Arati Saha was an Indian long-distance swimmer. She started swimming at the age of 4 and her talent spotted by Sachin Nag. She represented India at the 1952 Summer Olympics. On 29 September 1959, she became the first Asian woman to swim across the English Channel. She became the first Indian sportswoman to be awarded the Padma Shri in 1960. She is the youngest Indian woman who participated in the Olympics at the age of around 12.
Arati Saha's Earlylife and Background
- Name : Arati Saha
- Born : 24 September 1940, Calcutta, Bengal
- Father Name : Panchugopal Saha
- Spouse : Dr. Arun Gupta
- Sport : Swimming
- Strokes : Freestyle, Long-distance swimming, Breaststroke
- Club : Hatkhola Swimming Club
- Coach : Sachin Nag
- Died : 23 August 1994
Arati Saha was born on 24th September 1940 in Calcutta in a middle class family. Her father Panchugopal Saha was in the armed forces and she lost her mother at the age of two and a half. She was the second child among her three siblings. Her grandmother raised her in North Kolkata. At the age of four, she used to go to the Champatala Ghat to take bath with her uncle, where she learn to swim. Seeing his daughter's interest in swimming, her father enrolled her in the Hatkhola Swimming Club. Her swimming career began at the age of five in 1946, where she won the gold medal in 110 yards freestyle at the Shailendra Memorial Swimming Competition.
Arati Saha completed her Intermediate from City College. She married to her manager Dr. Arun Gupta. They had a daughter named Archana.
Career
Arati Saha's passion for swimming ensured that her progress in the sport was quick. she won 22 state-level competitions in West Bengal between 1945 and 1951 in 100-metre freestyle, 200m breaststroke and 300m breaststroke events.
Arati Saha participated in the national championship held at Mumbai in 1948 and won silver in 100 meters freestyle and 200 meters breast stroke, and won bronze in 200 meters freestyle. In 1951 she created all India record at West Bengal state meet. She crossed 100 meters breaststroke in 1 minute 37.6 seconds and break Dolly Nazirs's all India record. she also set new state-level record in 100m freestyle, 200m freestyle and 100m back stroke at the same meet.
At the 1952 Helsinki Summer Olympics, Arati Saha represented India. At the age of 12 she participated in the Olympics and became the youngest member of the Indian contingent. she took part in 200 meters breast stroke event at the Olympics but she didn't win any medal. she lost in 100 meters freestyle to her sister Bharati Saha, after returning from the Olympics.
Journey to English Channel
Brojen Das became the first person from the Indian subcontinent to cross the English Channel and he was the first among the men at the 1958 Butlin International Cross Channel Swimming Race. Greta Andersen, a female swimmer from the United States stood first among both men and women in that event. The name of Arati Saha was proposed by Greta Andersan and Brojan Das to the organizers of the Butlin International Cross Channel Swimming Race for the next year's event.
Arati Saha used to participate in long-distance swimming competitions in the Ganges. Brojen Das and Mihir Sen encouraged Arati Saha to seriously think about participating in the event. The assistant executive secretary of Hatkhola Swimming Club took the initiative in organising Arati's participation at the event. the logistics of her trip were being arranged through funds. The Prime Minister of India, Jawahar Lal Nehru also showed interest in Arati Saha's endeavour.
Keeping the event in mind, Aarti Saha started swimming for long hours. She swam continuously for eight hours on 13 April 1959 at the pond in Deshbandhu Park. Dr. Arun Gupta and she left for England on 24 July 1959. She was mentored by Dr. Bimal Chandra during her final practice in the English Channel.
The race was scheduled for 27 August 1959, at 1 am local time from Cape Gris Nez, France to Sandgate, England. A total of 58 participants including five women from 23 countries took part in the competition. Arati Saha's pilot boat did not arrive on time and she had to start late by 40 minutes. By 11 am, she had swum more than 40 miles and came within 5 miles of the England coast. She faced a strong opposing current. After struggling for the next six hours against the current, Arati had to finally quit. She could swim only 2 miles till 4 p.m.
Arati Saha didn't give up and she prepared herself for a second attempt. She made her second attempt on 29 September 1959. The race started from Cape Gris Nez, France, after battling tough waves and powerful currents for 16 hours and 20 minutes. she covered 42 miles to reach Sandgate, England. she hoisted the Indian flag, on reaching the coast of England. All India Radio announced the achievement of Arati Saha on 30 September. This victory was not just for Arati, but for all the women of India.
Arati Saha was admitted to a private nursing home in Kolkata with jaundice and encephalitis on 4 August 1994 and after 19 days, on 23 August 1994, she died because of illness.
Awards and Honours
- In 1960, she was awarded Padma Shri
- In 1999, the Department of Posts introduced a postage stamp of her which was ₹ 3 denomination.
- A bust of Arati Saha was erected near her residence in1996.
- Arati Saha was featured as a Google Doodle on her 80th birthday in 2020.
Arati Saha inspire countless Indian women to chase their dreams, no matter how improbable they seem.
