Friday 12 Jul 2013: If I hadn’t run I would have been murdered. I wore the same blood-splattered clothes for ten days. I found my way to Delhi and thought all my family had died.
I was 12 and every day I went to Delhi train station, where the trains were coming from Pakistan, and people gathered to find out news of relatives, friends and neighbours. There were announcements of survivors and I found out one of my sisters had survived and was in Delhi, so I stayed with her.
I was good at running because we lived 10km from school, so every day we would run 10km there and 10km back. Barefoot.
In May and June it gets so hot – 40 to 50 Celsius. We would run for a mile, see a patch of grass, stand on it to cool our feet and run again. If I hadn’t joined the army I would never have realised my running potential, so all credit goes to the army.
I tried to join in 1948 and 1949 before I was accepted in 1951. It was very competitive as there were so many refugees desperate for work – for the 50 posts available, there were 3,000 people.
I have very fond memories of the Cardiff Commonwealth Games – I was the only Indian to win and I had no idea I would win as the world record holder was running in my race. The Queen put the medal on me, and the Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru, sent me a message. To receive that recognition was a big thing.
I was named the Flying Sikh by the president of Pakistan when I competed in Pakistan. India and Pakistan should live side by side with love. I feel India and Pakistan is one – if politics didn’t exist, it would be one country and they would never have been separated.
Wars have only harmed each country – many have died on both sides and for what? Our culture is shared. In our hearts there should not be a wall between India and Pakistan.
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Related Article:
Farhan Akhtar gave me his handkerchief as I sat crying: Milkha Singh
Agency: PTI
http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/1859923/report-farhan-akhtar-gave-me-his-handkerchief-as-i-sat-crying-milkha-singh
Milkha, who was accompanied by Farhan, Mehra, actress Sonam Kapoor and writer Prasoon Joshi, hoped that the film inspires younger generation.
Thursday, Jul 11, 2013 - Mumbai: Milkha Singh today said that he found it emotionally overwhelming to watch his childhood and life unfold on the big screen in Bhaag Milkha Bhaag.
Milkha watched the biopic on his life during its premiere in London. Bhaag Milkha Bhaag is directed by Raykesh Omprakash Mehra and stars Farhan Akhtar as the legendary athlete.
"I saw the film in London three days back... I cried in the second half and it was Farhan who handed over his handkerchief to me to wipe my tears," Milkha told reporters here on the eve of film's release.
Milkha, who was accompanied by Farhan, Mehra, actress Sonam Kapoor and writer Prasoon Joshi, hoped that the film inspires younger generation.
Milkha said he knew nothing about film's as he never saw a film after 1960.
"It was my son Jeev Milkha Singh (a renowned golfer) who happens to watch Hindi films regularly and decided to hand over the story to Mehra as he had seen director's Rang De Basaanti," Milkha said.
Talking about the film, Milkha said Sonam had played the role of his girlfriend while Divya played his sister in the film.
"Today I am a happy man," Milkha said.