Olympian Milkha Singh better known as the ‘Flying Sikh’ will be conferred with the Khel Ratna at the annual convocation of Panjab University, Chandigarh. As per the report, Milkha Singh, former Indian track and field sprinter and the first Indian athlete to have won an individual athletics gold medal at a Commonwealth Games, will be awarded the Khel Ratna for his contribution to the field of sports in India.
‘Flying Sikh’ Milkha Singh to Get Khel Ratna at Panjab University, Chandigarh
According to the report, the Syndicate, during a meeting, approved recommendations for different nominees, to be conferred with awards under different categories. Approving the recommendations of the committee, the syndicate has decided to award the prestigious Khel Ratna award to Olympian Milkha Singh also known as the ‘Flying Sikh’.
Besides the Khel Ratna award to Olympian and former sprinter Milkha Singh, the Syndicate has also decided to award Udyog Ratna to businessman Sunil Kant Munjal and Gian Ratna to art critic BN Goswamy. The awardees will be bestowed with the honours at the annual convocation of Panjab University, Chandigarh.
Milkha Singh’s journey to become the ‘Flying Sikh’
Milkha Singh was persuaded by Jawaharlal Nehru, the then Prime Minister, to set aside his memories of the Partition era (Indo-Pak Partition) to be a part of the sporting event in Pakistan. Milka Singh went to Pakistan to participate in the racing event and successfully clinched the first position in 1960 against Abdul Khaliq of Pakistan. A post-race comment by Ayub Khan, Former President of Pakistan, led to Milkha Singh acquiring the nickname of The ‘Flying Sikh’. Well, post the biopic, Farhan Akhtar starrer ‘Bhaag Milkha Bhaag’ most of Singh’s life, an open book, though some pages of his life remain untouched!
Lok Sabha speaker Sumitra Mahajan
The syndicate, Panjab University (PU), Chandigarh approved the recommendations for different honors last week. The committee formed to recommend the nominees for conferring the awards had decided to award the honorary degree of doctor of law (honoris causa) on Sumitra Mahajan, the Lok Sabha speaker. The syndicate will be conferring the Khel Ratna on Milkha Singh in Panjab University.
Source: The Tribune
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