NEW DELHI: Many in India woke up to a pleasant surprise on Thursday as Google remembered legendary Indian swimmer Arati Saha by dedicating the day’s doodle to her, on what would have been her 80th birthday.
Saha was the first Asian woman to swim across the English Channel on September 29, 1959. She covered a distance of 67.5 km from Cape Gris Nez, France to Sandgate, England in 16 hours and 20 minutes. Upon reaching the English side of the Channel, she hoisted the Indian flag. This was her second attempt at crossing the Channel.
Later, during several interviews over the years, Saha mentioned that she was inspired by another long distance swimmer, Mihir Sen, who was the first Indian to swim the English Channel (in 1958).
Following her spectacular feat, she was awarded the Padma Shri in 1960, becoming the first Indian sportswoman to be given the honour.
In 1999, the Indian postal department celebrated her accomplishment by unveiling a Rs 3 postage stamp in her name. Saha also represented India in the 1952 Helsinki Olympics at a tender age of 11.
Saha was born in a middle-class Bengali family in Kolkata, the second of three children. She started swimming at an early age of four on the banks of Hooghly river and won her first gold medal in swimming as a 5-year-old. Her talent was spotted and honed by one of the country’s best of the time, Sachin Nag.
Thursday’s doodle is a depiction of Saha swimming along with a compass and a view of the ocean, in reference to her journey across the English Channel. It was illustrated by fellow Kolkata native, artist Lavanya Naidu.
Saha passed away in 1994 after battling acute jaundice and encephalitis.