Why India’s Most Impressive Swimmer Is Unimpressed With Our Govt.

“No matter what strokes the events called for Shamsher Khan was there, gliding through the water with that smooth action of his, hardly causing any ripples and finishing well ahead of his rivals.”

-Bangalore newspaper clipping date: 1955 -

Documentor Bharat Misra: “When you returned from the (1956) Olympics what awards did the Government give you?”

SK: “Absolutely nothing.”

In fact, the not only gave him nothing, but made him pay to represent his country.

SK: “I had taken three months salary as expenditure in advance ( for Melbourne Olympics flight)...I was never reimbursed for that.”

India’s greatest swimmer lives in a leaky village shack with no Government support in the Islampur village of Andhra Pradesh. Shamsher Khan won 4 national gold awards and broke every swimming style record at the national meet in Bangalore in 1955. This feat has never been repeated in Indian history as our pools have not been graced by such a talented all rounder.

Moreover, Shamsher brought India unparalleled recognition at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics. He finished 5th in the qualifiers and participated in both breaststroke and butterfly. There has never been another Indian swimmer like him – just look at the Rio Olympics, swimmers Sajan Prakash and Shivani Kataria finished 41st and 28th in their qualifying events.

Shamsher was also an acclaimed diver and water polo player, a war veteran who fought in the Indo-China war of 1962 and the Indo-Pakistan war of 1971, and apparently he is easily forgotten. Even when Andhra Pradesh’s cyclone of 1977 destroyed his family’s hut he received no help. Even when Andhra Pradesh’s floods of 1990 washed away his home he received no help. Yet at the age of 86 Shamsher is still alive after three heart attacks and a lifetime of widely forgotten achievement. When asked why he didn’t train his sons in swimming, Shamsher replied “They didn’t treat me well enough (Indian Government)...why would I encourage my children.”

Watch this short documentary by Bharat Misra on the forgotten legacy of India’s greatest swimmer, Mr. Shamsher Khan.