Army felicitates Murlikant Petkar, real-life hero on whom film Chandu Champion is based

On Saturday, when Indian Army’s Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers marked its 81st Raising Day in Pune, speaking about Petkar, who was felicitated on the occasion, Southern Army Commander Lieutenant General Ajai Kumar Singh said, “In a world seeking heroes, we are privileged to be in the presence of a titan. His life epitomizes dedication, resilience, and grit.”

Born on November 1, 1944 ,in Maharashtra’s Sangli, Petkar won the gold in the 50-metre freestyle swimming event in the 1972 Summer Paralympics held at Heidelberg in Germany. It was during the 1965 Indo-Pak war when Petkar sustained nine bullet injuries, resulting in permanent disability.

“One bullet still remains lodged in my spine as a reminder. I spent 16 months in various hospitals, fighting a battle for my recovery. The doctors suggested I take up swimming to help my recovery. It soon became my passion,” remembers 79-year-old Petkar, who now lives in Pune. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 2018.

Petkar’s medal tally includes an awe-inspiring 12 gold medals in international events, 34 golds at the national level and 40 golds at the state-level.

His sports journey however began by representing the Indian Army in boxing in Tokyo.

The event in Pune that marked the 81st EME Corps Day concluded with Petkar himself recounting tales of triumph.

The EME Corps is responsible for the maintenance and sustenance of the vast spectrum of equipment held on the inventory of the Indian Army.