Milkha Singh

Milkha Singh (20 November 1929 – 18 June 2021) was an Indian track and field sprinter who became one of the most celebrated sportspeople in the history of independent India. Nicknamed The Flying Sikh, he represented India in three consecutive Olympic Games and won gold medals at the Commonwealth Games, becoming a national icon whose life story inspired a major Bollywood biographical film.

Early life and background

Milkha Singh was born on 20 November 1929 in Govindpura, a village in the Lyallpur district of undivided Punjab (present-day Faisalabad, Pakistan). He was born into a Sikh family and was one of several children. During the Partition of India in 1947, his parents and several siblings were killed in the communal violence that accompanied the division of the subcontinent. Singh himself narrowly escaped death and made his way to India as a refugee, eventually settling in Delhi after spending time in refugee camps.

The trauma of Partition shaped much of Singh's early life. He struggled with poverty and displacement before enlisting in the Indian Army in 1952, where he would discover his extraordinary athletic ability.

Athletic career

Early development

Singh began running competitively while serving as a soldier in the Corps of Engineers of the Indian Army. His natural speed was recognised by army coaches, and he began training seriously in the mid-1950s. He competed in the 200 metres and 400 metres disciplines, with the 400 metres eventually becoming his signature event.

Commonwealth Games success

At the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games held in Cardiff, Wales, Singh won the gold medal in the 440 yards event, setting a new Commonwealth Games record at the time. This victory marked his emergence as a world-class sprinter and the first Indian male athlete to win a Commonwealth Games gold medal in a track event.

1960 Rome Olympics

The 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, Italy, represent both the pinnacle and the most discussed moment of Singh's career. Competing in the 400 metres final on 6 September 1960, he finished fourth with a time of 45.6 seconds — a national record that stood for nearly four decades. The margin between Singh and the bronze medal was razor-thin, and his fourth-place finish has been widely discussed in Indian sporting culture as a near-miss of historic proportions.

Some accounts suggest Singh glanced back at his competitors during the final stretch, a moment he later acknowledged may have cost him a medal. Regardless, his performance broke the previous Olympic record in his heat, and his time of 45.6 seconds was considered exceptional for the era.

Other international competitions

Singh also competed at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics and the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, though his Rome performance remains his most celebrated international appearance. He reportedly won approximately 77 of the 80 international races he entered over the course of his career, though the precise figure has been repeated across many sources and may be approximate.

A notable moment came when he raced against Abdul Khaliq, Pakistan's celebrated sprinter, in Lahore at the invitation of Pakistani President Ayub Khan. Singh won the race, and it was reportedly after this performance that Ayub Khan bestowed upon him the title The Flying Sikh.

National recognition

In 1959, the Government of India awarded Singh the Padma Shri, the country's fourth-highest civilian honour, in recognition of his achievements. He also served as the Chief Director of Sports in Punjab, a role through which he worked to develop athletics infrastructure in the state.

Personal life

Milkha Singh married Nirmal Kaur, a former captain of the Indian women's volleyball team, in 1962. The couple had three daughters and adopted a son, Jeev Milkha Singh, who went on to become one of India's most prominent professional golfers.

Singh was known throughout his life for his disciplined lifestyle, his commitment to physical fitness, and his advocacy for greater investment in Indian sports. He lived primarily in Chandigarh after retirement.

Legacy and cultural impact

Milkha Singh's legacy extends well beyond his race results. He is credited with inspiring generations of Indian athletes and demonstrating that world-class performance was achievable for Indian sportspeople in an era when such success was rare.

In 2013, the Bollywood biographical film Bhaag Milkha Bhaag (Run, Milkha, Run), directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra and starring Farhan Akhtar in the title role, brought his story to a new generation of audiences. The film was a major critical and commercial success. Singh agreed to sell the rights to his life story for a nominal sum of one rupee, on the condition that a portion of the film's profits be donated to charity.

He received honorary doctorates and numerous posthumous tributes from Indian state governments and sporting bodies. The Sports Authority of India and various athletic associations continue to reference his career as a benchmark for Indian sprinting.

Death

Milkha Singh died on 18 June 2021 in Chandigarh, India, at the age of 91, from complications related to COVID-19. His wife, Nirmal Kaur, had died of the same illness five days earlier. His death prompted an outpouring of tributes from the Indian government, sporting community, and the public at large. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among the leaders who publicly mourned his passing.

Frequently asked questions

Is Milkha Singh known as the Flying Sikh?

Yes. The title The Flying Sikh is widely attributed to Pakistani President Ayub Khan, who reportedly used the phrase after Singh defeated Pakistani sprinter Abdul Khaliq in a race held in Lahore.

Is Milkha Singh's 1960 Olympic record still standing?

No. Singh's national record time of 45.6 seconds in the 400 metres, set at the 1960 Rome Olympics, stood for close to four decades before being broken by subsequent Indian athletes. The world record for the event has since been lowered substantially.

Is Jeev Milkha Singh related to Milkha Singh?

Yes. Jeev Milkha Singh is the adopted son of Milkha Singh and Nirmal Kaur. He became a prominent professional golfer representing India on international tours.

Is Milkha Singh the subject of a Bollywood film?

Yes. The 2013 film Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, is a biographical drama based on Singh's life. Farhan Akhtar portrayed Singh in the film, which was both a critical and commercial success in India.

Is Milkha Singh considered India's greatest sprinter?

He is widely regarded as one of the greatest sprinters in Indian history, though such rankings are inherently subjective. His Commonwealth Games gold medal and his near-medal finish at the 1960 Rome Olympics are the benchmarks most often cited in support of that assessment.