Flying Sikh

Last week I was in Nasik and celebrated my 29^th birthday. It’s been great going and what an experience at the game called life. My brother and I decided to watch the movie Bhaag Mikha Bhaag. This was the first time we both went out  together for a movie. It was the right decision, we both felt inspired by the life of Milkha Singh. I would say I seldom watch movies but this was the best one I have seen. It left me inspired for another 60 revolutions around the sun. This movie inspired, made me laugh, cry and feel good about being an Indian. I thought listing out some off the important points I noted from life of Milkha Singh.

1.       Doesn’t matter from where you come: Milkha Singh was an immigrant from Pakistan to India. As a child he has seen his whole family getting killed in front of his eyes. This didn’t deter him from excelling in his life. He converted his personal tragedy into motivation for excelling in life. It also reminds us that Independence of India was gained with lots of bloodshed and at expense of lives of many innocent people. It doesn’t matter from where we come, but what matters is where we are going.

2.       Behind every successful man there is a woman: Only his sister survived the tragedy and brought him up. She sold away her jewellery so that he could come up in his life.

3.       Pride in representing the nation: Milkha Singh wanted to wear the blazer with Indian emblem on it. This motivated him to work harder and participate in national championship even though he was injured. His passion to represent India on world stage made all the difference.

4.       Distraction & lack of Focus: A young Milkha Singh failed to deliver results at the Melbourne Olympics due to indiscipline and lack of focus.

5.       National Interest above self: Milkha Singh refused take part in friendship games held in Pakistan. The primary reason being the killing of his family in Pakistan during partition. But then Prime Minister Nehru requested him to go to Pakistan putting National interest above personal interest. I will quote a line from book corporate Chanakya “The game should be bigger than the player. The organisation should be bigger than the employee. The purpose should be bigger than you and me”. After winning the race in Pakistan he was honoured with the title of “Flying Sikh”.

6.       Hard Work: I remember a line from my school English text book written by Kushwant Singh “There is no shortcut to success”.Milkha  Singh’s life reinforces this point.

7.       Difference between winning and losing: Milkha Singh missed to win a medal for India in Rome Olympics  by milli seconds. His past came back to haunt him; he looked back and lost the race. The difference between winners and looser is never in miles but only few centimetres.