Fauja Singh BEM
Marathon Runner
London (UK)
Ancestry & Birthplace:
Beas Pind, Jalandhar, Punjab (India)
Residence:
London (UK)
Marathon Man: A runaway phenomenon at 108
Introduction: He couldn’t walk until the age of 5 because his legs were thin and weak. Today, he holds several marathon world records in multiple age brackets. And is still running!
I was born on 1 April 1911. My parents, Sardarni Bhag Kaur and Sardar Mehr Singh, were farmers. Our home was in a sprawling village of the time where everyone knew each other, spent time together, sharing both happiness and grief.
At birth my legs were weak and spindly, so much so that I couldn’t walk until I was five. Being poor farmers in a non-descript village of British India, it was practically impossible to consult a professional doctor. For my parents, they found their solace in God. They held many prayer ceremonies for a change in my condition. The other children of my age in the neighbourhood would jeer at me and teasingly call me ‘danda’, which means a staff used for walking. But once I could walk, I was happy – and so were my parents. They distributed prasad, a symbolic offering to God, usually sweets shared by all, and thanked God for the miracle they thought would never happen.
My childhood and teen years were mostly spent at home; the nearest school in the neighbouring Alawarpur was around 1.5 miles from our place and I could barely walk a mile. As a result, I never learnt to read or write, or even comprehend or speak any language other than Punjabi, although I can understand my name if written in Urdu.
I was a naughty child. My favourite pastimes were jumping into the partially finished wells, climbing trees, playing cards or gossiping. As a teenager, I remember playing games like Gulli Danda1, Kabaddi, Tug-of-war or rolling tyres with my friends. With no studies to contend with, I soon began to help my father on the farms. After his death in 1963, I tended the farms and could plough all day long, changing a set between four oxen I had. It is not that the legs were not weak now, but the responsibility was even bigger.
My six early gifts
Early-age weddings were very common in those days. I was married early in my teens to Gian Kaur, a very supportive lady. We were blessed with three daughters, Gorbaksh, Jaswinder and Nirmal, and three sons, Sukhjinder, Kuldip and Harvinder. While I worked on the farms, Gian helped my mother in household chores and raised the kids.
When I was 36, the news of independence spread all over the country. We all were so happy that the sacrifice of great warriors from Punjab, like the great Bhagat Singh, had finally borne fruit. But the partition hurt more than the freedom. Today, news travels fast and is broadcast instantaneously, but things were different back then. I heard the heartache and disturbances from other people. It was very sad that in the upheaval of partition, many decided to leave and others had to uproot themselves from what is now Pakistan. Like everyone of the united Punjab, on either sides of the new boundary, I too was deeply hurt.
From a farmer to a runner
We all had waited for freedom, but it didn’t change anything at all. I worked on the farms, Gian at home and kids studied at school. After going through basic education, my sons helped me on the farms and daughters helped Gian at home. As they grew, the kids got married, five of them settled abroad, while I continued the life of farmer in Beas Pind with Gian and Kuldip.
Life moved on with the same pace. But when I was in my 80s, tragedy struck in quick succession when Gian, Kuldip and Gorbaksh died in 1992, 1994 and 1995, respectively. Unhappy and alone in India, I moved to the UK in 1994. My first stay in England was brief; homesickness compelled me to go back. My family then resolved that and migrated to England permanently. So I finally settled in Ilford, London, with Sukhjinder in 1995.
In England, there wasn’t anything I could do to keep myself occupied with. I realised running was a great diversion and had a therapeutic effect, so I ended up in international marathon events at the age of 89. Back in my village in India, running 20 km was like child’s play. Dressed in a three-piece suit, I confidently went to meet the coach Harmander Singh for a 26 km marathon at Redbridge, Essex. There I was told it was not 26 km but 26 miles, which comes to 42 km. I was surprised, yet did not give up. I began training seriously and in 2000 ran my first marathon, the London Marathon.
Since then, I have run in London Flora Marathons, Toronto Waterfront Marathons, New York City Marathon 2003, Glasgow City Half Marathon 2004 and Capital Radio Help a London Child 10,000 m in 2004. The same year, I was featured alongside David Beckham and Muhammad Ali in an advertising campaign for Adidas. I became the oldest man to be featured in a PETA campaign in 2011. In July 2012, I carried the Olympic torch.
I am glad to hold the UK records for the 200 m, 400 m, 800 m and 3,000 m for my age group, records all set within a single 94 minute period. At the age of 100, I attempted and accomplished eight world age-group records in one day, at the special Ontario Masters Association Fauja Singh Invitational Meet, held at Birchmount Stadium in Toronto, Canada. I was happy and felt honoured to receive greetings from Queen Elizabeth II on my 100th birthday.
My last competitive running was in Hong Kong on 24 February 2013, a 10-km run which I completed in 1 hr 32 min 28 sec. And then I retired, five weeks shy of my 102nd birthday. I still continue running for pleasure, health and charity. In 2015, I was awarded the British Empire Medal in the New Year Honours for services to sport and charity. I started regularly visiting the gurudwara and my son’s business and then running errands for my younger but less mobile friends and window shopping. As years passed by, it gradually reduced since I no longer visit my son’s business or run errands now; I instead go home and rest.
On 7 July 2011, my biography, Turbaned Tornado, was released in the Attlee Room of Britain’s House of Lords by Lord Anthony Young of Norwood Green and retired British Crown Court judge Sir Mota Singh. After being awarded the Ellis Island Medal of Honor by the National Ethnic Coalition, a group that advocates ethnic pride and tolerance, in 2003, I was also awarded the Pride of India title by a UK-based organisation in 2011 for my achievements.
The following year, I was invited as a special guest for the 2nd Annual Chardikala Run in Malaysia, the run being given a theme ‘101 and running’ as a mark of respect for me.
Now 108 and still counting because… I run while talking to god!
Philosophy
I just live a simple life which is related to my Sikh faith of remembering God, doing an honest day’s work and sharing with others. I avoid conflict and it hurts me when I hear of bad words being spoken of anyone.
I love…
Anything that reminds me of Punjab, including culture, music and food. I do listen to the news generally but avoid politics.
I’d suggest the youth…
All over the world to look after their health, avoid drugs and other intoxicants that not only destroy their life but also of those who brought them up and love them. Be positive and active.
Success Mantra
I am very careful about food. My diet is simple phulka2, dal, green vegetables, yoghurt and milk. I do not touch parathas, pakoras, rice or any other fried food. I take lots of water and tea with ginger. I go to bed early, taking the name of my Rabb3 as I don’t want all those negative thoughts crossing my mind.
The world doesn’t know that…
I am also called Running Baba.
AKA
Gallery
ISBN : 9788193397695