People

Fauja Singh and Mumbai de Sikh

TARANJIT SINGH

Just when the celebrations of the Parkash Gurupurab of Guru Gobind Singh ji b were slowing pace in Mumbai, India, we got great news: Fauja Singh is Running the Mumbai Marathon.

As the Sikhs of Mumbai, we had to do something for this Grand Old Man, a world renowned marathoner and a superb human being.

Sardar Fauja Singh is a 101-years old world-record holding marathoner from the United Kingdom. We all decided to go to the marathon and cheer for him and make him feel welcome and at home.

We made some vibrant placards with different slogans, informed friends and relatives through messages, calls and Facebook, and also bought a box of his favourite snack – pinnies.

It was reported that Fauja Singh would participate in the 4.3 km-long Senior Citizens’ Run. We reached the Metro Theatre where the Senior Citizens’ Run was to conclude.

It was a great spectacle. People from all walks of life had arrived. Different colours, different headgears, different clothing, etc. We held our placards high and were shouting slogans - ‘FAUJA SINGH ZINDABAD’ and ‘SINGH IS KING - FAUJA SINGH’.

From a distance we saw just one Yellow Turban swiftly making its way through the crowd. And someone yelled ‘HE IS HERE -- FAUJA SINGH JI IS HERE’.

And very soon he came very close to us. Only a handful of Sikhs were running in the marathon, so when he saw us he stopped for a moment, gave a big bright smile, had a glance at our placards and continued to run. That smile was possibly brighter than the sun at that time.

We ran the remaining 500 metres with him, our slogans getting louder and more voices joining us.

Later, we got a chance to talk to him while he was walking across the Azad Maidan to where he was supposed to have some refreshments and rest for a while before the awards ceremony. Some of the boys who were escorting him thought of giving him a helping hand to walk, but he immediately said, “I’m fine, I am not tired”.

All this while the shutterbugs were clicking away and he was very graciously smiling and posing with all who came to meet him. This was the time when we introduced ourselves and met him. I moved ahead to gave him a warm welcome hug. He said that he was very happy to see some brothers and sisters here in Mumbai.

When he hugged me, it never felt that he was a 100+ years old; his grip was as firm as a middle-aged man. He said he gets strength when he sees young brothers in beautifully tied turbans.

He said to me, he had long-standing wish to visit Mumbai one day, which got fulfilled today. He was happy to meet and greet all people and shared a laugh with all. We got a chance to go in with him into the enclosure where refreshments were being served. He said he was very happy to receive the box of pinnies and also had some bites from it immediately. When asked if he liked it, he had the biggest smile of approval.

We informed him that we Sikhs had organized a regular marathon in Mumbai, drawing inspiration from him. He was very happy to hear about it, and said we all must strive to be fit from a very young age.

While all the participants were exhausted and were resting after the run, he said he wanted to go see the mela outside.

*   *   *   *   *

While we were still marvelling the courage and grit of Fauja Singh ji, another face in the same hall drew our attention … rather shy of photographers and the media, sitting quietly with his family. We all went to his family and spoke to them to find out who he was.

Sardar Angad Dev Singh Duggal is a 26 year old resident of Juhu, Mumbai.

Angad Dev Singh has not allowed multiple disabilities to be a stumbling block on his path to fulfil his marathon dreams. He is a regular at the Mumbai Marathon. He has been participating in the marathon since the last 6 years. He participates in the ‘Champions with Disability’ race like every year.

Sardar G. S. Duggal (Angad Dev’s father) also ran with him and the family. He said, “People call him the ‘Spirit of Mumbai‘ ”.

Angad Dev walked in the 2.4 km race from CST Station to Churchgate Station and back. His family accompanied him with a chair for him to rest in between.

Sikhs have always been known to fight and win in the most difficult of adversities, reach the pinnacle in all spheres of life and repeatedly do the impossible.

If these two Sikhs --  Fauja Singh and Angad Dev Singh -- can accomplish their goals in such conditions, we can do it too.

The author works with a number of NGOs and is based in Mumbai, India. 

January 24, 2013

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