The Flying Sikh – Story of Milkha Singh

Early Life & Struggles

Milkha Singh was born on 20 November 1929 (although some records cite 1932 or 1935), a small village in Punjab province in Govindpura, which is now part of Pakistan. Born into a minor Sikh family, his early childhood was marked by simplicity and rural difficulties. However, his life took a tragic and defining turn during the partition of India in 1947. Communal violence that was provoked in the subcontinent claimed the lives of his parents and many brothers and sisters. Milkha first saw these horrors- a painful experience that will bother him for years. Orphaned and displaced, he managed to escape in Delhi, riding in a train full of refugees, and narrowly survived bloodshed.After the partition, Milkha struggled a lot. He often resorted to theft and odd jobs while living in refugee camps with barely any means to survive. Despite these difficulties, their inner relief began to shine. In his childhood, long before professional training, he was running at school about 10 km every day, inadvertently laying the foundation of his future endurance and discipline. This daily part, born of need, plants seeds of mythological endurance that will one day define India’s largest runner. Despite disadvantage, displacement, and poverty, in the early years of Miliha Singh, patience later took him to greatness.

Entry into Athletics

Milkha Singh’s journey in athletics began after a series of failures and perseverance. In the years after the partition, he struggled to find stability and purpose, often bouncing between jobs. Determined to avoid poverty and rebuild his life, he determined his place to join the Indian Army – a dream that made three attempts to realize him. Finally, in 1952, he was accepted in the Indian Army’s Electrical and Mechanical Engineering (EME) unit in Secunderabad. It was here that Destiny intervened. During the athletics of a regular inter-service, the natural speed and raw stamina of Milkha attracted the attention of their seniors. Recognizing his ability, the army chose him for special athletic training, a turn that changed his life.Among those who played an important role in shaping the athletic future of Milkha were an experienced coach and mentor Havildar Gurdev Singh. Gurdev Singh not only introduced Milkha in the basic principles of competitive sprinting, but also inspired him in the discipline, technology and mentality necessary for international competition. Under his guidance, Milkha began to channel his spontaneous power in structured practice, gradually emerging as one of the most promising sprinters in the country. The army provided him with support, training and exposure, which he never had a possible dream – which would soon become one of the most inspiring athletic careers in Indian history.

Career Highlights

National Breakthrough (1956–1958)

In 1956, Milkha Singh gained national attention with a strong performance at the National Games, marking the beginning of his professional athletic career.
In 1958 he broke the national record of both 200 meters and 400 meters during the competitions held in Cuttack.
That same year, he won two gold medals at the Asian Games held in Tokyo, dominating both the 200 m and 400 m sprints.
At the British Empire and Commonwealth Games from 1958 in Cardiff, he won gold at 440 meters, and became the first Indian male athlete to win a personal gold medal at the Commonwealth Games.

Nickname “The Flying Sikh” (1960)

In 1960, Milkha participated in a high-profile athletics meet in Lahore, Pakistan.
He competed against Abdul Khalik, one of the fastest sprinters in Asia at that time.
After decisively defeating Khalik, Pakistan President, Ayub Khan, called Milkha Singh a “The Flying Sikh”, a title that became mythical in the subcontinent.

Olympic Mahima – Rome 1960

Milkha represented India at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, competing in 400m sprints.
He reached the finals, at that time a rare achievement for an Indian athlete.
In an intense, close race, he finished with a time of 45.73 seconds, remembering bronze with a fraction of a second.
This performance set a national record that stood unbroken for nearly 40 years, until Paramjeet Singh surpassed it in 1998.

Other Olympic Appearances

Participated in the Melbourne Olympics of 1956, gained valuable experience on the international stage.
Also represented India at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, maintaining his place among the country’s elite athletes over nearly a decade.

Milkha Singh Achievements & Legacy

Continued Success at the Asian Games

Milkha Singh added to his legacy with a total of four gold medals at the Asian Games:

1958 Tokyo Asian Games:

200 meters
400 meters

1962 Jakarta Asian Games:

400 meters
4×400 meter relay

These wins strengthened his position as Asia’s major sprinter during his era.

National recognition

In 1959, the prestigious Padma Shri honored India’s fourth largest civilian honor, recognizing his extraordinary contribution in sports.

Military promotion and government service

After his success in 1958, Milkha was promoted from Sipoy to Junior Commission Officer (JCO) in the Indian Army.
He later became involved in civil service after being appointed as the director of sports in the Ministry of Sports in the Ministry of Punjab, where he served till his retirement in 1998.
In this role, he mentioned young athletes and contributed to the structural development of sports in the state.

Autobiography & Film

In 2013, he co-authored his autobiography, The Race of My Life, with his daughter Sonia Sanwalka.
The book inspired the acclaimed Bollywood biopic Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, starring Farhan Akhtar as Milkha Singh.
The film introduced Milkha’s story for a new generation and was both an important and commercial success.

Philanthropy and heritage

Milkha Singh donated all his medals and trophies to the nation, placed them in a museum at the Sports Authority of India Complex in Patiala.
He also established the Milkha Singh Charitable Trust in India to support young and deprived athletes.
Through mentorship, storytelling and service, Milkha Singh remained a national icon after a long time after his retirement from the competition.

Personal Life

Married Nirmal Kaur in 1962, the former captain of India’s women’s volleyball team .
They had four children, including Jeev Milkha Singh, who became a renowned professional golfer .

Final Years & Death

Awarded the honorary rank of the captain in the Indian Army.
In 2003, the Milkha Singh Charitable Trust was established to support the deprived background athletes.
Five days after his wife’s death, he died of Covid 19 complications in Chandigarh on June 18, 2021.

Legacy & Impact

Milkha Singh stands as a powerful symbol of resilience and hard work—the man who embodied post-independence India’s athletic aspirations.His story of fleeing trauma, rising to glory, and choosing forgiveness over hatred has inspired generations—famously portrayed in Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, where actor Farhan Akhtar trained with Singh and later paid tribute to his legacy, calling him an icon of perseverance and healing .

Check Out His Chronology

Lessons from Milkha Singh’s Life

Perseverance, Patriotism, and Purpose

Firmness in front of adverseness

Eliminates the trauma of losing his family during partition and living as a refugee. Regardless of repeated failures, to give up – whether it is joining the army or competing internationally. In constant harsh conditions, Indian athletics rose to the top.

Patriotism beyond track

Proudly represented India at every major international program, often keeping in mind the hopes of a new independent nation. Choose national service and game on personal fame and wealth. His victory was not only individual milestones – they were moments of collective pride for the country.

Purpose-Driven Life

Believing in using its success to encourage others, especially ambitious athletes of the deprived background. To support the talent of young sports, Miliha Singh gave the charitable trust to the nation, symbolizing his belief that his achievement was India.

A story that keeps inspiring

His autobiography, The Race of My Life, and biopic Bhag Milkha Bhag brought his story to millions. A national role model, which inspires the youth to push the game, motivates them to remove the challenges, and dreams big.

Final Thought

Milkha Singh’s story is much higher than a great athlete – it is a saga of flexibility, courage and unwavering dedication. From the tragedy of losing his family during the partition of India’s mythology “Flying Sikh”, his journey is a symbol of patriotism and patriotism that motivates millions of people. Through his achievements on the track and his contribution, Milkha Singh not only set new standards for Indian athletics, but also showed us how determination and objectives can also remove rigorous obstacles. Their legacy lives in every young athlete, who dare to dream, reminds us that greatness is earned through an unwavering desire to work hard, sacrifice and succeed. As we remember Milkha Singh, we celebrate not only his medal, but a permanent feeling of a true champion, who ran for more than victory – he ran to the pride of a nation.