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Yes, Makhan pipped Milkha in 21st national games: Govt
Question raised in Parliament on Hoshiarpur sprinter, who died unsung in penury in 2002
Vibha Sharma
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 17
Call it pure providence or just the way Indian system functions but Makhan Singh, an athlete who won a 400-meter race by defeating legendary sprinter Milkha Singh, died unsung in penury in 2002, leaving behind a family who is struggling to survive more than 10 years down the line.

While Milkha Singh’s life was celebrated by the Bollywood in the film “Bhaag Milkha Bhaag”, Rajya Sabha MP Avinash Rai Khanna, who raised a question on financial assistance to family of Makhan Singh in Parliament last week, wonders whether the story of the bright track and field athlete from the Hoshiarpur district in Punjab, would inspire the government to ensure some permanent measure to pull his family out of despair.

Surviving on the Army pension, all that Surinder Kaur, wife of the Arjuna Award winner, is now seeking is a government job for her son Parminder so that the family can live a dignified life. Teary eyed, she says their situation is so bad that she is considering selling the symbol of the sporting honour presented to her husband by none other than the then President of India, Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, to raise funds for the family. “Apart from the Rs 3 lakh that I received in 2009 we have never received any help from anyone,” she said, talking to Tribune on phone.

Makhan was conferred the Arjuna Award, the country's highest award for sporting excellence, in 1964 for his achievements, which included several medals in the national games.

According to the records, he took part in all the national games between 1959 and 1964 and won 12 gold, three silver and one bronze medals. His greatest achievement was Kolkata where apart from scoring a sensational win over Milkha he picked up four gold. He represented India in the 1962 Asian Games in Jakarta where he won gold in 4 x 400 metres and silver in the 400 metres individual race.

In the reply to Khanna’s question, Minister of state for Youth Affairs and Sports Jitendra Singh conceded that Makhan Singh defeated Milkha Singh in the 21st national games.

Jitendra Singh said in 2009, it was brought to the notice of the Government of India that Makhan’s family was living in very poor circumstances. The ministry sanctioned a lump sum financial assistance of Rs 3 lakh to Surinder Kaur in from the National Welfare Fund for sportspersons.

Was conferred Arjuna in 1964

Makhan was conferred the Arjuna Award in 1964 .

He took part in all the national games between 1959 and 1964 and won 12 gold, three silver and one bronze medals.

His greatest achievement was Kolkata where apart from scoring a sensational win over Milkha he picked up four gold.

He represented India in the 1962 Asian Games in Jakarta where he won gold in 4 x 400 metres.