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The Flying Sikh of East Africa:
Joginder Singh

SHONAKSHI

 

 

 






Not many remember this ace rallyist known as the "Flying Sikh” of East Africa.

The journey of Joginder Singh from the small town of Kandola Khan in Phillaur in Jalandhar district, Punjab, to a motor rallying legend in Kenya is a story that has inspired an entire generation.

Joginder was the first Sikh-Kenyan  -- for that matter, the first South-Asian -- to win an international rally. He also had the distinction of being the first man to win the Safari Rally three times.

He died of heart failure in London, aged 81 on October 20, 2013.

But mention his name anywhere in East Africa and you will hear stories of the man who was known as the "Simba of Kenya’s Safari World" and the "Flying Sikh".

Joginder was synonymous with speed in Kenya. Kids idolized him, adults loved his daredevil driving. His successful rallying career took off in 1958 and spanned 22 years. The then President MzeeJomo Kenyatta gave him the title "Simba wa Kenya” or Simbya of Kenya.

In the late 1970's he was seeded and ranked as a World Class Priority `A' driver. In 1995, he was inducted into the Coco-Cola Hall of Fame - a tribute given only to Kenya's top sportsmen. The same year, the Sikh Supreme Council of Kenya honoured him.

He made history in 1965 with his younger brother Jaswant Singh, when they became the first men of non-European race to win a major international rally driving a Volvo PV544.

His elder brother, Davinder Singh recalls, "I remember our mother saying that Joginder was very keen on cars even as a child. He joined as a patrol man rescuing stranded people whose cars had broken down. In due course of time he began to participate in motor rallies. He lost his left thumb while greasing the chain on a diesel powered generator in his earlier days, but that didn't stop him from driving."

His wife Satpal Kaur shares: "We were together for 57 years ... Underneath all the toughness, there was a vulnerability that I saw from the first day I met him."


His son, Jatinder Singh says, "He was respected for his humility, his down-to-earth approach to life, his warmth, frankness and sincerity. He worked very hard throughout his life, against all odds, to achieve what he wanted.

Ashok Bhalla, general manager at the East African Safari cited Joginder as a close friend.

“I had the opportunity to navigate for him in a local rally in 1970. During surveys, he would be very particular on how to grade the corners and the roughness of the route. He would always dictate his own understanding of the route in order to maximize his speed during the event. Very soft spoken and humble, he was always available to teach and guide anyone on rallying.”

Nairobi-based motorsport photographer Anwar Sidi recalled how Joginder was the Simba (lion) for Africans.

"His fame grew like wild fire, especially in 1965, when he entered a Volvo P244 and won against the white drivers. It was only in 2001 that we met in the Rift Valley and struck a friendship. Joginder was a genius.”


[Courtesy: Times of India. Edited for sikhchic.com]
October 19, 2016
 

 

 

Conversation about this article

1: Ari Singh (Sofia, Bulgaria), October 19, 2016, 1:27 PM.

This article brings tears to my eyes. Joginder was my best friend. I, under the alias of Dooly Singh, wrote an article in the Illustrated Weekly of India, on Joginder and Khushwant Singh, the then Editor of the magazine, insisted that I write. I was hoping he would write:) Today both Joginder and Khushwant Singh ji are not with us. Two legends. When Joginder and I drove from Mombasa to Nairobi on a fun trip, I realised his talent when he had to avoid a deer that suddenly ran out of the bush into the middle of the road. It was like Joginder knew before hand that this would happen. It was like he had a third eye!

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Joginder Singh"









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