JALANDHAR, July 21 — At the cremation of legendary marathon runner Fauja Singh in Beas village on Monday, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced that the local village school would be named in his honour.
The 113-year-old athlete was laid to rest with full state honours as a large crowd gathered to pay their final respects.
Read more: Fauja Singh Cremated with State Honours in Beas
“Fauja Singh was not just a sporting icon, he was an inspiration for generations,” said Mann while addressing the media. “The school in his village will bear his name, and we are also considering installing his statue at the Government Sports College in Jalandhar — subject to the wishes of his family.”
The cremation ceremony was attended by Governor Gulab Chand Kataria, several political leaders, and residents from neighbouring villages. Many had travelled to Beas to bid farewell to the globally celebrated runner who hailed from their soil.
Governor Kataria recalled Singh’s unwavering commitment to social causes. “I still remember how he walked with me during the ‘Nasha Mukt Yatra’ last year. He truly wished to see Punjab free from drugs,” he said.
The family of Fauja Singh also received a condolence letter from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who lauded the centenarian’s lifelong dedication to health and fitness. “Fauja Singh ji inspired one and all, especially India’s youth, to make fitness an integral part of their lives. He took up long-distance running at a very advanced age, speaking volumes about not only his physical fitness, but more importantly, his mental strength and resilience,” the letter stated.
Fauja Singh, who began his running career in his 80s, went on to become a global symbol of endurance, completing marathons across continents and earning recognition for his spirit, discipline, and humility. His legacy, the Chief Minister said, would live on in Punjab’s sporting institutions and the hearts of its people.
