Arjuna awardee's family wants to sell medal for money

He was named “the flying horse” after he beat “flying Sikh" and Padma awardee Milkha Singh in the 1962 National Games. But he was soon written off and died in abject poverty a decade ago. He was Arjuna awardee Makhan Singh.

Years later, a story broadcast on a TV channel has pricked the nation’s conscience. Opposition leader Sushma Swaraj on Saturday drew Parliament’s attention to his family’s plight, which is on the verge of selling off his medal for money.

Swaraj raised the issue of the former athlete, whose widow is willing to auction his Arjuna medal to make both ends meet, prompting the government to immediately announce a Rs 5-lakh assistance to the family. Makhan Singh’s son washes dishes in a dhaba.

Swaraj said she felt perturbed after watching a programme on the plight of Makhan Singh’s family on TV.

“He is the one who defeated another legend Milkha Singh...his wife said she has no roti to eat...she is willing to auction his medals for money,” Swaraj said in the Zero Hour.

“After having heard the news about the distress status of the family of late Makhan Singh, Arjuna awardee, I discussed the matter with the president of the Petroleum Sports Promotion Board to consider release of immediate relief to his family.  The board has agreed to release Rs 5 lakh to his family,” Petroleum Minister Veerappa Moily said in a statement.

Makhan Singh was given the Arjuna award by erstwhile president Dr Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan, two years after he defeated Milkha Singh in the National Games. Makhan Singh was a subedar in the Indian Army. He retired in 1972 and settled in Hoshiarpur. He later met with an accident, losing a leg and died in penury in 2002.