‘Get my Dadaji back’: Fauja Singh’s grand-daughter mourns her loss

Amid the quiet mourning and memories that now fill the home of veteran marathon runner Fauja Singh, one closed room echoes the deepest sorrow. Fauja Singh, who passed away at the age of 114, left behind not only a legacy of athletic endurance but also a deeply grieving family—especially his 17-year-old grand-daughter, Japneet Kaur.

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Known for her close bond with Fauja Singh, Japneet was often compared to his late wife. “My father-in- law would often say that Japneet had her daadi ji’s mannerisms, her demeanour and even her way of speaking,” Bhanjeet Kaur, Fauja Singh’s daughter-in-law told The Tribune.

After Fauja Singh’s death, Japneet has shut herself in her room, overcome with grief. “She keeps repeating one sentence: ‘Mainu mere Baba ji lya do’ (Bring my grandfather back to me’),” Bhanjeet shared. “She hasn’t come out or spoken to anyone. She was always by his side—he truly adored her.”

She further added that Japneet had barely eaten and has not even spoken much since the incident. “She just wants justice,” a close relative said. “She wants the accused to suffer.”

Harvinder Singh, Fauja Singh’s youngest son, said, “Even my elder daughter Avneet who is currently abroad, is devastated. She was also very close to him. She’s been crying non-stop. We feel utterly helpless right now.”

When The Tribune visited the family’s home, the shoes were kept with great honour on the table that read, ‘Fauja Singh’. The great runner always wore them. The atmosphere in the household is one of profound sorrow. Fauja Singh, remembered as a symbol of resilience and dedication, now leaves behind not just his athletic legacy, but a family deeply grieving the man they called Baba ji.