6 reviews for The Race Of My Life
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The Race Of My Life
by Milkha Singh
Description:
Milkha Singh has led a life dominated by running, running, running From a boy who narrowly escaped death during Partition (most of his family was not so lucky), to a juvenile delinquent who stole and outran the police, to a young Army recruit who ran his very first race to win special privileges for himself (a daily glass of milk). After that first race, Milkha Singh became an athlete by default. And what followed was the stuff legends are made of. In this remarkably candid autobiography, Milkha Singh shares the amazing highs of winning India’s first ever gold in athletics at the Commonwealth Games, the unbridled joy of being hailed as the Flying Sikh’ in Pakistan, as well as the shattering low of failure at the Olympics. Simple yet ambitious, famous yet grounded, Milkha Singh was a man who defined his own destiny and remained committed to running. And yet, remarkably for a man whose life was dominated by sports, he continues to remain disillusioned with the way sports is run Powerful and gripping, The Race of My Life documents the journey of an impoverished refugee who rose to become one of the most towering figures in Indian sports.
About The Author
Born in 1932 in undivided India, Milkha Singh is arguably one of India’s most iconic male athletes. All through his professional career, his mantra for success has been regular practice, hard work, dedication and the determination to perform to the best of his abilities. Although he stopped participating in competitive events in the early 1960s, he has dedicated his life to sports. Milkha Singh has always been a romantic at heart and he is today a contented husband, a proud father and an indulgent grandfather. The Farhan Akhtar starrer – Bhaag Milkha Bhaag is a biographical film that depicts his early life and career.
Skryf Review
“Excellent Reading”
parth
After being blown away by the movie Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, I came across Milkha Singh’s autobiography, ‘The Race of My Life’. It was obvious that I had to read it. Now I normally take months to finish a book, often reading several books simultaneously. But not this one. It is the first book perhaps since school, that I read almost continuously.The simple language and powerful and personal descriptions of the trials and challenges that Milkha Singh faced and overcame is pure inspiration. This isn’t a book for the herd (the masses), because it doesn’t have a fancy, glamourous or dreamy eyed plot. It is, however, for those people who have, at any point in their lives, had a single aim or objective, and who know what it is to channel all energies towards that one aim. It is for those people who know of passions that are way bigger than money, designations, security and tangible comforts.
arif
Like many people I have watched the film ‘Bhaag Milkha Bhaag’ before I actually read the book.’The Race of my Life’ is an autobiography of the great Indian track and field athlete ,Milkha Singh who won several golds in Asian Games.This book is co-authored by Milkha Singh and Sonia Sanwalka. Overall this book is trying to give the readers an understanding of the life of Milkha Singh whether it was his days on the field or his personal relationships and encounters with strangers and fans in life.This book is very straight-forward and like Milkha Singh’s life gives a very quick, to the point overview of his life. But sometimes that’s not what the reader wants.Even though I found this book to be very inspiring , I also felt like some situations and feelings were left very unattended.I think that in some places the author was almost just naming his achievements rather than giving the reader an insight on how Milkha Singh felt while winning them or the kind of hard work that went into winning them.Apart from this I did like many parts of the book like the struggles he faced during partition and also how disappointed he was after finishing fourth at the olympics even though he was the favourite for the gold medal ,all because of a small change in strategy during the race.His personal life however was described much better and even though I got a little bored during that part of the book I felt happy that a great athlete was getting what he deserved after such a wonderful , accomplished and inspiring life and career.Milkha Singh is a man who has faced everything from the highs of winning India its first ever commonwealth gold to the heartbreaking lows of failing in the Olympics.A man who fought for his choices like the love of his life ‘Nimmi’ while disregarding all other temptations like a rich and beautiful girl who wanted him desperately, Milkha Singh is a dedicated Indian sprinting legend who never took his eyes of the finish line.In conclusion , I think that The Race of my Life is a book that will appeal to the more sports inclined audience while also teaching us that life is made up of highs and lows but the people who fight through them are the ones that come out on top.
Kalgi
Even the book is literally not attractive, the conveyed message message is strong. When we are in catastrophe he is a man from whom we can get an inspiration from. The Flying Sikh has proved that one will be at his best when they have nothing to lose.The points which he puts forward for betterment of Indian sports are admirable.A little part of the movie and the writing vary a bit causing ambiguities.
Milkha Ji states that he wants youth to take up sports as a profession but they should be working like no one else.
pankti
The stirring life story of the ‘Flying Sikh’. The book is candid and centers on how he built his career as a world-class sprinter. He is India’s most towering athlete till date and spent his life, in his words, running, running and running. I had learnt during my school days about the freedom fighters’ struggle for our country’s independence and also their stories of victories. Never had I comprehended fully the callous manslaughter in India and Pakistan between Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs during the Partition in 1947. It was difficult to read through how Milkha Singh had lost most of his family in one night and his struggling days thereafter until he joined the Army. The later part exemplifies how he had molded himself, worked hard and revived his passion to accomplish his dream to be a world champion. The book is full of life and is a powerhouse of inspiration not only for sports enthusiasts but also for all who are working hard towards their goals.
Helly
First I watched the movie, then intrigued for the autobiography. I watched the trailer few years back when it was released but didn’t know that it’s based upon a true story. I didn’t know anything about the great athlete Mr. Milkha Singh. Perhaps the best athlete produced by this sub continent, won 77 competition races out of 80. He was reckoned as the storm of sixties. Though he broke the previous records of Olympic 400m, in 1960 Rome Olympic unfortunately he failed to grab the gold medal and he repents still for that day!Milkha Sigh bears the indelible scar of partition, he was born,raised up in a village of Pakistan Punjab. In 1947, bigots killed his parents,cousins and all the other family members. He escaped a narrow death while others were being slaughtered in front of his eyes. He heard the scream of his father,’Bhaag Milkha, Bhaag!’, this scream is chasing him still! The synonym of partition is agony, Mr. Milkha is carrying one of these millions of the untold stories.
Highly motivating book it is, this is the saga of a refugee who becomes a world wide celebrity by his endeavor, determination and diligence. Almost everything is possible, the fact is how determined you are to get it. His prose is facile, he delivered a vivid,racy anecdotes to his readers. His romantic affair with his wife Mrs. Nimmi,who is another sportswoman of India is very sweet and dramatic. The book is not very big, he should have written it more delicately, unravelled the saga with more detail.One thing I’ve to mention, he said nothing about the ‘Operation Bluestar’ by Mrs. Indira Gandhi. He mentioned her name as she was an admirer of him, but he shunned this sensitive topic totally.