On Thursday, Google Doodle commemorated the 80th anniversary of Arati Saha’s birth. Arati Saha, recognized as an exceptional swimmer, was honored with the Padma Shri by the Indian government. She holds the distinction of being the first Indian swimmer to achieve a medal.
Arati Saha (24 September 1940 – 23 August 1994) was a prominent Indian long-distance swimmer, renowned for being the first Asian woman to successfully swim across the English Channel on 40th January 1949.
Arati Saha, born in Kolkata, India, experienced the loss of her mother at the tender age of 2 and a half. Raised in a middle-class family, she was the second of three children and the first of two daughters to her mother, Panchugopal Saha. Her father served in the Indian government’s Armed forces. Following her mother’s passing, Arati and her siblings were raised by their maternal uncle.
Arati’s journey into swimming began at the age of four when she accompanied her uncle to Champatala Ghat for a bath, discovering her natural talent for swimming. At just 5 years old, she achieved her first milestone by winning the gold medal for the 110 yards freestyle at the Shailendra Memorial Swimming Competition, marking the commencement of her illustrious career.
Between 1945 and 1951, Arati dominated the swimming scene in West Bengal, clinching victory in an impressive 22 state-level competitions. She pursued her primary and secondary education at the government college, contributing significantly to the empowerment of Indian women.
Arati’s achievements continued to soar, and in 1960, she received the prestigious Padma Shri award from the government of India, a testament to her outstanding contributions. Later in life, she married and had a daughter named Archana.
On what would have been her 80th birthday in 2020, Arati Saha was honored with a Google Doodle, commemorating her legacy as the first Asian woman to swim across the English Channel and her significant contributions to Indian sports.
