Indian TV channel mocks at Fauja Singh, draws global flak
Wednesday, 01/08/2012
http://www.punjabnewsline.com/content/indian-tv-channel-mocks-fauja-singh-draws-global-flak/54016
Baba Fauja Singh, as he is popularly known, is being praised by international media for completing a marathon at the age of 101 and the honour of holding Olympic torch but the mockery made by a media channel of this sporting legend has attracted wide criticism from across the globe.
A comedy show on a small-time television channel, hosted by a relatively well-known TV actor-anchor, has allegedly attempted to insult Fauja Singh. The show, apparently, comprised a volley of disgraceful comments on Fauja Singh.
A dummy Fauja Singh can be seen on camera, answering the anchor's derogatory questions which are, clearly, against the minorities in India.
When the anchor asks him, “Why are you running?”, the dummy replies, “What can I tell you? I am running since 1984. Earlier I escaped from Tytler and ran to Canada and then I had to run after September 11. If I stop running, somebody will kill me.”
The dummy Fauja Singh further goes on to add, “I want to come to India but embassy officials are not giving me a visa. It is so difficult being a minority in India.”
As if all this insult was not enough, the dummy Fauja Singh is seen breaking into an impromptu dance on the road and amid the hullabaloo, he is mowed down by a truck.
Born in village Beas Pind, Jalandhar, Fauja Singh moved to London in 1992. At the age of 89, he took seriously to running and ended up in international marathon events. His current personal best time for the London Marathon (2003) is 6 hours 2 minutes and his marathon record for age 90 plus is 5 hours 40 minutes.
In 2004, Fauja Singh featured in an ad campaign for sportswear manufacturer Adidas alongside English soccer star David Beckham and American boxing legend Muhammad Ali.
He holds several UK records in running. At the age of 100-and-a-half, Fauja Singh attempted and accomplished eight world age group records in one day.
In October 2011, Singh, a vegetarian, became the oldest man to feature in a PETA campaign.
