As Sardar Fauja Singh, the world’s oldest marathoner, hangs up his trainers, Suparna-Saraswati Puri finds a humble centenarian whose long road to fame was meant to fulfil a spiritual purpose—to do as the Almighty had willed

 
For a handful of men, destiny is scripted at leisure by the Almighty. Sardar Fauja Singh is one of those chosen few. How else can you explain this centenarian’s journey from being a skinny child with spindly legs dubbed danda (stick) to being the oldest marathon runner known to the world?

Those spindly legs have carried the ‘Turbaned Tornado’ to marathons across the globe; to Buckingham Palace where he has been felicitated by the Queen; to carry the flame in London for the Athens Olympics in 2004 and the London Olympics in 2012; to shine as a poster boy for sportswear company Adidas, which has named a range of trainers after him; and to become a role model for silvers across the world.

Behind Singh’s historic sprint lies a tragic story. A father of three daughters and three sons, he shared a special relationship with his fifth-born Kuldip, as they lived and ploughed the fields together in his village near Jalandhar. When Kuldip died in a freak accident in 1994, Singh couldn’t quite come to terms with his loss, especially as his wife had died a couple of years earlier. So he relocated to Ilford in East London in 1995, to live with his other son.

The grief and loneliness made his soul ache and prompted him to start running, an activity he loved back home. He felt it would get his mind off the tragedy and give him a sense of purpose. So when he stepped on to the track for the first time, for the London Flora Marathon in 2000, the world was agog. At 5 feet 8 inch, weighing 52 kg and aged 89, the turbaned Sikh with a flowing white beard was an unlikely candidate to make it even halfway to the finish line. Or so everyone thought.

Fauja Singh’s feat is now recorded in history and his journey since includes the title of the world’s oldest marathoner. He has knocked down many world records for marathon runners in his age group and has bettered even his own timings. But neither glory nor money has made an iota of difference to this simple farmer, an identity he cherishes to date. This centenarian, whose strength and stamina have defied comprehension, attributes his achievements to an abiding faith in God, a life that has no space for negative thoughts or greed, and a vegetarian diet that keeps him in great shape.

Harmony-Celebrate Age waited six months to speak to Singh, who quit competitive running after taking part in the 10-km run at the Hong Kong Marathon on 24 February 2013, five weeks before his 103rd birthday. It was indeed the end of an era. But for Singh, there is no finish line and he will continue to run for sheer pleasure.

Immaculately dressed in brown, Singh walks into the living room of his biographer’s residence in Chandigarh with an upright gait. Bearing an air of unmistakable pride peppered with a rustic charm, he greets us in an unwavering voice accompanied by a youthful smile. His wrinkled face and honest eyes reflect the spiritual wisdom that had guided him from hardship to fame. In his biography titled Turbaned Tornado (2011), authored by Khushwant Singh, Fauja Singh says of his matchstick-like legs as a child: “Perhaps it was the Almighty’s way of preserving my legs for later years.” Excerpts from an exclusive interview:

WHAT DRIVES YOU TO RUN EVEN TODAY?
There are all kinds of addictions; some good, some bad. My addiction to run is good, especially for my health. I have more or less stopped serious, long-distance running. But if I do not walk for four to five hours daily, anything from five to 10 miles, there is no swaad [taste] in living! I do not walk as a compulsion. I walk because I love to, because it keeps me happy. Compared to the average aged person—and there aren’t many of my vintage—I am content simply because I walk. I am also blessed to have a remarkable trainer, my coach Harmander Singh, who ensures that I remain in good health. My physician is pleasantly surprised to see stable vitals every time I have a routine check-up.

RUNNERS HAVE A FANCY FOR SHOES. DO YOU TOO?
Over the years, I have used numerous pairs of shoes made by the best shoe companies. These days, footwear technology is very advanced. I had an Adidas pair, a very light pair of shoes that had a good spring to them. They also had a unique device that, when connected to a mobile phone, could monitor your run. I liked them very much. German shoes last a long time and help you maintain an upright posture while running instead of encouraging a hunch. My first pair was a German make.

When I was in Toronto, I noticed a pair of shoes in a shop window. They were a beautiful yellow, a favourite of mine as I often wear a yellow turban when I run. The shoes cost $ 150 and came with a booklet. Although I cannot read, I knew the shoes had special features. I was tempted to buy them but decided not to as I did not really need them, so I moved on. Suddenly, a lady rushed out and invited me into the shop to try the pair. I realised the shoes were indeed unique and meant exclusively for running long distances. They were light and the booklet promised a flying-like experience. I ended up buying them and ran in them while wearing a yellow turban!

WHAT GOES THROUGH YOUR MIND WHEN YOU RUN?
When I began running, there would be a mela around me for the first 15 miles… people dancing and a lot of fanfare. But after 20 miles, I would get tired and look down, as coached by Harmandar, and take His [God’s] name for the rest of the way. When I began running marathons and was stronger at 89, I would get breathless but my legs would not feel a thing. Now, my legs grow weak but I do not feel breathless!

WHAT ARE YOUR MOST UNFORGETTABLE MEMORIES?
[Visibly sombre] I desperately try to overcome the memory of the death of my fifth son Kuldip in an accident, every day of my life, but it just does not go away. He was young and loved the rural way of life unlike my other children who went overseas, seeking a better life. His attachment to agriculture was similar to mine.

He had specially constructed a spacious bungalow, the only one in the village at the time. He planned a comfortable and secure future for his family and me, so that we could be together like a pind da tabbar [typical village family]. It was all destroyed in a flash with his going. It has been almost three decades since I saw my fields. Whenever I visit the village, I cringe when I pass by the house he built. To date, I cannot bring myself to even look at a picture of him.

How do I cope with this? Well, I live each day following a strict routine that I have chalked out for myself over the years. I wake up at 6 am, drink a cup of tea, followed by a bath after ironing my clothes. You see, I live by my own diktat, which is ohi sunno jo samajh aa javey, te ohi khao jo hajum ho javey (Listen only to what you understand and relate to and eat only what can be digested). I tune into Punjab Radio every morning to listen to the chaste, rustic Punjabi I am used to. I eat breakfast, take a catnap and then go out for the day. I first drop in at the local gurdwara to meet fellow Sikhs and catch up with the gupshup on Punjab. Then, for at least five to six hours, I walk while buying small purchases for myself and to ensure that I am exhausted by the evening. It is crucial that I retire without entertaining a single negative thought, which might spring to an idle mind. This regimen has kept me going all these years.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE YOUTH IN INDIA?
I feel the average youngster in India vigadd gaya hai [is thoroughly spoilt]! However, if the Indian government wants, it can productively channel the energy of the youth. There was a time when I avoided visiting my house in Punjab as I felt strongly about unfortunate incidents like outraging the modesty of womenfolk. Drug menace has corroded the state and its youth to a grave extent. Then again, it is up to the sarkar [government] to persuade or dissuade the young. In the Punjab of my youth, we believed in taking care of three things: women, money and food. As long as they were cared for, their value remained intact.

WHAT INSPIRES YOU?
In addition to the passion for running, God has guided me to do a lot of charity work, which I enjoy immensely. I enjoy the sukh [happiness] of sacch [truth]. My mind has no place for greed of any sort. Had I felt any greed, of material acquisition, monetary gain or otherwise, particularly after the success and fame my running has got me, main taan dubb jaunda [I would have sunk]! Greed makes a man succumb to destruction.

The money raised by the marathons I run always goes to charitable causes. I have no idea how much I have donated in the past 10 years. [According to his coach and family, Singh has contributed over £ 120,000 to charities like the Cancer Research, Age Concern and British Heart Foundation since he started his marathon career].

In Mohali this January, I ran in a mini-marathon for social awareness. There, I registered my concerns about women’s security and their rights. I am happy to offer my services for a good cause. Coming back to my sports shoes, I have quite a collection and have given away several pairs along with some of my turbans.

WHAT IS THE STORY AROUND YOUR NAME?
I was raised in a clan of old aunts, who would affectionately call me Fauju. I once asked my old tayee [father’s older brother’s wife] how I got my name. She said my family had once visited the Golden Temple in Amritsar on a full moon night. While doing the parikrama [encircling the shrine], they overheard a woman shout, ‘Ve Fauja Singhiya.’ They liked the sound of it so much that it was decided that if a son was born, he would be named Fauja Singh!

A LOT HAS BEEN SAID ABOUT YOUR DATE OF BIRTH. DOES IT MATTER TO YOU? WHAT DO YOU FEEL ABOUT IT?
I have nothing to say because it is not important to me. [Singh’s British passport lists his date of birth as 1 April 1911.] In my day, babies were delivered by a midwife and births were not recorded. I do not consider myself old and still enjoy buying a suit worth £ 150 despite my family’s objections. They feel I do not need to flash such expensive attire at my age. But I enjoy buying good things for myself.

Lately, I have begun to experience weakness in my legs. The veins get pulled, causing pain and discomfort, although my coach ensures I drink enough saline water while training and running. But when my legs feel weak, I ask myself what I could have possibly neglected the night before. You see, I would rather go without eating a morsel at night just to wake up feeling bright and energised.

YOU HAVE WITNESSED MANY HISTORIC EVENTS LIKE THE PARTITION, EMERGENCY AND OPERATION BLUE STAR. CAN YOU SHARE YOUR REFLECTIONS ON THESE?
I vividly remember Bhagat Singh’s shahaadat [martyrdom]. I was 35 years old during Partition, a father of two grown-up daughters. I witnessed such sin during the batwara [Partition] on the Pathankot Road when the kafiley [caravans] passed. The ground was paved with black flies that covered dead bodies thrown in trenches. It was carnage and there were refugees on either side. It was the most horrific sight you can imagine. When destruction and suffering are unleashed, no man can prevent it as Maharaj Ji [the Almighty] will make it happen, regardless. Who would have thought that a boy who was called danda and who could not walk till the age of five would be chosen by the Almighty to run marathons and become famous?

TELL US ABOUT YOUR WIFE.
[Smiles] I was married to Gian Kaur in Hoshiarpur’s village Kalkat. I was perhaps 20 years old then. No one comes into the world with a companion and no one leaves the world together. She was generally healthy when she died after a blood vessel in her brain burst. I miss her. One day, in London, while coming out of a gurdwara, a group of women circled me and asked about my wife, saying, ‘Babaji, where is our mataji?’ I told them it has been over 20 years [she died in 1992] since she left me to be with God. Had she been around, do you think I would have been allowed to run all over the world?

YOU RAN WITH FOUR GENERATIONS OF YOUR FAMILY IN TORONTO LAST OCTOBER. HOW WAS THE EXPERIENCE?
[Beaming with pride] It was a happy experience although I was concerned about the youngest members who were under 10, a great-grandson and great-granddaughter. I kept asking the older lot to be careful of these two but they kept pace with me!

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVOURITE FOODS?
England is the worst country in the world when it comes to weather. It is cold and damp, which is why, all year round I take flaxseed pinni [a sweetmeat] along with my cup of tea every morning. I carry this without fail even when travelling. [Interestingly, after a news report in Canada that the secret to Singh’s health was Alsi Pinni, many Indian stores started storing them and advertised them as food for longevity!] I only have fresh home-made yoghurt followed by two glasses of lukewarm water, and then I begin my day’s walk. I have never eaten fried stuff like pakora or parantha. Every time I make a trip back home, I return to London with a kilogram of powdered ginger that I use twice a week to make curry. I avoid any food that creates gas. I like sweets but not chocolates and candy. I must have my nightcap of warm milk before I sleep. It is very crucial that I wake up every day with my legs feeling as light as feathers. Hence, I religiously follow this routine.

DO YOU ENJOY MOVIES AND MUSIC?
Yes, I enjoy watching Punjabi films. I also like listening to music, from oldies like Surinder Kaur’s songs, to the recent ones by Gurdas Mann. My favourite is Dil hona chahida jawan, umaraan nu ki karnaa [Your heart needs to be young, what is there in age?].

WHICH IS YOUR FAVOURITE PLACE IN THE WORLD?
Compared to India and Pakistan with their age-old animosity and levels of corruption, the rest of the world is better. Having said that; let me tell you a little story. A village woman was once told to give five laddoo to the most beautiful child in the village. She gave them all to her own child! [Laughs loudly] “Burreh layi sab ton wadiya jagah oyeyo hai jithey odda tabbar hove, gabroo nu. O sona lagda jithey kam hai.” (For an old man, his favourite place is where his family is. Likewise, for a young man, the best place is where his work is.)

I have travelled the world and, to me, every country is beautiful, each one endowed with unique features. Singapore is amazingly clean; Germany is beautiful; while England, which is home to me, is a melting pot of cultural and global identities. Birmingham and Southall are virtually mini-Indias. Moreover, wherever I go across the world, people welcome me with open arms.

AS THE BRAND AMBASSADOR OF ADIDAS, YOU HAVE SHARED SPACE WITH ICONS LIKE DAVID BECKHAM AND MOHAMMED ALI. WHAT WAS THAT LIKE?
On such occasions, I look to God and ask Him what all he is engaging me with! I do not get arrogant that I am amid world-famous achievers. I am a simple, illiterate village man who loves meeting people from different walks of life. I greet everybody with equal enthusiasm and respect. When I was running outside England once, there was a very famous English player who was keen to meet me while everyone else was going crazy wanting to meet him! [Bursts into peals of laughter] The Queen of England has, more than once, shaken hands with me while photographers have gone nuts. Strangely, none of this goes to my head.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT DRUG-ENHANCERS USED COMMONLY BY SPORTSMEN? FOR INSTANCE, THE CASE OF LANCE ARMSTRONG?
There is no need to consume performance-enhancing drugs. Some people have, in the past, accused me of consuming such stuff, of taking money to run marathons. They were silenced after investigations and certifications from relevant authorities proved otherwise. These substances provide a momentary energy boost but they weaken the body rapidly. Earlier, when I was accused of such things, I would get angry but now I simply fold my hands and submit that I am a simple, illiterate village man who knows nothing else but running.

YOUR OPINION ON THE SPORTS SCENARIO IN INDIA?
The saddest part is the performance-enhancing drugs sportsmen take. We do have world-class sportsmen who win the Olympics and other laurels. Anything is achievable if the Indian government chooses to do its bit for sports and its enhancement.

HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE REMEMBERED?
A lot has been said about me as well as my achievements. On the Internet, you have quotes and proverbs coined on me and my accomplishments. I do not wish to dictate how I would like to be remembered. I know for a fact that everyone will remember me for all that I have done long after I am gone, just as I know that those who speak ill of me are also responsible for extending my age! If everyone thought only well of me, I would have sunk long ago!

FAST FACTS

• Shot to fame in 2000, when he completed the London Marathon—a gruelling 26.2 miles in 6 hrs, 54 min. Knocked 58 min off the world best in the 90-plus age bracket.
• Personal best is at the Toronto Waterfront Marathon in 2003 (5 hrs, 40 min).
• Holds the UK record for the 200 m, 400 m, 800 m, 1 mile and 3,000 m for his age group. Each record is 94 min and less.
• Major marathons: London (6), Canada (2), New York (1).
• Poster boy for Adidas, which has named a range of trainers after him.
• Secret to his strength: Ginger curry for dinner.
• Secret to his longevity: Alsi Pinni (Punjabi sweetmeat).

Photo: Haresh Patel
Featured in Harmony — Celebrate Age Magazine
April 2013