The Race Of My Life: An Autobiography (2013) - Plot & Excerpts
Like many people I have watched the film ‘Bhaag Milkha Bhaag’ before I actually read the book.’The Race of my Life’ is an autobiography of the great Indian track and field athlete ,Milkha Singh who won several golds in Asian Games.This book is co-authored by Milkha Singh and Sonia Sanwalka. Overall this book is trying to give the readers an understanding of the life of Milkha Singh whether it was his days on the field or his personal relationships and encounters with strangers and fans in life .This book is very straight-forward and like Milkha Singh’s life gives a very quick, to the point overview of his life. But sometimes that’s not what the reader wants.Even though I found this book to be very inspiring , I also felt like some situations and feelings were left very unattended.I think that in some places the author was almost just naming his achievements rather than giving the reader an insight on how Milkha Singh felt while winning them or the kind of hard work that went into winning them.Apart from this I did like many parts of the book like the struggles he faced during partition and also how disappointed he was after finishing fourth at the olympics even though he was the favourite for the gold medal ,all because of a small change in strategy during the race.His personal life however was described much better and even though I got a little bored during that part of the book I felt happy that a great athlete was getting what he deserved after such a wonderful , accomplished and inspiring life and career.Milkha Singh is a man who has faced everything from the highs of winning India its first ever commonwealth gold to the heartbreaking lows of failing in the Olympics.A man who fought for his choices like the love of his life ‘Nimmi’ while disregarding all other temptations like a rich and beautiful girl who wanted him desperately, Milkha Singh is a dedicated Indian sprinting legend who never took his eyes of the finish line.In conclusion , I think that The Race of my Life is a book that will appeal to the more sports inclined audience while also teaching us that life is made up of highs and lows but the people who fight through them are the ones that come out on top. The stirring life story of the ‘Flying Sikh’. The book is candid and centers on how he built his career as a world-class sprinter. He is India’s most towering athlete till date and spent his life, in his words, running, running and running. I had learnt during my school days about the freedom fighters’ struggle for our country’s independence and also their stories of victories. Never had I comprehended fully the callous manslaughter in India and Pakistan between Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs during the Partition in 1947. It was difficult to read through how Milkha Singh had lost most of his family in one night and his struggling days thereafter until he joined the Army. The later part exemplifies how he had molded himself, worked hard and revived his passion to accomplish his dream to be a world champion. The book is full of life and is a powerhouse of inspiration not only for sports enthusiasts but also for all who are working hard towards their goals. "Milkha Singh, you don't run, but you fly”
What do You think about The Race Of My Life: An Autobiography (2013)?
Read this book thrice. The Best Autobiography of an Indian I had read till date.
—kgirl2012
Awesome raised to the power of awesome!! :) Read 150 pages in 2.5 hours.
—vicky
the most memorable man in my life and i inspired by him.
—Joy
