Natural death of any one of the parents or siblings is unfortunate enough. Loss of residence due to natural disasters is also nothing but calamity enough. Getting displaced from the homeland, as climate or political refugees, remains the shock of life.
But when lust for blood annihilates both parents and multiple siblings at one go with the only survivor running out with life by forsaking home and homeland for ever towards an unknown place full of uncertainty; then it is not simply unfortunate calamity or shock it is called Milkha Singh!
Milkha Singh would not only remain a source of inspiration to fight back all alone against all adversities of life (ranging from economic to psychological) and achieve success; he remained and still remains a constant reminder of what we should not do as human beings.
Milkha Singh was a living victim of partition and meaningless communal arson who had to witness the horror of hatred right in front of his eyes and had to bear with the wounds of such a carnage throughout his life. Just like him, innumerable countless innocents had to die, see the death of their own, get displaced and land upon streets or refugee camps in alien surroundings in the aftermath of Partition of India. What was their “sin”? Just taking birth in the “wrong” place at the “wrong” time. How scandalously can we divide the world of God in terms of religion, race or country; treat the “marked territory” as my “own” and thereafter expel the “others” or show them their place right “below” with no demands or rights.
History of partition has transmitted the message what dangerous consequences are inevitable if children of the Almighty divide themselves into man-made religion and start dominating over or hating each. So it remains to the huge credit of leaders like Nehru and Bidhan Chandra Roy for ensuring a march of India and West Bengal in progressive front through “modern temples” like industries and dams.
Following the collapse of Hitler, the revived Germany has forbidden not only the salute slogans of the Nazis along with Swastika; the nation constantly discourages excessive show of national flags and anthems as well as all the mayhem and Jew-carnage had arisen in the name of “Nationalism” only. This is called taking lessons from history. In contrast, we are not only witnessing a brute exhibition of religious muscle-flexing; even 1947 is being invoked with a very biased tone to revive or boost hatred against a particular community! Indeed nothing can be more tragic than this mindset.
Milkha Singh was enlightened enough to know that he was simply “victim of the times” with communal-minded butchers calling the shots. So he visited Pakistan future and also harboured a close bond with the country. No wonder why Pakistan also mourned the demise of Milkha Singh – the Legend. This is called a sense of closure and moving on in life.
If Indians truly love and respect Milkha Singh, then they should thwart the communal antics of certain camps so that no other innocent boy/girl has to fly in darkness all alone towards uncertainty with homeland and deceased relations left behind permanently.
