Famous marathon runner Fauja Singh was cremated with full state honours in his native village Beas in Jalandhar district. He was 114 years old.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Governor Gulab Chand Kataria, and Minister Mohinder Bhagat were among those who attended the funeral to pay their respects. His son Harvinder Singh lit the funeral pyre, fulfilling Fauja Singh’s wish to be cremated in his village.
Before the cremation, Fauja Singh’s body was kept in a glass casket at his home, with a photograph placed beside it. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also sent a condolence letter to the family, saying, “That he took up long-distance running at a very advanced age speaks volumes of not only his physical fitness, but also his mental strength and resilience.”
A large funeral procession was held, which included Congress MLAs Pargat Singh, Rana Gurjeet Singh, and Akali Dal leader Daljit Singh Cheema.
Fauja Singh died in a road accident near his home. He was hit by an unknown vehicle while crossing the road around 3:30 PM. The driver fled the scene, and Singh was taken to a hospital, but he could not survive his injuries.
Fauja Singh began running at the age of 89 after losing his wife and son in an accident. Running helped him cope with grief and loneliness. He went on to run 18 marathons, starting with one in London in 2000. He retired after his last marathons in Toronto (2011), London (2012), and Hong Kong (2013).
He was widely regarded as the world’s oldest marathon runner and an inspiration to many.
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