Columnists

Marathon Man

by KHUSHWANT SINGH

He is 95 years of age, runs 10 miles a day, has completed innumerable marathons and is called Britain's 'Running Baba'.

No need to gasp; he is none other than Sardar Fauja Singh of 'Sadda Punjab' who has done Sikhs proud the world over with his super-human qualities that defy the notion that age was ever a barrier in sports.

"I can either lie down or walk," says Fauja to this correspondent as we walk on the streets of Ilford, near London, England, where Fauja lives with his son. Sitting idle is not an option.

He is formally dressed in a suit and a tie, but wearing Adidas running-shoes (the brand for which he has been an icon, with his photos and quotes splattered on bill-boards everywhere). The latter have "Fauja" and "Singh" inscribed on the left and right, respectively.

"I'll die the day I sit down," he adds in chaste Punjabi, as the English language remains alien to this simple man from Jalandhar, who landed in England about 15 years ago to be close to his family.

The people at Adidas, who have engaged Fauja as their brand ambassador, have tried their best to get him to say their advert line, "Impossible is nothing", but had to virtually give up after Fauja told them that it was easier for him to run a full marathon of 26 miles, than to repeat these words. So, guess what  -  their promos depicting him have him speaking in Punjabi, with a translated voice-over. Works like magic!

"The recipe to my longevity is to eat less. In these countries, you can eat as much as you want," he says pointing towards an overweight woman on the street. "Dekhi mem kiddi hai (See how big that woman is)," he exclaims, bursting into laughter, an indication that Fauja is still young at heart.

"I eat one chapatti with lentils for lunch and dinner, and sometimes dip a slice of bread in curd," claims Fauja, who passes his day walking from one Gurdwara to another, and socializing at each.

"Sat Sri Akal," he calls out to his comrades the moment he spots any on the street or at the Gurdwara.

One-of-a-kind Fauja Singh feels he has been often confined to being a mere poster-boy by his own community, while he is an icon to the community at large.  Running for various charities, he has helped collect oodles of funds in donations for them.

According to his coach, Harmander Singh, Fauja had no previous history as a marathoner. He first learnt of a marathon while watching television in 1999. This got him curious as to why people were running aimlessly. When it was explained what it entailed, Fauja expressed his desire to have a go at it. Unfortunately, the last date for entry for the London Flora Marathon to be held in April 2000 had passed.

Harmander realized that the only way to get Fauja running in the 2000 marathon was through a Golden Bond whereby charities pre-buy a fixed number of places for a fee. Charities then pass them on to individuals who can raise more money for the respective charity. Harmander Singh then approached BLISS, a charity for premature babies, requesting them to grant one pass to Fauja Singh. BLISS was pleased to have an old man of 89 keen to run for the charity as it also gave them a good slogan: The oldest running for the youngest!

However, for now, the 'Running Baba' has temporarily hung up his running shoes, as his coach wants him to store his energies for the final frontier: i.e., becoming the oldest marathon runner in the world. Currently, the record is held by Dimitrion Yordandis, who ran a marathon in Athens at the age of 98.

According to Harmander, the New York Marathon organisers have announced an award of $100,000 for anybody who completes a marathon at 100 years of age.

"Let's all pray it will be our very own Fauja," he adds with a smile.

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