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The Race of My Life: An Autobiography
Authored By: Milkha Singh, Sonia Sanwalka
Foreword By: Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra
Introduction By: Jeev Milkha Singh
Milkha Singh has led a life dominated by running, running, running… From a boy who narrowly escaped death during Partition (most of his family was not so lucky), to a juvenile delinquent who stole and outran the police, to a young Army recruit who ran his very first race to win special privileges for himself (a daily glass of milk). After that first race, Milkha Singh became an athlete by default. And what followed was the stuff legends are made of.
In this remarkably candid autobiography, Milkha Singh shares the amazing highs of winning India’s first ever gold in athletics at the Commonwealth Games, the unbridled joy of being hailed as the ‘Flying Sikh’ in Pakistan, as well as the shattering low of failure at the Olympics.
Simple yet ambitious, famous yet grounded, Milkha Singh was a man who defined his own destiny and remained committed to running. And yet, remarkably for a man whose life was dominated by sports, he continues to remain disillusioned with the way sports is run…
Powerful and gripping, The Race of My Life documents the journey of an impoverished refugee who rose to become one of the most towering figures in Indian sports.
Foreword By: Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra
Introduction By: Jeev Milkha Singh
Milkha Singh has led a life dominated by running, running, running… From a boy who narrowly escaped death during Partition (most of his family was not so lucky), to a juvenile delinquent who stole and outran the police, to a young Army recruit who ran his very first race to win special privileges for himself (a daily glass of milk). After that first race, Milkha Singh became an athlete by default. And what followed was the stuff legends are made of.
In this remarkably candid autobiography, Milkha Singh shares the amazing highs of winning India’s first ever gold in athletics at the Commonwealth Games, the unbridled joy of being hailed as the ‘Flying Sikh’ in Pakistan, as well as the shattering low of failure at the Olympics.
Simple yet ambitious, famous yet grounded, Milkha Singh was a man who defined his own destiny and remained committed to running. And yet, remarkably for a man whose life was dominated by sports, he continues to remain disillusioned with the way sports is run…
Powerful and gripping, The Race of My Life documents the journey of an impoverished refugee who rose to become one of the most towering figures in Indian sports.
160 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
114 people are currently reading
1307 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 144 reviews
January 22, 2016
After being blown away by the movie Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, I came across Milkha Singh's autobiography, 'The Race of My Life'. It was obvious that I had to read it. Now I normally take months to finish a book, often reading several books simultaneously. But not this one. It is the first book perhaps since school, that I read almost continuously.
The simple language and powerful and personal descriptions of the trials and challenges that Milkha Singh faced and overcame is pure inspiration. This isn't a book for the herd (the masses), because it doesn't have a fancy, glamourous or dreamy eyed plot. It is, however, for those people who have, at any point in their lives, had a single aim or objective, and who know what it is to channel all energies towards that one aim. It is for those people who know of passions that are way bigger than money, designations, security and tangible comforts.
The simple language and powerful and personal descriptions of the trials and challenges that Milkha Singh faced and overcame is pure inspiration. This isn't a book for the herd (the masses), because it doesn't have a fancy, glamourous or dreamy eyed plot. It is, however, for those people who have, at any point in their lives, had a single aim or objective, and who know what it is to channel all energies towards that one aim. It is for those people who know of passions that are way bigger than money, designations, security and tangible comforts.
October 30, 2020
Milkha Singh pours his heart out in this and gives us an overview of his life and his experiences. Milkha Singh was born before India and Pakistan's partition and he lost a lot of his family members including his parents during the partition.
After losing his parents and moving to Delhi and facing a lot of ups and downs, he decided to change his life. When he joined the Indian Army, he took part in running and of course a lot of hard work took place and he was chosen to represent India at the Olympics and the rest is history as they say.
What I found impressive was that how much grief and failures Milkha Singh faced and he still turned his life around which is not just impressive but also inspiring. How he worked hard and achieved so much. His personal life is talked about in a lot of detail in this and I really loved reading about it.
4 stars
After losing his parents and moving to Delhi and facing a lot of ups and downs, he decided to change his life. When he joined the Indian Army, he took part in running and of course a lot of hard work took place and he was chosen to represent India at the Olympics and the rest is history as they say.
What I found impressive was that how much grief and failures Milkha Singh faced and he still turned his life around which is not just impressive but also inspiring. How he worked hard and achieved so much. His personal life is talked about in a lot of detail in this and I really loved reading about it.
4 stars
September 18, 2023
5.0 ⭐
GENRE - AUTOBIOGRAPHY
This was the 6th book I read in the year 2014.An inspirational story of one of the great athletes India ever produced, this was the first biography I had read involving a sport person and it was a good choice.
The author has done a great job in researching about the life of Mr. Milkha Singh aswell as explaining it through words, it's written in simple English and his life story is worth reading, specially his struggles and overall journey of life.
A must read for those who love Biographies.
🙏
GENRE - AUTOBIOGRAPHY
This was the 6th book I read in the year 2014.An inspirational story of one of the great athletes India ever produced, this was the first biography I had read involving a sport person and it was a good choice.
The author has done a great job in researching about the life of Mr. Milkha Singh aswell as explaining it through words, it's written in simple English and his life story is worth reading, specially his struggles and overall journey of life.
A must read for those who love Biographies.
🙏
March 6, 2025
Reading this novel was like living my own dream, I once had in school time. Winning those inter-school races and collecting medals made me proud beyond thoughts at that time. Realizing that someone out there is representing our Country in the World amazes me and inspired me to become the best of all in my school time. Very few athletes I knew at that time except this legendary figure, obviously. And only those names, adding few more by now, are still known to world. Apart from writing about his whole life he also mentioned very well, the condition of the Indian athletics. Talent has no bound to perform but finding that talent and giving it a chance to prove needs so much from this partial, unjust and selfish world.
Lot more sportsmen were finished in their career just because they were not able to satisfy the EGO of the those who never ever played as much as that sportsperson, but acquired the position to Judge the former.
There are many examples out there. Mary Kom, too, to name one, faced lot of discrimination herself. But Her’s just a name in a long lasting list. Not in just one category of sports/games but in all. Such politics needs to be ended.
Milkha Singh had much horrified past. Surviving through the holocaust and then making his life to become sports legend for India, is in itself the most inspiring and promising thing. I read about the partition time he explained, that how one community spoiled everything around, just in need to satisfy their demand of separate nation. Was that necessary? Was anything more important than just being free from any outsider’s rule over us? All that required was to live in harmony but few power mongers snatched that thought from rest of the people’s mind for ever and ever. Naming a few among them can’t solve the problem but still...; Nehru, Jinnah, Gandhi and Sheikh Abdullah were the most culprit of all who ruined the future of both the partitioned countries in the generations to come.
Milkha Singh was victim, in one of millions of that same genocide, which started from one end and had to be reciprocated in equivalence to defend the right to live, to save the honor of their women folks and saving their generations to escape the pre-birth deaths. His whole family was butchered in front of his eyes, only family member who escaped were the one who were not present there, his one elder sister and elder brother. Rest whole village was burnt and all the villagers were murdered by the same people with whom they mingle in every festival and daily chores. Those riots proved that religion for Indian Muslims was priority than being a human first. No one was the fair-weather friend. It was like a child with much more negligence due to his naïve and immature nature who once get something thought its only he who has that in the whole world. Well, the world knew well which country grew to higher level in all those past years after that ego-satisfying partition.
His Glory was not something that could be kept under shed. Once he started running, never stopped. Though he never got to add any Olympic medal in his coffer, he won 77/80 International Races. Winning the title of “THE FLYING SIGH” from the Head of Country, Ayub Khan, of that same partitioned country, Pakistan, from which he had been threw out once, can never be compared with any other winning.
Those Atrocities on his family, especially when he was just a teenager, was something he would never forget but he never deflected from any such mental hindrance to achieve his goal of becoming the fastest Asian Men of his time. Where at one place he was serving army, at another he was glorifying his country by running. At both the points all he was doing, is to serve his nation.
There later came a movie titled what exactly his father screamed to alert him, to save his life, “Bhaag Milkha Bhaag” (Run Milkha Run). To play such a legend on screen can make any actor to fame worldwide and that would bring him an unforgettable applause. And that ball fell in the lap of mediocre actor Farhan Akhtar. But it doubles up the fame in the mind of those who are from this narcissist generation of hypocrite and think that only movies are the base of knowing historical events.
There is lot more to learn from his life. If you’re seeking discipline, and can’t handle depression, read him and you’ll learn eventually that life is the name of Journey & not just to reach destination. We need to live our life to add more in our daily experiences and we can build castle of our dreams from those fateful experiences.
In nutshell, I liked this autobiography. Though it went bit slow in the last few chapters but this is how life is; full of ups & downs.
I would like to quote his last words from his work here, which he himself borrowed from one old Urdu couplet from Allama Iqbal (Moh. Iqbal);
मिटा दे अपनी हस्ती को अगर कोई मर्तबा चाहे
की दाना खाक में मिल कर गुले गुलज़ार होता है
Translation:
Destroy Your Entire existence if you want to reach the zenith,
Ços a seed has to become one with the dust to sprout and blossom into a flower.
For me it deserves 4.5/5.0
Milkha Singh had much horrified past. Surviving through the holocaust and then making his life to become sports legend for India, is in itself the most inspiring and promising thing. I read about the partition time he explained, that how one community spoiled everything around, just in need to satisfy their demand of separate nation. Was that necessary? Was anything more important than just being free from any outsider’s rule over us? All that required was to live in harmony but few power mongers snatched that thought from rest of the people’s mind for ever and ever. Naming a few among them can’t solve the problem but still...; Nehru, Jinnah, Gandhi and Sheikh Abdullah were the most culprit of all who ruined the future of both the partitioned countries in the generations to come.
Milkha Singh was victim, in one of millions of that same genocide, which started from one end and had to be reciprocated in equivalence to defend the right to live, to save the honor of their women folks and saving their generations to escape the pre-birth deaths. His whole family was butchered in front of his eyes, only family member who escaped were the one who were not present there, his one elder sister and elder brother. Rest whole village was burnt and all the villagers were murdered by the same people with whom they mingle in every festival and daily chores. Those riots proved that religion for Indian Muslims was priority than being a human first. No one was the fair-weather friend. It was like a child with much more negligence due to his naïve and immature nature who once get something thought its only he who has that in the whole world. Well, the world knew well which country grew to higher level in all those past years after that ego-satisfying partition.
His Glory was not something that could be kept under shed. Once he started running, never stopped. Though he never got to add any Olympic medal in his coffer, he won 77/80 International Races. Winning the title of “THE FLYING SIGH” from the Head of Country, Ayub Khan, of that same partitioned country, Pakistan, from which he had been threw out once, can never be compared with any other winning.
Those Atrocities on his family, especially when he was just a teenager, was something he would never forget but he never deflected from any such mental hindrance to achieve his goal of becoming the fastest Asian Men of his time. Where at one place he was serving army, at another he was glorifying his country by running. At both the points all he was doing, is to serve his nation.
There later came a movie titled what exactly his father screamed to alert him, to save his life, “Bhaag Milkha Bhaag” (Run Milkha Run). To play such a legend on screen can make any actor to fame worldwide and that would bring him an unforgettable applause. And that ball fell in the lap of mediocre actor Farhan Akhtar. But it doubles up the fame in the mind of those who are from this narcissist generation of hypocrite and think that only movies are the base of knowing historical events.
There is lot more to learn from his life. If you’re seeking discipline, and can’t handle depression, read him and you’ll learn eventually that life is the name of Journey & not just to reach destination. We need to live our life to add more in our daily experiences and we can build castle of our dreams from those fateful experiences.
In nutshell, I liked this autobiography. Though it went bit slow in the last few chapters but this is how life is; full of ups & downs.
I would like to quote his last words from his work here, which he himself borrowed from one old Urdu couplet from Allama Iqbal (Moh. Iqbal);
मिटा दे अपनी हस्ती को अगर कोई मर्तबा चाहे
की दाना खाक में मिल कर गुले गुलज़ार होता है
Translation:
Destroy Your Entire existence if you want to reach the zenith,
Ços a seed has to become one with the dust to sprout and blossom into a flower.
For me it deserves 4.5/5.0
April 14, 2022
Born in 1932 in undivided India, Milkha Singh was one of India's most iconic athletes. All through his professional career, his mantra for success was regular practice, hard work, self discipline, dedication and the determination to perform to the best of his abilities.
This book traces his journey from a young boy forced to run at the massacre of his family in post-partition riots in his village Govindpura to an international celebrity athlete. The journey encompasses his drudgery in Delhi, falling in bad company, getting into the Army, passion for running, getting selected for Army competitions and finally making it big by representing India internationally. Its a rag to riches story.
Milkha Singh was a romantic at heart and he has also described his first love, his marriage to Nimmy, his children and his love for shikar and camping. Milkha Singh was an idealist who never took shortcuts and belived in the process. He also openly admits his biggest regret being missing the 400 metre Gold at 1960 Rome Olympics.
This is a good and short autobiography that recollects the toil and rewards spanning his life as an athlete, as a lover and father and later as a sports administrator in Punjab. Milkha was a man of true mettle and that shines through the pages of this book.
This book traces his journey from a young boy forced to run at the massacre of his family in post-partition riots in his village Govindpura to an international celebrity athlete. The journey encompasses his drudgery in Delhi, falling in bad company, getting into the Army, passion for running, getting selected for Army competitions and finally making it big by representing India internationally. Its a rag to riches story.
Milkha Singh was a romantic at heart and he has also described his first love, his marriage to Nimmy, his children and his love for shikar and camping. Milkha Singh was an idealist who never took shortcuts and belived in the process. He also openly admits his biggest regret being missing the 400 metre Gold at 1960 Rome Olympics.
This is a good and short autobiography that recollects the toil and rewards spanning his life as an athlete, as a lover and father and later as a sports administrator in Punjab. Milkha was a man of true mettle and that shines through the pages of this book.
March 25, 2016
This book tells almost everything about Milkha Singh's life.He is a self made sportsman.The content is honest and crisp.
Recommended to any sports lover..
Recommended to any sports lover..
August 23, 2014
Like many people I have watched the film ‘Bhaag Milkha Bhaag’ before I actually read the book.’The Race of my Life’ is an autobiography of the great Indian track and field athlete ,Milkha Singh who won several golds in Asian Games.This book is co-authored by Milkha Singh and Sonia Sanwalka. Overall this book is trying to give the readers an understanding of the life of Milkha Singh whether it was his days on the field or his personal relationships and encounters with strangers and fans in life .
This book is very straight-forward and like Milkha Singh’s life gives a very quick, to the point overview of his life. But sometimes that’s not what the reader wants.Even though I found this book to be very inspiring , I also felt like some situations and feelings were left very unattended.I think that in some places the author was almost just naming his achievements rather than giving the reader an insight on how Milkha Singh felt while winning them or the kind of hard work that went into winning them.Apart from this I did like many parts of the book like the struggles he faced during partition and also how disappointed he was after finishing fourth at the olympics even though he was the favourite for the gold medal ,all because of a small change in strategy during the race.His personal life however was described much better and even though I got a little bored during that part of the book I felt happy that a great athlete was getting what he deserved after such a wonderful , accomplished and inspiring life and career.
Milkha Singh is a man who has faced everything from the highs of winning India its first ever commonwealth gold to the heartbreaking lows of failing in the Olympics.A man who fought for his choices like the love of his life ‘Nimmi’ while disregarding all other temptations like a rich and beautiful girl who wanted him desperately, Milkha Singh is a dedicated Indian sprinting legend who never took his eyes of the finish line.In conclusion , I think that The Race of my Life is a book that will appeal to the more sports inclined audience while also teaching us that life is made up of highs and lows but the people who fight through them are the ones that come out on top.
This book is very straight-forward and like Milkha Singh’s life gives a very quick, to the point overview of his life. But sometimes that’s not what the reader wants.Even though I found this book to be very inspiring , I also felt like some situations and feelings were left very unattended.I think that in some places the author was almost just naming his achievements rather than giving the reader an insight on how Milkha Singh felt while winning them or the kind of hard work that went into winning them.Apart from this I did like many parts of the book like the struggles he faced during partition and also how disappointed he was after finishing fourth at the olympics even though he was the favourite for the gold medal ,all because of a small change in strategy during the race.His personal life however was described much better and even though I got a little bored during that part of the book I felt happy that a great athlete was getting what he deserved after such a wonderful , accomplished and inspiring life and career.
Milkha Singh is a man who has faced everything from the highs of winning India its first ever commonwealth gold to the heartbreaking lows of failing in the Olympics.A man who fought for his choices like the love of his life ‘Nimmi’ while disregarding all other temptations like a rich and beautiful girl who wanted him desperately, Milkha Singh is a dedicated Indian sprinting legend who never took his eyes of the finish line.In conclusion , I think that The Race of my Life is a book that will appeal to the more sports inclined audience while also teaching us that life is made up of highs and lows but the people who fight through them are the ones that come out on top.
February 6, 2022
I felt so emotional while reading this brilliant book. It was written in a manner that makes you feel a lump in your throat, and all you want to do is cry your heart out louder.
Milkha Singh, known as flying Sikh, was truly an extraordinary man. I have seen him in July 2016 while coming back to Delhi from Goa. He was going towards boarding the flight, and I was coming out of the airport.
His life wasn't a bed of roses. I hated the fact that he had to witness the slaughter of his family members in an undivided India. I hated the fact that he got himself indulged in bad activities because there was nobody to guide him as a mentor. I hated the fact that his first love was taken away from him so easily.
The respect has grown more for him after reading this brilliant book. I am so full of emotions at this moment that I just feel like writing letters to a dead Milkha Singh. May you rest in peace and always keep flying wherever you are.
Milkha Singh, known as flying Sikh, was truly an extraordinary man. I have seen him in July 2016 while coming back to Delhi from Goa. He was going towards boarding the flight, and I was coming out of the airport.
His life wasn't a bed of roses. I hated the fact that he had to witness the slaughter of his family members in an undivided India. I hated the fact that he got himself indulged in bad activities because there was nobody to guide him as a mentor. I hated the fact that his first love was taken away from him so easily.
The respect has grown more for him after reading this brilliant book. I am so full of emotions at this moment that I just feel like writing letters to a dead Milkha Singh. May you rest in peace and always keep flying wherever you are.
May 13, 2014
Milkha Singh speaks from his heart and that is the biggest appeal of the book. The writing is not great, but the man certainly is!
It traces his humble beginnings to emerge as the best runner India has had. There are descriptions of his personal life, the major sporting events he participated in and certainly the one race all of us wish he had won - the Olympics.
The last part of the book deals with India's inability to produce good sportsmen consistently and the kind of focus needed for that.
If you are a fan of Milkha Singh, as indeed I am, do read the book!
It traces his humble beginnings to emerge as the best runner India has had. There are descriptions of his personal life, the major sporting events he participated in and certainly the one race all of us wish he had won - the Olympics.
The last part of the book deals with India's inability to produce good sportsmen consistently and the kind of focus needed for that.
If you are a fan of Milkha Singh, as indeed I am, do read the book!
January 12, 2014
It is an amazing story of a simple man narrated in a simple manner. You can race through the book without pausing just like the legend who ran his races without a pause and fluidly. There is indeed a lot to learn from the book.
July 9, 2022
A simple account of one of the most hard working and dedicated lives, in the sports world and otherwise. Milkha Singh's paranoia before every race and his grounding in humility are deeply influential.
Truly inspiring, of course! Even if not everyone is part of a sport or a race track, we can all pick our tracks, lessons and inspiration from this superbly self-made man.
Through this book, Milkha Singh puts forth a simple message that discipline and commitment are the only way to move from a mediocre life to a life of meritorious achievements.
A highly recommended book.
Truly inspiring, of course! Even if not everyone is part of a sport or a race track, we can all pick our tracks, lessons and inspiration from this superbly self-made man.
Through this book, Milkha Singh puts forth a simple message that discipline and commitment are the only way to move from a mediocre life to a life of meritorious achievements.
A highly recommended book.
November 14, 2016
First I watched the movie, then intrigued for the autobiography. I watched the trailer few years back when it was released but didn't know that it's based upon a true story. I didn't know anything about the great athlete Mr. Milkha Singh. Perhaps the best athlete produced by this sub continent, won 77 competition races out of 80. He was reckoned as the storm of sixties. Though he broke the previous records of Olympic 400m, in 1960 Rome Olympic unfortunately he failed to grab the gold medal and he repents still for that day!
Milkha Sigh bears the indelible scar of partition, he was born,raised up in a village of Pakistan Punjab. In 1947, bigots killed his parents,cousins and all the other family members. He escaped a narrow death while others were being slaughtered in front of his eyes. He heard the scream of his father,'Bhaag Milkha, Bhaag!', this scream is chasing him still! The synonym of partition is agony, Mr. Milkha is carrying one of these millions of the untold stories.
Highly motivating book it is, this is the saga of a refugee who becomes a world wide celebrity by his endeavor, determination and diligence. Almost everything is possible, the fact is how determined you are to get it.
His prose is facile, he delivered a vivid,racy anecdotes to his readers. His romantic affair with his wife Mrs. Nimmi,who is another sportswoman of India is very sweet and dramatic. The book is not very big, he should have written it more delicately, unravelled the saga with more detail.
One thing I've to mention, he said nothing about the 'Operation Bluestar' by Mrs. Indira Gandhi. He mentioned her name as she was an admirer of him, but he shunned this sensitive topic totally.
Milkha Sigh bears the indelible scar of partition, he was born,raised up in a village of Pakistan Punjab. In 1947, bigots killed his parents,cousins and all the other family members. He escaped a narrow death while others were being slaughtered in front of his eyes. He heard the scream of his father,'Bhaag Milkha, Bhaag!', this scream is chasing him still! The synonym of partition is agony, Mr. Milkha is carrying one of these millions of the untold stories.
Highly motivating book it is, this is the saga of a refugee who becomes a world wide celebrity by his endeavor, determination and diligence. Almost everything is possible, the fact is how determined you are to get it.
His prose is facile, he delivered a vivid,racy anecdotes to his readers. His romantic affair with his wife Mrs. Nimmi,who is another sportswoman of India is very sweet and dramatic. The book is not very big, he should have written it more delicately, unravelled the saga with more detail.
One thing I've to mention, he said nothing about the 'Operation Bluestar' by Mrs. Indira Gandhi. He mentioned her name as she was an admirer of him, but he shunned this sensitive topic totally.
March 5, 2025
Milkha Singh... A name that gives inspiration, reminds you that there is no success without struggle, and makes every admirer a proud admirer even today!
The life story of Milkha Singh can be looked at as an inspiration by every single person. His childhood was taken away, he lost his parents and some other family members and despite of the dark days in his life he scaled the heights of success. The journey for him was not easy at all. He had a hard time overcoming the traumatic past, being underestimated by other sportsmen. But he fought against all the odds to become the World's Best Athlete.
The disheartening incidence during the partition, changed Milkha Singh's life. All he had with him was hope and dream. The relation of sports, politics, and the organizations are narrated in the book, which is very curcial to understand the reality.
The autobiography is narrated in a very simple language. Looking at the depictions and his inner thoughts, one can easily get an idea of how innocent, hopeful and determined Milkha Singh was. Even after all the victories, the man had a down-to-earth personality. Such a traumatizing yet encouraging life story that persuades the readers to not only have an aim but also work hard to achieve it.
A self-made man, admired by many!
Destroy your entire existence if you want to reach the zenith,
'Cos a seed has to become one with the dust to sprout and blossom into a flower.
The life story of Milkha Singh can be looked at as an inspiration by every single person. His childhood was taken away, he lost his parents and some other family members and despite of the dark days in his life he scaled the heights of success. The journey for him was not easy at all. He had a hard time overcoming the traumatic past, being underestimated by other sportsmen. But he fought against all the odds to become the World's Best Athlete.
The disheartening incidence during the partition, changed Milkha Singh's life. All he had with him was hope and dream. The relation of sports, politics, and the organizations are narrated in the book, which is very curcial to understand the reality.
The autobiography is narrated in a very simple language. Looking at the depictions and his inner thoughts, one can easily get an idea of how innocent, hopeful and determined Milkha Singh was. Even after all the victories, the man had a down-to-earth personality. Such a traumatizing yet encouraging life story that persuades the readers to not only have an aim but also work hard to achieve it.
A self-made man, admired by many!
Destroy your entire existence if you want to reach the zenith,
'Cos a seed has to become one with the dust to sprout and blossom into a flower.
October 11, 2013
I read this book after having watched the movie, but didn't find it any less impactful. Of course, the book is much more true to Milkha Singh's actual life and includes some details that were not there in the movie.
Moreover, it also refers to Milkha's attempts at sports administration, and eventual disillusionment with bureaucracy and apathy.
On a positive note, his romance with Nimmi - his eventual wife, is described in detail and that provides a heart-warming, fresh story. You get glimpses of Milkha the family man, along with Milkha the determined athlete.
The only reason why I wouldn't give this five stars is because the book contains typos (one example - 'discipline' is spelled as 'disciple' at one point) and because some of the similes and metaphors used are odd. For example, Milkha runs as if 'the Furies were after him'. Considering that the book is supposed to be the autobiography of a man with little education, from rustic Punjab, it is highly unlikely that he would invoke any references to the Furies.
So, I think the editor has missed out on these minor details. However, that still doesn't prevent this book from being a short, inspiring, fantastic read.
Kudos, Milkha Singh!
Moreover, it also refers to Milkha's attempts at sports administration, and eventual disillusionment with bureaucracy and apathy.
On a positive note, his romance with Nimmi - his eventual wife, is described in detail and that provides a heart-warming, fresh story. You get glimpses of Milkha the family man, along with Milkha the determined athlete.
The only reason why I wouldn't give this five stars is because the book contains typos (one example - 'discipline' is spelled as 'disciple' at one point) and because some of the similes and metaphors used are odd. For example, Milkha runs as if 'the Furies were after him'. Considering that the book is supposed to be the autobiography of a man with little education, from rustic Punjab, it is highly unlikely that he would invoke any references to the Furies.
So, I think the editor has missed out on these minor details. However, that still doesn't prevent this book from being a short, inspiring, fantastic read.
Kudos, Milkha Singh!
May 4, 2014
The stirring life story of the ‘Flying Sikh’. The book is candid and centers on how he built his career as a world-class sprinter. He is India’s most towering athlete till date and spent his life, in his words, running, running and running. I had learnt during my school days about the freedom fighters’ struggle for our country’s independence and also their stories of victories. Never had I comprehended fully the callous manslaughter in India and Pakistan between Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs during the Partition in 1947. It was difficult to read through how Milkha Singh had lost most of his family in one night and his struggling days thereafter until he joined the Army. The later part exemplifies how he had molded himself, worked hard and revived his passion to accomplish his dream to be a world champion. The book is full of life and is a powerhouse of inspiration not only for sports enthusiasts but also for all who are working hard towards their goals.
"Milkha Singh, you don't run, but you fly”
"Milkha Singh, you don't run, but you fly”
May 1, 2017
Interesting to know about him who seems to be such a popular athlete worldwide in his prime time. I never heard of his name before the movie "Bhaag Milkha Bhaag" came into limelight. I am amazed by his journey..... Expected the book to be even more detailed. 148 pages isn't enough for his running life let alone his other aspects of his life.
February 17, 2022
This book is a no-frills autobiography of a man who fought over his childhood trauma of having his family massacred in the partition era and ended up being one of the most successful athletes from India, with significant achievements on the global stage.
It's a pleasant read and conveys the simplicity of the village boy who ran his way to glory, beating all odds. The book covers his successes as his less happy moments with equal emotion, and the champion makes no excuses for the races he didn't win. He has mentioned missing out on an Olympic medal as a big regret; the book depicts the human being behind the athlete and the runner.
Many people would have seen the movie, but this is a short read that presents a non-nonsense depiction of the champion's life from the horse's mouth.
Salute to him for everything, including helping develop the sports infrastructure in Punjab. It probably explains why many sportspersons in India, from hockey to athletics, especially in the 80s and 90s, came from one state.
It's a book for anyone who has an aim and wants to know how much effort is needed to achieve it. Milkha Singh sacrificed all pleasures and invested wholeheartedly to reach the finish line as the fastest 400m runner. He practised hours daily (without any excuses of ill-health or bad weather or being tired or bored); anyone who can do that will complete dedication would succeed in their mission too, and that to me is the most important learning from this book.
Thank you, sir!
It's a pleasant read and conveys the simplicity of the village boy who ran his way to glory, beating all odds. The book covers his successes as his less happy moments with equal emotion, and the champion makes no excuses for the races he didn't win. He has mentioned missing out on an Olympic medal as a big regret; the book depicts the human being behind the athlete and the runner.
Many people would have seen the movie, but this is a short read that presents a non-nonsense depiction of the champion's life from the horse's mouth.
Salute to him for everything, including helping develop the sports infrastructure in Punjab. It probably explains why many sportspersons in India, from hockey to athletics, especially in the 80s and 90s, came from one state.
It's a book for anyone who has an aim and wants to know how much effort is needed to achieve it. Milkha Singh sacrificed all pleasures and invested wholeheartedly to reach the finish line as the fastest 400m runner. He practised hours daily (without any excuses of ill-health or bad weather or being tired or bored); anyone who can do that will complete dedication would succeed in their mission too, and that to me is the most important learning from this book.
Thank you, sir!
October 26, 2021
All the events are so well explained and his life is for sure inspiration for everyone. The discipline and strictness he had built while training fetch great results for him as well as for India.
In the last two chapters, he explained the policies reformation needed in sports.
I felt all the methods and things mentioned are true to sports and we need many reforms and learn methodology from China, USA and other nations how their sports run and develop inculcating methods from these countries.
As he died, India surely going to miss her Flying Shikh. His last wish got fulfilled by Neeraj Chopra in Olympics this year.
In the last two chapters, he explained the policies reformation needed in sports.
I felt all the methods and things mentioned are true to sports and we need many reforms and learn methodology from China, USA and other nations how their sports run and develop inculcating methods from these countries.
As he died, India surely going to miss her Flying Shikh. His last wish got fulfilled by Neeraj Chopra in Olympics this year.
May 31, 2021
This book's readability is commendable. Simple language filled short and gripping chapters work well to connvey the inspiring story of Milkha Singh's extraordinary life.
The account of his success that comes from sheer hardwork and focus despite unimaginable struggles has an immediate impact of instilling the reader with a very positive fighting spirit.
The account of his success that comes from sheer hardwork and focus despite unimaginable struggles has an immediate impact of instilling the reader with a very positive fighting spirit.
July 4, 2021
This is a short and sweet autobiography of Milkha Singh. Sporting biographies generally fall into two categories. There are the truly great ones with lots of new insights and information about the person. Like Ali, Agassi and Larwood. Then there are the truly rubbish ones. Which are just a waste of time.
This one is in the middle somewhere. Milkha Singh the person was a simple man with a great dream, a large heart and a difficult past. In this book, he tells his story with all his honesty and simplicity. Its straight from the heart without unnecessary embellishment. His life has the trauma of the partition and the anguish of his near miss in Rome but he doesn’t spend too much time in agonising over them or analysing their impact on his mental state.
It has its share of stories and covers the key episodes. It’s interesting how serendipitous his rise was. But there’s no analysis of his running technique or his training regimen or chapters on his coaches.
So yes, it’s not one of those deep and detailed bios. I knew a lot about Milkha SIngh before I read this book. I ended up knowing him a little better after this book. But it’s worth hearing his story from him.
Every Indian sports fan should read this. Will take one long sitting.
This one is in the middle somewhere. Milkha Singh the person was a simple man with a great dream, a large heart and a difficult past. In this book, he tells his story with all his honesty and simplicity. Its straight from the heart without unnecessary embellishment. His life has the trauma of the partition and the anguish of his near miss in Rome but he doesn’t spend too much time in agonising over them or analysing their impact on his mental state.
It has its share of stories and covers the key episodes. It’s interesting how serendipitous his rise was. But there’s no analysis of his running technique or his training regimen or chapters on his coaches.
So yes, it’s not one of those deep and detailed bios. I knew a lot about Milkha SIngh before I read this book. I ended up knowing him a little better after this book. But it’s worth hearing his story from him.
Every Indian sports fan should read this. Will take one long sitting.
January 9, 2021
This is an autobiography which speaks of speed, balance and the grace to surge ahead in the face of all odds. Milkha Singh states that while reflecting upon his life, he can clearly perceive how his passion for running has dominated his life.
Thereafter, he speaks of seven images which flash through his mind.
They are those of him, running…running…running…
1) Sprinting from one shady patch to another to escape the scorching heat of the sun on his passage to school,
2) Fleeing the bloodbath on that terrifying night, when most of his family was butchered,
3) Racing trains for pleasure,
4) Outrunning the police when he was caught stealing in Shahdara
5) Leaving everyone behind in his first race as an army jawan so that he could get an additional glass of milk
6) Surging past his contenders in Tokyo, when he was declared Asia’s Best Athlete
7) Running in Pakistan and being hailed as ‘The Flying Sikh’
In the Epilogue to this delightful tome, Milkha puts certain facts across the table. He says, ‘I am neither a writer nor an author, but a sportsman with passion, who has poured his heart out in this book. Although I am not a man of words, I hope this book can inspire the youth to take up sports and strive to excel.’ He further adds, ‘I am proud of the fact I am a self-made man. My philosophy is very simple: ‘The lines on our palms do not decide our future, kambakht, we, too, have a say in it. Hard work can change destiny as I know only too well—my entire life has been dedicated to it. My early years were a struggle, but as I gradually started to achieve results, my name and fame grew. I won competitions and medals, except for the elusive Olympic gold, which I will always regret, and yet I have always been content because I kept trying.’
The stimulating tale of Milkha Singh, the athlete who squandered an Olympic medal by a hairsbreadth, is publicized by the man himself in his outspoken memoir. In "The Race of My Life: An Autobiography by Milkha Singh" by Rupa Publications, Milkha shares the startling zenith of acquiring India's first ever gold in athletics at Commonwealth Games, the unrestrained ecstasy of being addressed as the 'Flying Sikh' in Pakistan, in addition to the cataclysmic fiasco at the Rome Olympics.
The legend writes his story in the most simpleminded fashion. It's an easy read and an encouraging account. He renders the prominence of setting convincing but aspiring goals at different stages of his life and directs all his effort on attaining these aims one after the other.
Apart from the Introduction, Prologue and an Epilogue, Milkha divides his book in the following twenty chapters:
1 Life in Undivided India
2 Bhaag Milkha, Bhaag
3 Ten Days in Jail
4 My Army Life
5 This was Not Sports
6 From the Bhangra to the Foxtrot
7 My God, My Religion, My Beloved
8 Going for Gold
9 Meeting Pandit Nehru
10 ‘Come on, Singh’
11 The Flying Sikh
12 Going West
13 So Near, and Yet So Far
14 From Sports to Administration
15 Nimmi
16 The Bird and a Melancholic Tree
17 The Jewels in my Crown
18 I Have a Dream
19 Once an Athlete, Always an Athlete
20 The Politics of Sports
Born in 1932 in an India unsullied by the horrors of Partition, Milkha “saw it all” He was a spectator to a wounded Partition, a mislaid childhood, vagrancy, trivial crime, and triumphs hard won - and with no trouble lost. And yet, even after beholding such a great amount of revulsion and despondency, his resolve to bealive to every treasurable moment of life to the completest is what folklores are made off.
“On 14 August 1947, British India was partitioned into India and Pakistan. Then, at the ‘stroke of the midnight hour’ on 15 August 1947, India became an independent nation. Almost simultaneously, borders were being drawn along the west and the east that would divide the subcontinent. We found ourselves on the wrong side of the border. Almost overnight, the unrest intensified, plunging the lands along the newly drawn borders into chaos and confusion. Politics had poisoned people’s minds and hitherto friendly relationships were destroyed by the sweeping waves of hatred and communalism. People no longer behaved like human beings, they had become animals. Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims were brutally massacred, thousands of homes destroyed, mothers lost their husbands and children. There was only bloodshed everywhere.” – he writes.
Singh writes about his pleasure about being selected to represent India at the Olympics in Melbourne, Australia. Even though his presentation at the occasion was unsatisfactory, he met numerous foreign sportspeople, such as Charles Jenkins, America's top athlete who gave him appreciated pointers in running.
But his selection was beset with thorns. “Those of us who had attended the Bangalore camp were in Patiala once again for the final selection of the Indian athletic team. Once again, some of my colleagues reacted in a negative fashion, and I was constantly subjected to snide remarks, but I chose to ignore their jibes. I did not allow their animosity to come in the way of my aim and kept practising hard.…”, he writes.
Thereafter something extraordinary happened. Milkha writes, “However, I was completely unprepared for the sinister incident that almost broke my legs.
The night before the selection race, I was suddenly jolted out of a deep slumber by a hard hit on my legs. A bunch of people had pinned me down and thrown a blanket over my head, so I couldn’t see them. They continued to hit me with sticks, and only stopped when my screams alerted my companions in the barrack. By the time help arrived, my assailants had fled. Even though I could not see them, I knew who they were but never had the proof to confront them directly. I only knew that I had become such a threat that people thought the only way to prevent me from winning was by breaking my legs. This was also the first time I realized there are people who firmly believe in taking short cuts to excel in sports.”
Between 1956 and 1957, Milkha Singh writes, his principal mission in life was to outrival in running. "The track, to me, was like an open book, in which I could read the meaning and purpose of life. I revered it like I would the sanctum sanctorum in a temple, where the deity resided and before whom I would humbly prostrate myself as a devotee. To keep myself steadfast to my goal, I renounced all pleasures and distractions, to keep myself fit and healthy, and dedicated my life to the ground where I could practise and run. Running had thus become my God, my religion and my beloved," he says.
His life reads like a rainbow of many vivacious hues. The illustrious 400-metre champion, disreputably lost the final race of his life—the 1960 Rome Olympics. In the tome Singh details his heartwrenching loss.
Milkha says, ‘"All through my life, I have been tormented by the fatal mistake I made in Rome on the day of the 400-metre race. I knew that I could have won, but perhaps, luck was not on my side that day. The one medal I had yearned for throughout my career had just slipped through my fingers because of one small error of judgement. Even today, if I look back on my life, there are only two incidents that still haunt me—the massacre of my family during Partition and my defeat at Rome," writes Singh.
Son Jeev Millkha Singh, a specialized golfer writes in the primer, "I think the greatest gift he has given me, apart from his genes, is not knowing the meaning of the word 'impossible', and his never-say-die attitude, is the wonderful support and guidance in helping me chart my own life and career."
The chapter ‘Politics in Sports’ pains us. At the same time we realize that Milkha is a man with an iron backbone and steel resolve when it comes to principles. He writes: “In 2001, the Bharatiya Janata Party government offered me the Arjuna Award, almost forty years after I had received the more prestigious Padma Shri in 1958. When the award was introduced in 1961, its premise was very clear—that it would only be granted to those outstanding sportspeople who had received medals in international events, including the Olympic, Asian and Commonwealth games. When I looked at the list I discovered that it included even team members for games which have no global presence like kabbadi, which is played in just four countries. I brought this and other examples of unworthy candidates to the notice of the then minister of sports, Uma Bharati, and told her that I considered it a farce to be included in the same list of nominees who have not even represented their country. It was as if the Arjunas had been given away like prasad, to any and everybody, ignoring those who truly deserve them.”
He further writes, “I firmly refused the award because the selection committee had ignored the fundamental premise on which it was founded, and that by giving me the award at this stage it did not recognize ‘the stature of the services I had rendered to the nation’. If her government had wanted to give me an award, why didn’t they separate my name from the general list, and announce that they were honouring me with a lifetime achievement award? Moreover, why has it taken so long for my achievements to be acknowledged and recognized? After all, I had received a Padma Shri at the height of my career, when I was ‘Asia’s Best Athlete’ and the ’Nation’s Pride’. My refusal made headline news, but as far as I was concerned, if the government had wanted to offer me an Arjuna, why did it take them forty years?”
The book closes with Singh's anticipation that his autobiography would stimulate the youth to take up sports. "I am neither a writer nor an author, but a sportsman with passion, who has poured his heart out in this book. Although I am not a man of words, I hope this book can inspire the youth to take up sports and strive to excel," he writes.
Perhaps the words of Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra sound apt to end this review: “For me, Milkha Singh’s life paints an intricate image of human trials and tribulations, one which evocatively illustrates that true victory lies in racing with one’s troubles, not in running away from them… aapni mushkilon se bhago nahin, unkey saath daud lagao.”
Thereafter, he speaks of seven images which flash through his mind.
They are those of him, running…running…running…
1) Sprinting from one shady patch to another to escape the scorching heat of the sun on his passage to school,
2) Fleeing the bloodbath on that terrifying night, when most of his family was butchered,
3) Racing trains for pleasure,
4) Outrunning the police when he was caught stealing in Shahdara
5) Leaving everyone behind in his first race as an army jawan so that he could get an additional glass of milk
6) Surging past his contenders in Tokyo, when he was declared Asia’s Best Athlete
7) Running in Pakistan and being hailed as ‘The Flying Sikh’
In the Epilogue to this delightful tome, Milkha puts certain facts across the table. He says, ‘I am neither a writer nor an author, but a sportsman with passion, who has poured his heart out in this book. Although I am not a man of words, I hope this book can inspire the youth to take up sports and strive to excel.’ He further adds, ‘I am proud of the fact I am a self-made man. My philosophy is very simple: ‘The lines on our palms do not decide our future, kambakht, we, too, have a say in it. Hard work can change destiny as I know only too well—my entire life has been dedicated to it. My early years were a struggle, but as I gradually started to achieve results, my name and fame grew. I won competitions and medals, except for the elusive Olympic gold, which I will always regret, and yet I have always been content because I kept trying.’
The stimulating tale of Milkha Singh, the athlete who squandered an Olympic medal by a hairsbreadth, is publicized by the man himself in his outspoken memoir. In "The Race of My Life: An Autobiography by Milkha Singh" by Rupa Publications, Milkha shares the startling zenith of acquiring India's first ever gold in athletics at Commonwealth Games, the unrestrained ecstasy of being addressed as the 'Flying Sikh' in Pakistan, in addition to the cataclysmic fiasco at the Rome Olympics.
The legend writes his story in the most simpleminded fashion. It's an easy read and an encouraging account. He renders the prominence of setting convincing but aspiring goals at different stages of his life and directs all his effort on attaining these aims one after the other.
Apart from the Introduction, Prologue and an Epilogue, Milkha divides his book in the following twenty chapters:
1 Life in Undivided India
2 Bhaag Milkha, Bhaag
3 Ten Days in Jail
4 My Army Life
5 This was Not Sports
6 From the Bhangra to the Foxtrot
7 My God, My Religion, My Beloved
8 Going for Gold
9 Meeting Pandit Nehru
10 ‘Come on, Singh’
11 The Flying Sikh
12 Going West
13 So Near, and Yet So Far
14 From Sports to Administration
15 Nimmi
16 The Bird and a Melancholic Tree
17 The Jewels in my Crown
18 I Have a Dream
19 Once an Athlete, Always an Athlete
20 The Politics of Sports
Born in 1932 in an India unsullied by the horrors of Partition, Milkha “saw it all” He was a spectator to a wounded Partition, a mislaid childhood, vagrancy, trivial crime, and triumphs hard won - and with no trouble lost. And yet, even after beholding such a great amount of revulsion and despondency, his resolve to bealive to every treasurable moment of life to the completest is what folklores are made off.
“On 14 August 1947, British India was partitioned into India and Pakistan. Then, at the ‘stroke of the midnight hour’ on 15 August 1947, India became an independent nation. Almost simultaneously, borders were being drawn along the west and the east that would divide the subcontinent. We found ourselves on the wrong side of the border. Almost overnight, the unrest intensified, plunging the lands along the newly drawn borders into chaos and confusion. Politics had poisoned people’s minds and hitherto friendly relationships were destroyed by the sweeping waves of hatred and communalism. People no longer behaved like human beings, they had become animals. Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims were brutally massacred, thousands of homes destroyed, mothers lost their husbands and children. There was only bloodshed everywhere.” – he writes.
Singh writes about his pleasure about being selected to represent India at the Olympics in Melbourne, Australia. Even though his presentation at the occasion was unsatisfactory, he met numerous foreign sportspeople, such as Charles Jenkins, America's top athlete who gave him appreciated pointers in running.
But his selection was beset with thorns. “Those of us who had attended the Bangalore camp were in Patiala once again for the final selection of the Indian athletic team. Once again, some of my colleagues reacted in a negative fashion, and I was constantly subjected to snide remarks, but I chose to ignore their jibes. I did not allow their animosity to come in the way of my aim and kept practising hard.…”, he writes.
Thereafter something extraordinary happened. Milkha writes, “However, I was completely unprepared for the sinister incident that almost broke my legs.
The night before the selection race, I was suddenly jolted out of a deep slumber by a hard hit on my legs. A bunch of people had pinned me down and thrown a blanket over my head, so I couldn’t see them. They continued to hit me with sticks, and only stopped when my screams alerted my companions in the barrack. By the time help arrived, my assailants had fled. Even though I could not see them, I knew who they were but never had the proof to confront them directly. I only knew that I had become such a threat that people thought the only way to prevent me from winning was by breaking my legs. This was also the first time I realized there are people who firmly believe in taking short cuts to excel in sports.”
Between 1956 and 1957, Milkha Singh writes, his principal mission in life was to outrival in running. "The track, to me, was like an open book, in which I could read the meaning and purpose of life. I revered it like I would the sanctum sanctorum in a temple, where the deity resided and before whom I would humbly prostrate myself as a devotee. To keep myself steadfast to my goal, I renounced all pleasures and distractions, to keep myself fit and healthy, and dedicated my life to the ground where I could practise and run. Running had thus become my God, my religion and my beloved," he says.
His life reads like a rainbow of many vivacious hues. The illustrious 400-metre champion, disreputably lost the final race of his life—the 1960 Rome Olympics. In the tome Singh details his heartwrenching loss.
Milkha says, ‘"All through my life, I have been tormented by the fatal mistake I made in Rome on the day of the 400-metre race. I knew that I could have won, but perhaps, luck was not on my side that day. The one medal I had yearned for throughout my career had just slipped through my fingers because of one small error of judgement. Even today, if I look back on my life, there are only two incidents that still haunt me—the massacre of my family during Partition and my defeat at Rome," writes Singh.
Son Jeev Millkha Singh, a specialized golfer writes in the primer, "I think the greatest gift he has given me, apart from his genes, is not knowing the meaning of the word 'impossible', and his never-say-die attitude, is the wonderful support and guidance in helping me chart my own life and career."
The chapter ‘Politics in Sports’ pains us. At the same time we realize that Milkha is a man with an iron backbone and steel resolve when it comes to principles. He writes: “In 2001, the Bharatiya Janata Party government offered me the Arjuna Award, almost forty years after I had received the more prestigious Padma Shri in 1958. When the award was introduced in 1961, its premise was very clear—that it would only be granted to those outstanding sportspeople who had received medals in international events, including the Olympic, Asian and Commonwealth games. When I looked at the list I discovered that it included even team members for games which have no global presence like kabbadi, which is played in just four countries. I brought this and other examples of unworthy candidates to the notice of the then minister of sports, Uma Bharati, and told her that I considered it a farce to be included in the same list of nominees who have not even represented their country. It was as if the Arjunas had been given away like prasad, to any and everybody, ignoring those who truly deserve them.”
He further writes, “I firmly refused the award because the selection committee had ignored the fundamental premise on which it was founded, and that by giving me the award at this stage it did not recognize ‘the stature of the services I had rendered to the nation’. If her government had wanted to give me an award, why didn’t they separate my name from the general list, and announce that they were honouring me with a lifetime achievement award? Moreover, why has it taken so long for my achievements to be acknowledged and recognized? After all, I had received a Padma Shri at the height of my career, when I was ‘Asia’s Best Athlete’ and the ’Nation’s Pride’. My refusal made headline news, but as far as I was concerned, if the government had wanted to offer me an Arjuna, why did it take them forty years?”
The book closes with Singh's anticipation that his autobiography would stimulate the youth to take up sports. "I am neither a writer nor an author, but a sportsman with passion, who has poured his heart out in this book. Although I am not a man of words, I hope this book can inspire the youth to take up sports and strive to excel," he writes.
Perhaps the words of Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra sound apt to end this review: “For me, Milkha Singh’s life paints an intricate image of human trials and tribulations, one which evocatively illustrates that true victory lies in racing with one’s troubles, not in running away from them… aapni mushkilon se bhago nahin, unkey saath daud lagao.”
May 27, 2021
Very easy read - along the lines of the movie.
It covers major events of Milkha Singh's life. Had expected some more detail.
Inspirational read, nevertheless.
It covers major events of Milkha Singh's life. Had expected some more detail.
Inspirational read, nevertheless.
July 18, 2021
The autobiography is a compelling and passionate narrative of Padma Shri Milkha Singh of his yesteryears. He has been and will continue to be a personal inspiration for me. The book captures his persona so vividly. Milkha Singh personifies "mental grit, sheer determination and relentless pursuit of dreams". His autobiography takes us through his passionate life, from the perils of Partition he witnessed, his struggles through his adolescence, him discovering the sport (400m track running), which later becomes his religion and his rise to fame as international sensation in athletics. The book will certainly inspire, as did he through his life.
March 21, 2015
A raw take on the joy and pain that turned Milkha Singh into The Flying Sikh, The race of my life is a quick and emotional read with high impact. It leaves little to the imagination as Milkha Singh unabashedly recounts the horrors of the Partition and the difficulties that followed. And then, it shows you the ability of the human mind to turn such horror into the impetus that can drive someone to achieve greatness. The book also gives you a deeper insight into the mentality of a sportsman and the manners in which performances of athletes can be affected by things seeming so mundane to others. Most importantly, the book relates how hard work and determination can help you achieve anything on which you set your heart. And it does it all effortlessly.
The best part about the autobiography is that you get to see the life of a man who came from the simplest of beginnings to achieve great success, and you get to see it from his point of view. You get to experience the wonder and amazement that he did on his first trip out of the country, the pride at bringing honor to his country, the unparalleled joy of victory, and even the bitterness of defeat. Milkha Singh has not minced his words or sugar coated the grueling dedication it takes to achieve such success. It is a blatant and open look into what makes great sportspeople great. And in being that, it evokes passion within readers to find such dedication within themselves.
Yet, it helps those people who yearn to make a name for themselves in sports become completely aware of the journey on which they're setting forth. It isn't only about glory and fame. Milkha Singh paints a clear picture on the drawbacks that exist in the sports infrastructure of the country and is explicit about the problems and challenges that can be expected. He even offers advice on bringing about positive change and he does all of this while calling upon his own experience as an athlete and as a sports administrator.
Emotional and direct, The race of my life is a book everyone must read, whether you are interested in sports or not and whether you've seen the movie or not; because the book is more than the recounts of an athlete, it is the telling of an incredible journey that can be an inspiration to everyone as it depicts that sometimes, from great adversity, comes great ambition.
The best part about the autobiography is that you get to see the life of a man who came from the simplest of beginnings to achieve great success, and you get to see it from his point of view. You get to experience the wonder and amazement that he did on his first trip out of the country, the pride at bringing honor to his country, the unparalleled joy of victory, and even the bitterness of defeat. Milkha Singh has not minced his words or sugar coated the grueling dedication it takes to achieve such success. It is a blatant and open look into what makes great sportspeople great. And in being that, it evokes passion within readers to find such dedication within themselves.
Yet, it helps those people who yearn to make a name for themselves in sports become completely aware of the journey on which they're setting forth. It isn't only about glory and fame. Milkha Singh paints a clear picture on the drawbacks that exist in the sports infrastructure of the country and is explicit about the problems and challenges that can be expected. He even offers advice on bringing about positive change and he does all of this while calling upon his own experience as an athlete and as a sports administrator.
Emotional and direct, The race of my life is a book everyone must read, whether you are interested in sports or not and whether you've seen the movie or not; because the book is more than the recounts of an athlete, it is the telling of an incredible journey that can be an inspiration to everyone as it depicts that sometimes, from great adversity, comes great ambition.
April 18, 2021
I thought I wasn't going to start a new book for some time.
Today I sit here having finished this one in about 2 sittings.
There isn't much to say about Milkha Singh that hasn't been made known to the world by the film Bhaag Milkha Bhaag.
So I'll talk about the book itself, something new I discovered about the celebrated athlete in the way this book has been written.
The film dramatized events of his life to great effect, which was what I expected reading this book. To my surprise, Milkha Singh did quite the opposite. He took these major events that define his life, and condensed them into two lines, maybe three.
"I decided to run. I won the race."
The man glosses over his losses as well as his victories. He goes so far as to describe in maybe one sentence the time he almost died after a race and had to be revived. What he focused on instead was the mindset he took with him into the track, and the mindset he developed outside the track, be it after a victory or a loss.
This made me realize that Milkha Singh is a stoic in the truest sense, and he himself admits in the epilogue that he is a man of few words (something that reminded me of my grandfather). I hold the firm belief that through his story, he only wanted us to know what it took to become The Flying Sikh- the sacrifices, the regimented routine, the abstinence, the pressure of victory and the pain of loss, and above all a duty to the country.
In later parts of the story, he uses the platform he has to express his disappointment in the state of sports in this country today, and provides valuable solutions, and that justifies the title of the book-"The Race of My Life".
The man is still running the race of his life. He's at the final lap, and things have grown tougher, much tougher, as they do in races, but he still runs. Who knows if things will take a turn for the better? No one. But he still runs.
Because running is all Milkha Singh knows. And the way he runs, you can almost feel like he's flying.
Today I sit here having finished this one in about 2 sittings.
There isn't much to say about Milkha Singh that hasn't been made known to the world by the film Bhaag Milkha Bhaag.
So I'll talk about the book itself, something new I discovered about the celebrated athlete in the way this book has been written.
The film dramatized events of his life to great effect, which was what I expected reading this book. To my surprise, Milkha Singh did quite the opposite. He took these major events that define his life, and condensed them into two lines, maybe three.
"I decided to run. I won the race."
The man glosses over his losses as well as his victories. He goes so far as to describe in maybe one sentence the time he almost died after a race and had to be revived. What he focused on instead was the mindset he took with him into the track, and the mindset he developed outside the track, be it after a victory or a loss.
This made me realize that Milkha Singh is a stoic in the truest sense, and he himself admits in the epilogue that he is a man of few words (something that reminded me of my grandfather). I hold the firm belief that through his story, he only wanted us to know what it took to become The Flying Sikh- the sacrifices, the regimented routine, the abstinence, the pressure of victory and the pain of loss, and above all a duty to the country.
In later parts of the story, he uses the platform he has to express his disappointment in the state of sports in this country today, and provides valuable solutions, and that justifies the title of the book-"The Race of My Life".
The man is still running the race of his life. He's at the final lap, and things have grown tougher, much tougher, as they do in races, but he still runs. Who knows if things will take a turn for the better? No one. But he still runs.
Because running is all Milkha Singh knows. And the way he runs, you can almost feel like he's flying.
July 9, 2019
"I am neither a writer nor an author, but a sportsman with passion, who has poured his heart out in this book. Although, I am not a man of words, I hope this book can inspire the youth to take up sports and strive to excel," writes Milkha Singh, a.k.a. The Flying Sikh to most Indian, even if very few can recognize him now.
I am not going to judge this book for its literary merit or the lack of dramatization that is quintessential to any sports book/movie. I just want to salute the courage and dedication of Milkha Singh in realizing his dreams and putting India in the athletic map. What an extraordinary journey of a determined sportsman - from witnessing his family butchered in the riots during Ind-Pak partition, to striking gold in the world stage. Hats off.
I do hope this book inspires many youngsters to take up sports as a career.
p.s. Though Milkha Singh doesn't shy away from talking about politics in sports in India in the last chapter, who is visibly troubled by the administrative apathy and incompetency resulting in the poor sports infrastructure and development in India, I would rather do away with that as it just feels like a rant of a frustrated man with a dream.
I am not going to judge this book for its literary merit or the lack of dramatization that is quintessential to any sports book/movie. I just want to salute the courage and dedication of Milkha Singh in realizing his dreams and putting India in the athletic map. What an extraordinary journey of a determined sportsman - from witnessing his family butchered in the riots during Ind-Pak partition, to striking gold in the world stage. Hats off.
I do hope this book inspires many youngsters to take up sports as a career.
p.s. Though Milkha Singh doesn't shy away from talking about politics in sports in India in the last chapter, who is visibly troubled by the administrative apathy and incompetency resulting in the poor sports infrastructure and development in India, I would rather do away with that as it just feels like a rant of a frustrated man with a dream.
November 11, 2019
Highly Motivating!
Those who are in sports must read this book for the personal traits to be developed by an athlete. The personal life events from Milkha Sir's life in his childhood days are soul stirring. But he set an example. With hardwork, dedication, persistence and passion nothing is impossible shows Milkha Singh. My Salute to this Flying Seekh. Recommended to everyone in sports but even the story is best self help story for everyone else who is looking for good motivation.
Thanks for maintaining the purity and ingenuity in this field.
Those who are in sports must read this book for the personal traits to be developed by an athlete. The personal life events from Milkha Sir's life in his childhood days are soul stirring. But he set an example. With hardwork, dedication, persistence and passion nothing is impossible shows Milkha Singh. My Salute to this Flying Seekh. Recommended to everyone in sports but even the story is best self help story for everyone else who is looking for good motivation.
Thanks for maintaining the purity and ingenuity in this field.
April 15, 2019
It was a brief description of life from childhood to the day Milka Singh retired as the director of sports in Punjab ministry of education. Though the book was less intensifying than the film, the book offers a great detail of his life after retiring as an athlete and in the administration of Punjab government and the politics surrounding around sports in India.
This book contains tragedy, love, regret, fun, hard work, perseverance, will power and dedication of Milka Singh towards his life. I felt like he lived a life completely.
He explains the conditions of society during world war 2 and the partition of India-Pakistan and how his entire family members were killed by his own and killed themselves to escape from the hands of marauders. Apart from the story shown in the film the book tells about his life after his retirement as an athlete and how his initiatives as deputy director of sports had successfully brought up some eminent sportsperson. He also tells that the initiatives were neglected after his retirement and how cricket had overshadowed all other sports.
The book was more in details about his life but the film was short and intense.
This book contains tragedy, love, regret, fun, hard work, perseverance, will power and dedication of Milka Singh towards his life. I felt like he lived a life completely.
He explains the conditions of society during world war 2 and the partition of India-Pakistan and how his entire family members were killed by his own and killed themselves to escape from the hands of marauders. Apart from the story shown in the film the book tells about his life after his retirement as an athlete and how his initiatives as deputy director of sports had successfully brought up some eminent sportsperson. He also tells that the initiatives were neglected after his retirement and how cricket had overshadowed all other sports.
The book was more in details about his life but the film was short and intense.
December 12, 2013
Milkha Singh, an extraordinary sportsperson who achieved success from his hard-work and strong determination. I have already watched the movie "Bhaag Milkha Bhaag". Almost half of the book is covered in Movie but still I never lost interest. Book cover the actual story and put deep light on pre and post feelings of incidents happened in his life.
I really liked last few chapters of the book as he put depth insight into why we are doing so bad in International sports and why despite having examples like him, we are not producing more athletes, declining of sports and dying killer instinct in Indian athletes, how politics is corrupting the sports, increasing use of drugs among new athletes, how Cricket is overshadowing other sports. Along with bringing forward all these problem he also suggested insight solutions to overcome every problem. Also I believe his reasons for refusing Arjuna Awards are genuine.
Must read book for every sportsperson.
I really liked last few chapters of the book as he put depth insight into why we are doing so bad in International sports and why despite having examples like him, we are not producing more athletes, declining of sports and dying killer instinct in Indian athletes, how politics is corrupting the sports, increasing use of drugs among new athletes, how Cricket is overshadowing other sports. Along with bringing forward all these problem he also suggested insight solutions to overcome every problem. Also I believe his reasons for refusing Arjuna Awards are genuine.
Must read book for every sportsperson.
January 5, 2014
This book is literally the "Race" of Milkha's life. His life was dominated by separation. This explains why he simply keeps running, not away from his problems, but just to face them. This book is just like "The Alchemist" or "The Autobiography of a Yogi", in the sense of how a man with little idea of how his life is to change in the future, takes bold decisions and ends up being extremely successful.
Being a man who speaks his mind, Milkha frankly writes of the current state of Indian sports, Indian politics and also includes a brief on the Commonwealth Games fiasco.
It is interesting to see that the first few pages include a writeup by Jeev Milkha Singh on his father, while Milkha writes a complete chapter about his son towards the end of the book. This shows how proud and respectful both are of each other.
The "Race" shows that courage, dedication, discipline and hard-work are all that makes man successful.
Being a man who speaks his mind, Milkha frankly writes of the current state of Indian sports, Indian politics and also includes a brief on the Commonwealth Games fiasco.
It is interesting to see that the first few pages include a writeup by Jeev Milkha Singh on his father, while Milkha writes a complete chapter about his son towards the end of the book. This shows how proud and respectful both are of each other.
The "Race" shows that courage, dedication, discipline and hard-work are all that makes man successful.
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