Milkha Singh (20 November 1929 – 18 June 2021), popularly known as the Flying Sikh, was an Indian sprinter who became one of the most celebrated athletes in the country's history. He was the first Indian male to reach the final of an Olympic athletics event in track running, finishing fourth in the 400 metres at the 1960 Rome Olympics. He won gold medals at the Asian Games and the Commonwealth Games, and was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India in 1959.
Key facts
| Full name | Milkha Singh |
|---|---|
| Nickname | The Flying Sikh |
| Born | 20 November 1929, Govindpura (in present-day Pakistan) |
| Died | 18 June 2021, Chandigarh, India |
| Sport | Athletics (sprinting) |
| Events | 200 m, 400 m |
| Spouse | Nirmal Kaur (m. 1962) |
| Children | Jeev Milkha Singh (golfer) and three daughters |
| Honours | Padma Shri (1959) |
| Service | Indian Army (Electrical Mechanical Engineering Corps) |
Background
Milkha Singh was born into a Sikh Rathore family in Govindpura, a village in the Muzaffargarh district of undivided Punjab, now in Pakistan. He was orphaned during the violence of the 1947 Partition of India, in which several members of his family were killed. He fled to India by train and lived briefly in refugee camps in Delhi, including at the Purana Qila. After unsuccessful attempts, he was enlisted into the Indian Army in 1951, where his athletic talent was identified during the unit's annual cross-country run held at the Electrical Mechanical Engineering Centre in Secunderabad.
Athletics career
Milkha Singh first represented India at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, where he was eliminated in the early rounds of the 200 m and 400 m. The experience, and his interaction with the American sprinter Charles Jenkins, motivated him to train more intensively.
1958 successes
At the 1958 Asian Games in Tokyo, Milkha won gold medals in the 200 m and 400 m. The same year, at the British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Cardiff, he won the 440 yards in 46.6 seconds, becoming the first Indian to win an individual gold at the Commonwealth Games. This achievement remained unmatched by an Indian male athlete in track events at the Commonwealth Games for several decades.
1960 Rome Olympics
At the Rome Olympics, Milkha Singh ran the 400 m final in 45.73 seconds (officially recorded as 45.6 in then-prevailing timing). He finished fourth, narrowly missing a bronze medal. His timing stood as the Indian national record for nearly 40 years. The race is widely cited as one of the closest and most heart-breaking finishes in Indian sporting history.
1962 and after
At the 1962 Asian Games in Jakarta, Milkha Singh won gold in the 400 m and in the 4×400 m relay. He represented India once more at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, where he was part of the Indian 4×400 m relay team. He retired from competitive athletics shortly thereafter.
Nickname and Pakistan visit
The nickname "Flying Sikh" is associated with a 1960 international meet in Lahore, Pakistan, where Milkha Singh defeated the leading Pakistani sprinter Abdul Khaliq. President Ayub Khan, who watched the race, is widely reported to have given him the title in recognition of his speed.
Later life
After retirement, Milkha Singh served as Director of Sports in the Punjab Ministry of Education, a post from which he retired in 1998. He was actively involved in promoting sports and supporting young athletes, particularly in Punjab and Chandigarh, where he settled with his family. He famously declined the Arjuna Award, stating that it was being offered too late and at a level lower than his accomplishments deserved.
Family
Milkha Singh married Nirmal Kaur, a former captain of the Indian women's volleyball team, in 1962. Their son, Jeev Milkha Singh, became one of India's most successful professional golfers and a recipient of the Padma Shri. Nirmal Kaur died on 13 June 2021, days before Milkha Singh's own death from complications related to COVID-19.
Death
Milkha Singh died on 18 June 2021 at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) in Chandigarh, after testing positive for COVID-19. He was 91. The Government of India announced a state funeral, and tributes were paid by the President, the Prime Minister, and several sports bodies.
Significance
Milkha Singh is regarded as the founding figure of Indian track athletics. His narrow fourth-place finish at the 1960 Olympics inspired generations of Indian athletes and brought sustained national attention to track and field. His autobiography, The Race of My Life, co-written with his daughter Sonia Sanwalka, was published in 2013. The same year, the Hindi biographical film Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra and starring Farhan Akhtar, was released to critical and commercial acclaim.
Honours and awards
- Padma Shri – 1959, for contribution to sports
- Helms World Trophy – 1959 (Asian region)
- Gold medal, 440 yards – 1958 Commonwealth Games, Cardiff
- Gold medals, 200 m and 400 m – 1958 Asian Games, Tokyo
- Gold medals, 400 m and 4×400 m relay – 1962 Asian Games, Jakarta
Related topics
- Jeev Milkha Singh
- P. T. Usha
- Athletics Federation of India
- India at the 1960 Summer Olympics
- 1958 Commonwealth Games
- 1962 Asian Games
- Bhaag Milkha Bhaag
- Padma Shri
- Partition of India
References
- Milkha Singh and Sonia Sanwalka, The Race of My Life: An Autobiography, Rupa Publications, 2013.
- Official records, International Olympic Committee and Commonwealth Games Federation.
- Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs, Padma Awards records.