Milkha 1 Papa 0

I started fitness regime very late in my life. During school days I remember playing hockey for a short while but perhaps that was only a passing phase. For most part I remember queuing up to ride a horse, yes they had horses back then in our school, during the P.T (physical training) period.

I recall our school organizing yearly sports meets. It was a BIG day and ‘Track and Field’ was a marquee event category. A number of my mates would participate in races which included 200M Hurdles and even a 1000M race. I was mostly happy not to show up in school on the sports day. I thought it crazy sitting through the pandemonium in searing heat, especially if one had no stake in the game. Ravi Sir, our P.T instructor, however ruled with an iron hand and made sure that everybody was in attendance and on the grounds, even if only cheering the participants. Forced to attend, I was content sitting on the sidelines, sometimes appreciating and at times jealous of all the adulation flowing to my friends from pretty girls. That for sure wasn’t enough to spur me into action. I finally took to field not until after I started my professional career.

Thinking of those years I personally missed I hoped that my 4 year old son, Garv, will turn out to be active in sports from early on. Not just to soak in adulation from girls, but to maintain a healthy body and a healthy mind. I, as an aspirational father, was hoping that one of these days Garv would try to emulate me and start following my footsteps. But Milkhaji, you have beaten me to the finish line.

Ever since he watched Bhaag Milkha Bhaag (BMB), Garv has been completely taken up by Milkha Singh. He insists on running every evening and emulates Flying Sikh's strenuous workout by running in a sand pit. The other day he got hold my skipping rope, tied it behind his shorts and started running – enacting the scene from BMB where Milkha drags a tire behind him through scenic Ladakh. Some other ancillary benefits have also accrued from the investment in BMB. Garv’s milk and veggies intake has gone up significantly and his Punjabi dancing genes have kicked in big time - Maston Ka Jhund is his current favorite. Most importantly, getting him to do something just needs a tiny nudge that he is junior Milkha who would do no wrong.

I am glad my son has found his hero in Milkha Singh though I wonder how long this would stay with him. But Milkhaji, I do have a question for Garv when he grows up and reads this post. Did he not see his dad ‘tirelessly’ pounding the streets, much before you showed up on the screens?