept going. The 'Flying Sikh' may not be around anymore, yet he will continue to inspire the generation ahead.

 

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