The President of Pakistan, General Ayub Khan had given Milkha the title of Udan Sikh.
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India’s great sprinter Milkha Singh was given the title of Udan Sikh by the President of the neighboring country of Pakistan, General Ayub Khan.
In fact, as Milkha was for India, Abdul Khaliq was for Pakistan. Pakistan’s champion Abdul Khaliq. It was the sixties and the cold month of January. Headline appeared in Urdu newspapers of Pakistan… Khaliq Vs Milkha – Pakistan Vs India. It was no less than a trauma for Milkha to return to that country in which he saw his parents, brothers and sisters slit in front of their eyes. Milkha was born in undivided India, which is today called Pakistan. When two lines were drawn on the Indian soil in the year 1947, Muslims were killed here in India, while Sikhs and Hindus were massacred in other countries. Milkha’s family was also in the course of coming to India that Milkha’s parents and eight siblings were put to death. The remaining Milkha, while running and falling, reached India alone. Lived in refugee camps in Delhi. No work was available in those days I felt like becoming a dacoit, but elder brother’s association did not allow me to become a thief. The second option was to become a soldier in the army. In 1951, Milkha became a soldier.
Initially, Milkha hesitated on the question of going to Pakistan. That’s when he talks to the Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru, Nehru said to Milkha- You have the love and affection of this country, we are all with you, so forget the past, he made you run here with the spirit of friendship. Sent invitation to I want you to go there and represent our country. After getting consolation from Nehru, Milkha agreed to go to Pakistan.
The Pakistanis showered flowers on Milkha’s jeep as soon as they crossed the Bagha border, both those who showered flowers and those who were happy with this welcome must have lost their lives in Partition. Yet today both of them wanted to forget their past and do justice to the future. People standing on both sides of the road were cheering the Hindustani player, cheering. These two countries were meeting, which ten years ago would have brought down their swords from each other’s necks. But the coming of this day was also a witness to the possibility that flowers of love can be grown in lakhs of hatreds. There was a gardener like Nehru in the garden here and there too someone’s heart would have melted for India.
As soon as Milkha arrived, the headlines once again became headlines in Urdu newspapers… Khaliq vs Milkha, Pakistan vs Hindustan….
On the day of the race, 60,000 people gathered at the Lahore Stadium, of whom twenty thousand were women. Maulvi came before the start of the race, prayers were offered, Mohammed was remembered, heartfelt prayers were offered for Khaliq, no priest was there to pray for Milkha, as soon as the Maulvi returned after praying for Khaliq If so, then Milkha said….. I too am the servant of God.
After hearing this, the walls of two countries collapsed, the doors of two religions came together in a courtyard. The cleric stopped, and prayed for Milkha too, or may Allah bless him too.
After a while the race started. Khalik was a great fighter hitting the hundred meters race and Milkha was a brave horse who went a little far, the competition was between two nations as well as two heroes. Neither nineteen nor twenty. Both equal, both the last commanders standing in a war. like. In the very beginning, Khalik went two steps ahead of Milkha, Khalik forward, Milkha behind, but after 150 yards, Milkha came to the level, the very next moment Khalik was left behind. Milkha killed that race in just 20.7 seconds. He set a new record in the whole world. Milkha probably got the blessings of the clerics. Khalik lost, Milkha won…
Around sixty thousand Pakistanis disappointed. The President of Pakistan reached General Ayub Milkha and garlanded the victory. Ayub said to Milkha – Milkha you did not run, man, you flew.
The next day this news was published in the newspapers of the whole world. Ayub’s words gave a new name to Milkha, the same line printed everywhere. From here Milkha got the name Flying Sikh…
The Pakistan which snatched Milkha’s parents from her… The same Pakistan gave her all her love. After returning from Pakistan, two more words were added in front of Milkha, Udan Sikh Milkha.