Remembering 'Flying Sikh' Milkha Singh 

From the archives of Milkha's little-known autobiography: Flying Sikh, Milkha Singh, which was published first in Punjabi in 1970 and later translated into Hindi in 1977 and in English in early 80s, we are bringing you the life of legendary athlete from witnessing tragedy, deprivation, survival against all odds and victory in the face of loss. The pre-partition and post-partition era.

The legendary athlete lost the battle to COVID on Friday.

Flashback - Part 2

Taking refuge in a ladies compartment

It was August 17, 1947 – three days before the carnage that was to devastate Milkha’s family – when the young teenager was sent to Multan to seek protection for the village from his eldest brother Makhan Singh, who was in the army. “On the train to Multan, the fear of being caught and killed by a murderous mob forced me to sneak into the ladies compartment and hide myself under a seat. But, some of the ladies spotted me and took me for a thief. I had to beg for my life and eventually, they allowed me to travel in the compartment,” writes Milkha. 

Milkha goes on to write that once Makhan was able to convince his army unit commander to allow them to travel to Gobindpura, they left for the village in an army truck along with some personnel.

But, destiny seemed to have more impediments in store for them. At Koth Sradu, on the way to Gobindpura, they were imprisoned by the local police. The incident does not find explanation in the book, but can at best be attributed to the anti-Hindu sentiment prevalent in the volatile conditions. By the time Makhan was released after intervention of senior army officials, the rioters had turned his entire village into a cremation ground. So cruel were the murders, that many dead bodies including Milkha’s mother’s, two brothers’ and their wives’ could not be recognised.

Next: India-bound, bag and baggage