Obama, Modi and I have similar stories to share, says Milkha

Sabi Hussain

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 27

Milkha Singh was having a cup of tea on a cloudy Tuesday morning at his Chandigarh residence when he heard his name being mentioned by none other than the President of USA, Barack Obama.  

It was one of those usual weekday mornings for the legendary athlete, who would surf news channels to know about the latest happening across the country after finishing his household chores.  Today was no different for the 85-year-old as he tuned in to a news channel to listen to Obama’s speech at Siri Fort auditorium here on the last day of his three-day visit.

As Obama talked about the relations between the two countries at a Town Hall meeting in his only Open address to the Indian audience, there came a moment during his half-an-hour long extempore speech when he lauded Indian sporting heroes among others for their efforts in nation-building.

In the course of his address, Obama urged all the students present to celebrate the success stories of athletes like Milkha and MC Mary Kom.

It took Milkha by surprise as he couldn’t believe that Obama — the most powerful man on the earth — had just referred to his name as one of the national icons while making a point that courage and humanitarian values unify both the nations.

“I am getting congratulatory calls from my friends and relatives in Canada, England and USA. It surprised me that he mentioned about me as one of the national icons,” Milkha told The Tribune.

“I am feeling honoured, privileged and proud. It feels so great that the world’s most powerful leader knows about you. He was talking about people who brought laurels to the country and their hard work. He was talking about how to treat everyone equally. His excellent speech would inspire a whole generation in this country to work hard and believe in their abilities to succeed,” he added.

Obama in his speech had said, “Indians and Americans are some of the hardest working people on earth. People like Shah Rukh Khan, Milkha Singh and Mary Kom inspire people. Every Indian should celebrate their success equally, not by colour of skin, or worship.”

Milkha said the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, President Obama and he share a similar background of social and economic hardships.

“His grandfather worked as a cook and he is from a humble background. Modiji worked as a tea-seller in his early days before becoming our country’s most popular PM. I was a victim of Partition and spent my childhood in relief camps without any source of income. It was only after I joined the Army that my life changed for good. So, we all have faced hardships in our lives,” said the ‘Flying Sikh’, who finished fourth in the 1960 Rome Olympics and won gold in the 1958 and 1962 Asian Games.

Another celebrated athlete and London Olympic bronze medallist, Mary Kom, said she felt proud to be acknowledged by the US President.

“I feel honoured and proud. I am thankful to him for mentioning my name. This means he acknowledged my performances over the years. When someone told me that Obama took my name, I was completely surprised. He could have taken anybody’s name. I believe that if you work hard towards your goal, people will definitely recognise your efforts,” said the five-time world champion.