Fauja Singh, the world’s oldest marathoner and a symbol of resilience and hope, passed away at 114 after being hit by a car in Punjab on Monday.

Born on April 1, 1911, in Beas Village, Singh was walking along the Jalandhar-Pathankot Highway near his native village of Bias Pind when an unidentified vehicle struck him. He sustained a serious head injury and succumbed to it later that evening.

His body has been kept in the mortuary, as the family waits for his children to return from abroad. The last rites will be performed once they are home.

On Wednesday morning, Jalandhar Rural Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Harvinder Singh Virk stated that soon after receiving news of the accident, police teams reviewed CCTV footage from multiple locations. Around 35 vehicles were identified as having crossed the site during the time of the incident.

Later, the accused was identified as 26-year-old Amritpal Singh Dhillon, a resident of Dasupur village in the Kartarpur area of Jalandhar. He had recently returned from Canada and had purchased a vehicle from a seller based in Kapurthala. The car involved in the crash has been recovered, and a case has been registered under Sections 281 and 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Dhillon is expected to be presented in court later on Wednesday.

Fondly known as the ‘Turbaned Tornado’, Singh began running at the age of 89 to cope with the grief of losing his wife and son. What started as a personal journey soon turned into a global inspiration.

His Unlikely Marathon Journey

Fauja Singh’s path to marathon running was far from ordinary. Born with weak legs, he could not walk until the age of five. He spent most of his early life working as a farmer in Punjab before moving to East London in the 1990s. There, while dealing with personal loss, he started jogging in local parks. It was during this time that he met coach Harmander Singh, who guided him through his journey as a long-distance runner.

In 2000, at the age of 89, he ran his first full marathon in London, completing it in under seven hours. He went on to participate in nine full marathons, including events in London, Toronto, and New York.

In 2011, Singh made history by completing the Toronto Marathon at 100 years old, becoming the first person believed to do so at that age. Two years later, he formally retired from competitive racing after a 10-kilometre run in Hong Kong at the age of 101.

Beyond the Track: Campaigns, Charity, and Legacy

Even after stepping away from the track, Singh remained active in public life. Known for promoting vegetarianism, he became the oldest person to appear in a PETA campaign. He was also featured in Adidas’s global Impossible is Nothing campaign alongside icons like Muhammad Ali and David Beckham.

In 2012, he served as a torchbearer ahead of the London Olympics and received birthday wishes from Queen Elizabeth II on turning 100. He was awarded the British Empire Medal in 2015 and the Ellis Island Medal of Honor in 2013.

Singh used his global platform to support causes close to his heart. He raised funds for several charities, including Bliss, a UK-based organization supporting premature and sick newborns, and regularly donated to Gurdwaras and community organizations.

His life was also documented in the biography Turbaned Tornado, written by Chandigarh-based columnist Khushwant Singh.

In 2021, a biopic titled Fauja, directed by Omung Kumar B, further celebrated his story.

Remembering Fauja Singh

Fauja Singh may not be with us anymore, but his journey won’t be forgotten. From farming in Punjab to finishing marathons past the age of 100, he kept going with quiet determination. His story will stay with those who saw him run, heard him speak, or simply followed his path. In the end, he lived the way he ran, steady, hopeful, and always moving forward.

Earlier this year, Tomiko Itooka, the world's oldest woman, died in Japan at the age of 116. Doctors listed old age as the cause of death.

(Rh/Pooja Bansal/MSM/SE)