But Milkha's family was angry, refusing to allow him to marry a Hindu girl. A softened Kairon advised him to either marry her, 'otherwise stop meeting her.' He angrily told Milkha, "Your intimacy with Nirmal has become a public scandal." But Milkha managed to make him understand the situation. When Partap Singh Kairon, the then Punjab Chief Minister, learnt about the relationship, he was furious. As per Milkha's description, "Chandigarh was a small town, and our regular meetings did not go unnoticed. At this point, both were living in the newly-formed Chandigarh. Soon, Nirmal became Assistant Director at the Punjab Sports Department, where Milkha was Deputy Director, and it gave them the chance to meet often. Their relationship changed from that day onwards. "How could I have forgotten such a beautiful and empathetic young woman?" he thought. When Nirmal asked during the meeting, "Have you ever once thought of this miserable tree, who finds herself alone and abandoned?", he could not give any answer. I couldn't reconcile the two disparate images."Īlso read - RIP Milkha Singh: Tributes pour in for the 'Flying Sikh'
#KAIRON SINGH PROFESSIONAL#
Today, wearing a sari and her hair knotted in a bun, she had the poise and confidence of a professional young lady. "But what a transformation! Nimmi as a student displayed all the mannerisms of a frivolous adolescent and was always demurely dressed in a salwar-kameez and dupatta with her long hair in two plaits. Nirmal was then working as the deputy physical education (DPE) instructor at Delhi's Lady Irwin College. Milkha saw her while practicing in the stadium. In 1960, fate conspired once again to bring them together. They saw each other, Milkha from the podium and she from the rows of the audience, but the former could never muster the courage to renew the acquaintance. Incidentally, Nirmal was a student of the college. In 1958, after his return from the Tokyo Asian Games, he received an invitation from the College of Physical Education in Patiala to deliver a lecture. "I must sadly admit that my travels and numerous events that I was competing in soon obliterated all thoughts of Nimmi." But before the bond could grow, Milkha had to leave Patiala because of his busy schedule. They continued to meet after returning to Patiala. In his own words, "I was determined to see her again, but we were at a party, and I had no card or piece of paper to write down my telephone number. So quietly, lest anyone could see, I caught hold of her hand and quickly wrote the number down on her palm."Īlso read - RIP Milkha Singh: Most memorable speeches of the 'Flying Sikh' After talking with her at the party, his admiration for Nirmal only increased. A race preceded the party, in which, yes, Milkha was the winner as Nirmal watched from the stands. Her skills as a volleyball player impressed him, silently sowing the seed for something beautiful. 'Nimmi', as she was affectionately called, invited Milkha to watch her team's match, which the latter accepted. They met in a marketplace, and two Indians in an alien land formed a bond of friendship. He was there to participate in a competition, and she was leading the Indian women's volleyball team against the Lankans. It was in 1956 when Milkha first met Nirmal in Sri Lanka, erstwhile Ceylon.
Little do we know about how he had to fight for the love of his life but it seems that Milkha Singh and Nirmal Kaur's romance was nothing less than the story of a hit film.Īlso read - The Milkha Singh-Abdul Khaliq rivalry to be Asia’s fastest runner He had to fight throughout his life, against hardships and poverty in his childhood and indomitable opponents during his career for the glory of victories. Milkha Singh's journey from a boy who lost his family during the riots after India's Partition to a sprinter who competed and won against the best athletes in the world is an inspiration to many.
'Flying Sikh' Milkha Singh, the legendary sprinter of India, died on Friday after a month-long battle with Covid-19, during which he lost his wife, former national volleyball captain Nirmal Kaur to the same ailment.
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