The couple, who shared an familial bond with the world’s oldest marathon runner, are asking the nation to do what it hasn’t yet — award, memorialise, and immortalise the Sikh icon who ran into history.
Ludhiana, Punjab — On July 14, 2025, the world lost more than a marathon runner.
It lost a miracle.
It lost a man who didn’t just outrun his age — he redefined what a Sikh, a senior, and a son of India could be.
And for Harjinder Singh Kukreja and Harkirat Kaur Kukreja, it wasn’t just a global loss. It was deeply, personally theirs.
“He didn’t die,” Harjinder said. “He ran into eternity. But the country he loved still hasn’t honoured him. That must change.”
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A Personal Bond with a Global Icon
The Kukrejas — Sikh cultural voices and luxury travel entrepreneurs from Ludhiana — were among the few people who knew Fauja Singh Ji beyond the headlines.
Their association began in 2017, when they visited his home. Harjinder vividly remembers being offered the same Alsi di Pinni (flaxseed energy ball) Fauja Singh started his day with.
“He walked slow, spoke less, but his presence filled the room,” Harkirat recalled.
The bond deepened over the years — from London chai sessions to birthday blessings.
But it was their final meeting in September 2024 that left an imprint the world hasn’t seen.
“Fauja Ji visited our home,” Harjinder said. “He held our daughter Rut Suhavi in his lap. Our sons, Rehras and Aad Sach, stood beside him in silence. It was like time and spirit passed between generations in that moment.”
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The Marathoner India Never Honoured
Born in 1911 in Beas Pind, Punjab, Fauja Singh didn’t walk until he was five. He was mocked as “danda” — stick.
At 89, after personal tragedy, he began running.
By 100, he had finished a marathon.
At 101, he carried the Olympic torch.
He starred in Adidas’ Impossible Is Nothing alongside Muhammad Ali and David Beckham.
He became the face of Sikh elder fitness and faith.
He never chased money.
He refused brand deals.
He stuck to phulkas, dal, kirtan, and cardio.
But even after doing what no human ever has, India never gave him a Padma award. No stadium in his name. No national marathon. No memorial.
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The Tweet That Spoke for Millions
After Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted condolences on social media, Harjinder Singh Kukreja posted a public reply that quickly spread across timelines:
“He embodied the spirit of India — resilience, faith, and inspiration. Please consider a national honour or memorial in his name.”
Support poured in from Sikh groups, runners, fitness advocates, and ordinary Indians who had seen Fauja Singh’s story but never realised it was still unfinished.
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What the Kukrejas Are Asking For
In their words — not for themselves, but for the man who ran for all of us — the Kukrejas are asking India for:
• A posthumous Padma award (Padma Shri or Padma Bhushan)
• A national marathon in his name — especially for seniors
• A government-backed legacy fund for Sikh or senior athletes
• A permanent memorial in Beas Pind
• A school curriculum module on his life under fitness and values education
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A Moment That Can’t Be Missed Again
“He was our real-life superhero,” Harkirat said. “He proved you can be Sikh, spiritual, elderly, and unstoppable.”
Today, children around the world read books about Fauja Singh. He appears in museums, documentaries, and running clubs. But the country of his birth still hasn’t preserved him in stone or scrolls.
And now, as Harjinder and Harkirat continue to carry his memory forward, they ask India to do the same.
“Let him not be a legend we remember only when he dies,” Harjinder said. “Let him be a name our children grow up inspired by.”
Because Fauja Singh didn’t just run races.
He ran a nation’s values forward.
Now it’s India’s turn to catch up.
