Amritsar: The officiating jathedar of the Akal Takht, Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, offered respect to the legendary marathoner Fauja Singh during his antim ardas (last prayers) at Gurdwara Babae Shaheedan, Sarmastpur, Jalandhar, on Wednesday. According to a release issued by the Akal Takht secretariat, the jathedar said Fauja Singh remained undefeated even at the age of 114, and the day he passed away, he was still out walking.He began running in the later stages of his life — a race that never truly ended, the release quoted Giani Gargaj as saying.Fauja Singh left behind a legacy that inspires not only the youth but all of us. His life is a message that if we align ourselves with nature, improve our habits, and lead a disciplined life, we can avoid illnesses, never truly grow old, and achieve great heights, said the jathedar.He further said Fauja Singh represented India at an international level, participated in marathons across the globe, and won numerous awards.Emphasising that Fauja Singh never compromised on his Sikh identity, Giani Gargaj said once, when he was asked not to run wearing his turban, he firmly responded that while he may not run, he would never remove his turban and eventually ran the race with his turban proudly in place. He elevated the Sikh identity globally through his character and his turban, he added.Giani Gargaj suggested that today’s youth must draw lessons from Fauja Singh’s life — to stay away from drugs and embrace the “intoxication” of Gurbani, good deeds, and simple living, informed the release.MSID:: 122862689 413 |
