The Flying Sikh & His Journey

Journey of the Flying Sikh. Milkha Singh, a legend in the history of Sports and Athletics was an Indian track and field sprinter born on 20th November 1929. He was born in a Sikh family in Govindpura, a village 10 km from Muzaffargarh city in Punjab Province. India’s great sprinter Milkha Singh died on Friday after battling a corona infection for a month. Earlier, his wife and former Indian volleyball team captain Nirmal Kaur also died due to a corona infection. Padmashree Milkha Singh was 91 years old.

The blessed child took birth on November 20, 1929, in a Sikh Rajput family of Rathore clan in Govinpura village of Muzaffargarh city in Punjab province of undivided British India (present-day Muzaffargarh district, Pakistan). One of the 15 siblings, Milkha Singh traveled to India during the partition of India. His greatest achievements on the national and international plinth were indelible and unmatchable. He was the very first Indian to win gold at the 400 m race at Asian Games as well as Commonwealth Games. Legendary “Flying Sikh” Milkha Singh, who died at the PGIMER late on Friday night after a month-long battle with Covid, was cremated with full state honors at the Sector 25 cremation ground in Chandigarh on Saturday.

Milkha, who was 91, was bid a tearful adieu in the presence of his family members and several dignitaries, including Union Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju. “The Flying Sikh’’, as he was fondly called, died on Friday night due to Covid-19 related complications. His son and ace golfer Jeev Milkha Singh lit the funeral pyre. Punjab Governor and Chandigarh Administrator VP Singh Badnore, Punjab Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal, Haryana’s Sports Minister Sandeep Singh were among the other dignitaries who attended the last rites.

By: Anirudha Sharma
Government Senior Secondary School, Bopara