Author: Raoji

This post belongs to my This is India ! Series (see here)

There is lot of buzz about the yet to be released biopic on Milkha Singh (see trailer)

One event I will never forget about Milkha Singh happened during the National Games at Ludhiana in 2001.

The Flying Sikh, Milkha Singh is a relieved man. So is his wife Ms Nirmal Milkha Singh, after he had a providential escape while lighting the National Games torch at the inauguration of the XXXI National Games. While commenting on the incident Milkha Singh, without blaming anything on anyone said, “thank God everything is all right”.

The Flying Sikh had a narrow escape when, while posing for photographers near the cauldron, gas was release and the flames jumped out of it. These flames almost trapped Milkha Singh. However, his quick reflexes saved from any major injuries.

Though he appeared to be tense, yet he remained hail and hearty all through the cultural extravaganza that was so well presented by the artists drawn from different parts of the state. The eyewitnesses said, the laces of his shoes did catch fire but he managed to put them off instantly.-from Tribune

 

The next day’s papers carried the headline “Flying Sikh Gets Scorched”