2 days ago
Fauja Singh, 114-yr-old marathon runner from Punjab, killed in road accident
Fauja Singh, the 114-year-old legendary marathon runner from Punjab and the UK, died at a private hospital in Jalandhar on Monday evening. Fauja Singh(HT File)
He was reportedly hit by an unidentified vehicle around 3.30 in the afternoon when he was crossing the road in his village Beas.
'My Turbaned Tornado is no more,' Chandigarh-based author Khushwant Singh posted on Facebook, referring to the title of Fauja Singh's biography that he wrote.
'It is heartbreaking to learn that he lost his life today in a tragic road accident,' Punjab governor Gulab Chand Kataria said.
Khushwant shared a video tribute too.
Started running marathons at 89
Fauja Singh said he was born on April 1, 1911. He could not walk until he was five years old, his biography noted. He grew up to become an amateur runner but Partition of India disrupted his life much as it did for lakhs of others in the region.
After a number of his family members died in accidents and otherwise, he returned to running as means to overcome depression. Having migrated to England in the 1990s to live with one of his sons, at 89 years of age, he seriously returned to running and competed in age-group international marathons.
'Will continue to inspire'
'Even at the age of 114, he continued to inspire generations with his strength and commitment. I had the honour of walking alongside him during the two-day 'Nasha Mukt: Rangla Punjab' march from his village Beas, district Jalandhar, in December 2024. Even then, his presence infused the movement with unparalleled energy and spirit,' Kataria added.
His legacy, he said, would live on in the hearts of those fighting for a healthier, and drug-free Punjab.
'My heartfelt condolences to his family and admirers across the globe. May his soul attain eternal peace,' the governor's message read.
