Aasha Khosa/New Delhi

The death of the Flying Sikh Milkha Singh due to post –Covid complications in Chandigarh has brought to an end a life that symbolized India’s trials, tribulations and the rise as an Independent modern country.

His death was announced by his son Jeev Milkha Singh, a golfer, on social media. He said,"Dad just passed away" somewhere around midnight. Milkh's wife Nirmal Kaur had passed away due to Covid five days ago.

Milkha Singh, who died at the age of 91, five days after his wife also left the world due to the same the Covid-19, was the child of the partition and he struggled in life to rise as a national icon. Nothing is close to India’s struggle as a newly independent country, torn with poverty, post partition chaos and its eventual rise through sheer hard work and conviction in itself as the story of Milkha Singh.

Till his last day, just before the pandemic brought life to a screeching halt everywhere, Mikha Singh would run every day to maintain his fitness. He became an inspiration for three generations of Indians.

Interestingly he was given the sobriquet of The Flying Sikh by Pakistan’s first martial law ruler General Ayub Khan when he defeated Pakistan's sprinter Abdul Khaliq in the country of his birth in 1960. The games were organized to erase the bitter memories of partition in which Milkha, like lakhs of Indians and Pakistanis, had suffered and lost his home and parents.

Creating history- A young Milkha Singh at Tokyo Oluympics 

Milkha Singh was born at Lyallpur since renamed Faislabad in Pakistan on October 17, 1935. He lost his parents in the sectarian violence of the partition and came to Delhi with his sister’s family and lived in a refugee camp.

The young Milkha did odd jobs to make a living till he joined the Army as a soldier. There his sprinting talent was honed and he was prepared as a national level athlete. he rose to become a Subedar Major in the Indian Army.

He became the first Indian athlete to reach the final of an Olympic Athletics when he was placed fourth in the 400-metre race at 1960 Rome Olympics.

At the 1958 Asian Games, Singh won both the 200-metre and 400-metre races. Later, the same year, he captured the 400-metre gold at the Commonwealth Games, which was India’s first athletics gold in the history of the Games.

He narrowly lost the bronze medal in the 400 metres at the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome, missing out on the third place in a photo finish. Singh retained his 400-metre gold at the 1962 Asian Games and also took another gold as part of India’s 4 × 400-metre relay team.

He made a final Olympic appearance at the 1964 Tokyo games in 1964 as part of the national 4 × 400(relay) team that failed to advance past preliminary.

Singh was awarded the Padma Shri in 1959. He also served as the director of the Sports in Punjab.

Singh’s autobiography, The Race of My Life, was published in 2013 and it was turned into a Bollywood movie Bhag Mikha Bhag by Rakyesh Omprakash in 2013.

India's pride - Subedar Milkha Singh with Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru

Bhag Mikha Bhag was a great commercial success. It was declared a superhit film in India and a hit across the world and became the sixth highest revenue-generating film of the year 2013. Overall the film became the 21st highest grossed Bollywood flicks as it made Rs one million at the box office.

 It goes to Milkha Singh’s greatness that he accepted Rs 1 as remuneration for lending his story for a commercially successful film and his share of profits from it goes to a charitable trust in his name.

Thanks to Farhan Akhtar who played Milkha Singh so convincingly on the screen, the new generation of Indians and the world at large know about this legend’s struggle and rise. Farhan won the Filmfare best actor award for his role as Milkha Singh in 2014.

Milkha Singh was awarded the Padma Shri Award in 1959 for his superlative achievements, 

Actor Farhan Akhtar, who portrayed the role of Milkha Singh in the 2013 film 'Bhaag Milkha Bhaag', mourned the demise of the legendary athlete.

❤️🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/Ti2I457epP

— Farhan Akhtar (@FarOutAkhtar) June 19, 2021

Bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan has also posted his feelings on Milkha Singh’s death on Twitter:

The Flying Sikh may no longer be with us in person but his presence will always be felt and his legacy will remain unmatched... An inspiration to me... an inspiration to millions. Rest in Peace Milkha Singh sir.

— Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) June 18, 2021

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh said it was the end of an era and India and Punjab "are poorer".

"Upset and saddened to hear of Milkha Singh Ji's demise. It marks the end of an era and India & Punjab are poorer today. My condolences to the bereaved family & millions of fans. The legend of the Flying Sikh will reverberate for generations to come. Rest in peace Sir!" Amarinder Singh said in a tweet.