Born :1935(age 77-78) in Govindpura,Punjab,British India
Residence:Chandigarh,Punjab
Spouse:Nirmal Kaur
Children:3 daughters, 1 son,1 adopted son
Milkha Singh (born 1935), also known as The Flying Sikh, is a former Indian track and field sprinter who was introduced to the sport while serving in the Indian Army. As of 2013, he is the only Indian male athlete to win an individual athletics gold medal at a Commonwealth Games. He represented India in the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome and the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. He was awarded the Padma Shri, India's fourth highest civilian honour, in recognition of his sporting achievements.
Past life
Milkha Singh was born in 1935 at Govindpura, a village 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) from Muzaffargarh city in Punjab Province, British India (now Muzaffargarh District, Pakistan) in a Sikh Rathore Rajput family.Sources give his date of birth variously as 17 October and 20 November.
He was one of 15 siblings, eight of whom died before the Partition of
India. He was orphaned during the Partition, when his parents, a brother
and two sisters were killed in the violence that ensued. He witnessed
these killings.
Escaping the troubles in Punjab, where killings of Hindus and Sikhs were continuing, by moving to Delhi, India, in 1947, Singh lived for a short time with a married sister and was briefly imprisoned at Tihar jail for travelling on a train without a ticket. His sister, Ishvar, sold some jewellery to obtain his release. He spent some time at a refugee camp in Purana Quila and at a resettlement colony in Shahdara, both in Delhi.
Singh became disenchanted with his life and considered becoming a dacoit
but was instead persuaded by a brother, Malkhan, to attempt recruitment
to the Indian Army. He successfully gained entrance on his fourth
attempt, in 1951, and while stationed at the Electrical Mechanical
Engineering Centre in Secunderabad
he was introduced to athletics. He had run the 10 km distance to and
from school as a child and was selected by the army for special training
in athletics after finishing sixth in a compulsory cross-country run for new recruits.
His Wonderful Career
In 1956, during Melbourne Olympics, Milkha Singh represents India,
but
was lacking experience to win a medal for country. Thereafter, Singh
won two gold medals one in 400 meters race and other in 200 meters race
events at Asian Games in 1958, clocking 47 seconds and 21.6 seconds
respectively. Progressing from here, Singh goes on to win one gold medal
at Cardiff Commonwealth Games in 400 meters competition in 1958 with
46.16 seconds record timing. This achievement also made Singh first ever
gold medallist from India after Independence at Commonwealth Games.
Subsequently, Singh compete in Pakistan, becoming successful and
earning a nickname of ‘Flying Sikh’. At Rome Olympics in 1960, Singh
finishes second in every 400 meters races before final race, improving
timing with every race. In final race, Singh set off with a strong start
to fore but field overhauls in end Singh finishes with fourth place, it
was a decision, which requires one photo-finish. Time Singh took in
this race was 45.6 sec and until 1984 Olympics no athlete of Indian
track betters Singh’s finishing position.He received Padma Shri in 1958.
Milkha Singh had been promoted from the rank of sepoy to junior commissioned officer in recognition of his successes in the 1958 Asian Games. He subsequently became Director of Sports in the Punjab Ministry of Education, from which post he had retired by 1998.
Singh had been awarded the Padma Shri following his success in 1958. In 2001, he turned down an offer of the Arjuna Award from the Indian government, arguing that it was intended to recognise young sportspeople and not those such as him.
Singh and his daughter, Sonia Sanwalka, co-wrote his autobiography, titled The Race of My Life. The book inspired Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, a 2013 biographical film of Singh's life. Singh sold the movie rights for one rupee but inserted a clause stating that a share of the profits would be given to the Milkha Singh Charitable Trust. The Trust was founded in 2003 with the aim of assisting poor and needy sportspeople.
His Family
As of 2012, Singh lives in Chandigarh. He met Nirmal Kaur, a former captain of the Indian women's volleyball team in Ceylon in 1955 and the couple married in 1962. They have three daughters and a son, Jeev Milkha Singh. In 1999, they adopted the seven-year old son of Havildar Bikram Singh, who had died in the Battle of Tiger Hill.
