Milkha Singh: 5 lesser-known facts about India’s Flying Sikh

Padma Shri awardee Milkha Singh,90, died on Friday after putting up a month-long fight against COVID-19. Also known as the ‘Flying Sikh’, the legendary athlete had been an inspiration to many across the country. 

“In the passing away of Shri Milkha Singh Ji, we have lost a colossal sportsperson, who captured the nation’s imagination and had a special place in the hearts of countless Indians. His inspiring personality endeared himself to millions. Anguished by his passing away,” PM Narendra Modi tweeted. 

Also read: Milkha Singh: 5 must-read excerpts from the Flying Sikh’s autobiography

Amongst the numerous anecdotes about Milkha Singh’s life and career as an athlete, we tend to miss a few facts. Here is a list of some lesser-known facts about the ‘Flying Sikh’:

1) Milkha Singh was one of 15 siblings. Eight of them died before the partition of India. His parents, a brother and two sisters were killed in violence during the partition.

2) Milkha Singh was inclined to become a dacoit in his youth. But his brother Malkhan persuaded him to attempt recruitment to the Indian Army. He tried to get a job in the Indian army in 1949 and 1951 but failed on both occasions. However, after working in a rubber factory for two years, he landed an army job in 1952. His first salary was reportedly Rs 39 and 8 anna.

Also read: Anguished: Internet reacts to the death of legendary athlete Milkha Singh

3) In 2008, BBC columnist Rohit Brijnath described Singh as ‘the finest athlete India has ever produced’. In the interview, Milkha Singh is quoted saying that it was the army that introduced him to sports. “I came from a remote village, I didn’t know what running was, or the Olympics,” Singh told Brijnath. 

4) When Milkha Singh was honoured with the ‘Arjuna Award’ in 2001, he said it came “40 years too late”.

5) Milkha Singh’s fourth-place time of 45.73 the 400 m at the 1960 Rome Olympics became the national record and stood for almost 40 long years.