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Sachin Nag was born on 5th July 1920 in Varanasi in a Bengali family. In 1930 during the nation wide freedom movement when he was chased by police then this young boy was running and jumped into the river Ganges to hide from police in between the boats. The Dasashram Ghat (river bank) was crowded and police search was going on then the boy had no other option other than under water swimming.At the very time 10KM swimming competition was going on over river Ganges. To hide himself he also joined in the swimming group. When the competition ended, the crowd was surprised to see that the Kashi Maharaj himself came forward and handed over the third prize into the boy’s hand. Crowd wanted to know the young boy’s name but as his name was not listed, the organizing committee could not tell his name. But one day this boy became the swimming legend of the country and represented India in Olympic twice and became the first Asian champion swimmer. Again and again he broke his own records in National and State level competitions. Throughout 14years he was an unparallel swimmer and got the credit of being the fastest Asian swimmer.

In 1951 Delhi Asian games (1st Asian games) Prime Minister Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru and Lady Mount Batten encouraged him with the words “Cheer up Sachin Nag-Cheer up”.

Sachin Nag became the great Indian swimmer because of his self determination and fighting spirit.He loved to swim against the waves of river Ganges. Between 1930-36, his name was listed in 1st and 2nd place in the competition organized in the river Ganges in Kashi. During that period Jamini Das of Hatkhola Club in Kolkata was so impressed of him that he invited Sachin Nag to his Kolkata residence. Jamini Das himself was a good swimmer and water polo player too. He was the captain of Indian water-polo team in 1948, London Olympic.

Sachin Nag moved to Kolkata permanently in1937 and in that very year he won the 2nd place in the 10km swimming competition in river Ganges. In 1938 he won the 1st prize in 6km swimming competition in river Ganges.

During those times short distance swimming was not popular in Kolkata, People used to love long distance swimming only. Madan Singh, Durga Das, Rajaram Sahu these three were then used to rule the Bengal and Indian swimming. In 1938 Sachin Nag’s name was also got included along with them.

According to the Olympic rule of meter measurement short distance swimming in ponds got started and Sachin Nag played the initial leading role in spreading that style of swimming. In 1938 the whole of Bengal state level swimming at College Square, Kolkata, Sachin Nag won the 1st place defeating Madan Singh and Rajaram Sahu in 100 & 400 meter free style competition, with regard to that “Jugantar Patrika” (15 kartik 1345) Bengali year published “ the talent displayed by Hatkhola club’s new swimmer Sachin Nag is unparallel in present day swimming, the way he competed and beat the swimming champion Rajaram has attracted the peoples appreciation, there is no doubt about that” Hindustan Standard (Monday October 31, 1938) wrote “Young swimmer Shines- Nag’s Impressive Display- “He scored remarkable success in 100 meters free style by giving the defeat to Rajaram Sawoo in what may be described as record timing for the distance. It was, however, a close race- the finish being particularly thrilling.

Nag looked much the fresher between the two. Possessed of the fine athletic built he seems to have a bright future as swimmer”

In the year 1939 National Swimming Club & Taltala Institute’s organized competition he again won. Statesman (11 Sep 1939) wrote “Sachin Nag was the hero of the meeting. He won the open 200 meters free style beating Madan Sinha (2 min. 28.3.5 sec.) beating the record timing set by Durga Das (2 min 29 sec) Nag beat Dilip Mitra in the 100 meter free style, his timing equally the All India record 1 min 4 sec. held by Dilip Mitra”.

In 1940 Bhowanipore Swimming Association organized 24th annual swimming competition where the tiger of water Sachin Nag again showed his talent by winning. During those days English daily “ADVANCE” wrote: (3rd Sep 1940) “A new all India record in 100 meters free style was the most brilliant feature of 24th Annual Aquatic Sports meeting of Bhowanipore Swimming Association at the Landsdown Square Tank on Sunday. Sachin Nag of Hatkola put a really commendable performance when he covered the 100 meters in 1 min 2-2/5 sec. Thus he lowered the previous best record of 1min 4 sec setup by Dilip Mitra. In this race he beat the well known swimmer Rajaram Sawoo, while in 400 meters Nag defeated the all India champion Madan Sinha”. In that year only Central Club’s organized competition Nag once again displayed his talent by further lowering the 100meter record 1min 2-1/5 sec. Amrita Bazar Patrika wrote (8 Sep 1940) “The outstanding performance of the evening was that of Sachin Nag’s triumph in 100 and 400 meters, in 100 meters Nag bettered his own All India record made last at Bhowanipore Tank, at Bhowanipore Nag covered in 1 min 2-2/5 sec and last night he did it in 1min 2-1/5 seconds”

Sachin Nag’s record was unbroken for long 31years. He was the only swimmer in national and state level who broke his own record again and again.

In the year 1942 & 43 swimming competitions were hardly organized in the country. In the year 1944 national swimming competition was held in Lahore’s Mint Park, where in the water polo competition Sachin Nag did 4 goals for Bengal to defeat Mumbai in 6-5 goals. In 100 meter’s, 400 meters and also in relay, Sachin Nag became first. During that year in Mumbai, Cricket Association of India also organized swimming competition where he became champion and got the prestige of becoming ‘India-West champion’.

The news to be mentioned of 1945 is that Sachin Nag won all State level and Club level swimming competitions in that year.Nag’s Hatkhola club got invitation for playing against British Team at Victoria Memorial’s swimming pool and they defeated the British team 15-1 goal, Sachin Nag alone only made 6 goals and in the same invitation water polo league Hatkhola defeated U.S.Forces by 13-4 goals and Nag scored 2 goals and helped his club to become as league champion.

In the Maccabia games in Telaviv on 4th October 1950,India beat Belgium by 7-0 goals and also beat to England by 4-3 goals and got third position in that game.

After returning from London Nag again made a national record in 100 meter swimming. In the year 1949-50-51 also Bengal remained the water polo champion.

In the year 1950 October during the selection for Asian Games, Nag got through easily in 100 meter and 400 meter free style relay, 300 meter medley and in water polo. In March 1951 before the starting of the Asian games, he went to Delhi and met Guru Dutt Sondhi for training but training was far and he was being accused for early coming and was told to go back to Bengal. But he was a courageous and determined so he didn’t come back but he stayed in Delhi in his friends house and was in search of a swimming pool to practice. Finally he found a swimming pool of 20/10 of hotel Sisil, the hotel manager was an Italian lady, after practicing for a week over there then all foreigner borders and the lady became so impressed by his behaviour and determination that she made it free for his training. In the First Asian Games, Five countries Burma, India, Iran, Philippines and Singapore out of 12 Countries took part in 100 meter free style swimming where Nag took the 1st place by winning gold. He also bagged the bronze medals in 400 meter free style relay and 300 metres medlay relay in the same Asiad.

After 1938, Bengal became the National champion for 16 times with the help of him. Except 1947, as he was seriously injured in accident and those period is still known as ‘The Golden Period of swimming in Bengal’. 

After holding the swimming legend’s place for more than one and half generation he was neglected in the swimming arena in the country by the authority of Swimming Federation of India.

He used to feel sad and often said “ I did a lot for the Country as per my ability but what the country has given me?”

Many people are getting various recognitions and respect even after leaving sport! But I think national awards like -‘ Padmasree and Padmabhushan are indeed valueless these days’………

11 times State champion and 3 times national champion and the first Asian champion and /the greatest Indian swimmer of last century was probably not good enough to get recognition in the country was felt by the then sitting members of the swimming association, his name never appeared in various lifetime achievement awards but we know no Indian swimmer has ever crossed his achievements even today.

He often used to say that in spite of other sports, instructors should give importance to swimming also because swimming is the best exercise and no physical or mental development is possible for a player without swimming. He also trained Arati Saha and Nafisa Ali who had received various recognitions for Bengal as well as of India.

During 1982 Asian Games in Delhi, Nag didn’t receive any invitation at all but later on after struggling by journalists of various newspapers he received an invitation at last. After reaching in Delhi he came to know that in Asiad Village a block has been built in his name “Sachin Nag Block” which shines even today.He was engaged in different sports activites in the sports councial of Government of West Bengal,Sports authority of India and even though he was given the honour of being a selecter for N.S.T.C by Sports Authority of India in 1987 and all his valuable collections have been donated in the museum of Sports Authority of India at Motibagh,Patiala.We also find him as a good artist in Bengali film such as in APARNA and in KONI.

In the year 1987, 19th August morning in Command Hospital at Alipore, Kolkata, this great sportsman’s journey of life came to an end leaving behind his bereaved family. Asian Games will come and go but Sachin Nag’s name will always shine as the first Asian Champion Swimmer and it is undisputedly true that his name will always glitter in our memory being as an only sportsman from Bengal whose name is in Asiad village till today.

15.12.1998- in newspaper “AJKAAL” written by Arun Sengupta as “ The First Bengali & The First Indian- Sachin Nag” He is no more with us, What he would have done? the First Bengali, winner of Asiad Gold in swimming. Any success he used to consider as winning a battle. In fact his life was not less than a battle. The story behind his appearance in swimming was itself a story of a struggle. 1951 Delhi Asiad started from March, Sachin Nag reached four months before in December, there was no water in any pool in Delhi, and instead of help he had to receive discouraging and unhelpful words and was suggested to come back to his native state. But his fighting spirit and determination could not suppress him……………………..

My Acknowledgement to the following print media :

• Khelar Ashor
• Ajkaal
• Hindustan Standard
• Amritabazaar Patrika
• Advance
• Jugantor
• Anandabazaar Patrika
• Hindustan Times
• The Statesman
   

To view the letter of Sports Authority of India just click on the thumb nail image.