Milkha Singh to speak at Chowgule College Founder’s Day

~ Padma Shri Milkha Singh, a former Indian track and field sprinter represented India in the Summer Olympics of Melbourne, Rome and Tokyo. The Hindi feature film Bhaag Milkha Bhaag is based on the athlete’s life~

As a tribute to its founder Vishwasrao Chowgule, Chowgule College celebrates Founders Day on the 25th of August each year, at the college campus. This year the college will host Padma Shri Milkha Singh at the college campus to share his experiences and interact with students.

Milkha Singh also known as The Flying Sikh, is a former Indian track and field sprinter who was introduced to the sport while serving in the Indian Army. As of 2013, he is the only Indian male athlete to win an individual athletics gold medal at the Commonwealth Games. He represented India in the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome and the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. He was awarded the Padma Shri, India's fourth-highest civilian honour, in recognition of his sporting achievements.

Milkha Singh’s life story has been put together into a memoir titled The Race of My Life: An Autobiography. The book has been co authored by Sonia Sanwalka and Milkha Singh. The book inspired a biopic which went on to become one of the greatest hit Hindi feature films of 2013. This biographical sports drama film, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, was produced and directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra and saw Farhan Akhtar portraying the Flying Sikh in a lead role.

Founder’s Day celebration is an annual fixture on Chowgule College’s calendar of events. Regarded as one of the pioneer of industrialization in the state, Sri Vishwasrao Chowgule fought against the odds to create what he believed in. A philanthropist at heart, he founded Smt. Parvatibai Chowgule College in the year 1962. He had a clear vision for the college and was committed to advancement in the field of education. Founded in memory of his mother, the college was inaugurated by a woman, the then External Minister Mrs. Lakshmi Menon on 23rd June 1962. Since then the college has come a long way under the able guidance of the trustees of the Chowgule College Society and has achieved numerous milestones in the field of education, sports, academics and cultural events.

Chowgule College has taken the initiative of inviting extraordinary individuals who have gone on to be achievers in their own fields and can inspire the staff and students with their stories. Chowgule College has over the years invited various achievers from across the country to interact with its students. Chetan Bhagat, Nandita Das, Viswanathan Anand, Geet Sethi and Agnelo Dias among others have been speakers at the college