The Englishman who won medals for India

India has won a total of 26 medals, including 11 gold medals in 23 summer Olympic Games, while 10 medals have come in the last 3 Games, indicating that the country is gradually progressing in Olympic sports. We all take pride in the fact that India won 8 gold medals in field hockey – our national game. First of these medals came in 1928, and that was our first Olympic gold medal. But India won its first ever medal, whether team or individual, way back in 1900 when Modern Olympic Games had just started and were not so popular even in Europe. The medallist was an Indian-born Englishman, Norman Gilbert Pritchard.

Norman Pritchard was born on 23^rd June 1875 at Alipore, a suburb in Kolkata. An athlete and a footballer, he participated in 5 track events in 1900 Paris Games and won 2 silver medals in 200 metres and 200 metre hurdles. With that, he became the first Indian and Asian to win medals in Olympic Games. But Alas! That is all which remains of the record.

In late 1990s and early 2000s, there were controversies as to which country Pritchard represented in 1900 Olympics – India or Great Britain. The late British historian, Ian Buchanan claimed with substantial proof that in 1900, Pritchard, living in India that time, went to Britain to participate in athletic meets, few weeks before the Paris Games. Whether he was invited to Britain or not is still not clear as he had been successful in being the champion in various races for Bengal Presidency Athletic Club during the 1890s. Living up to his standards, he won the races in Britain too. He also participated in British AAA Championships which were the trials for the Olympics and subsequently qualified for it. However, he participated in the AAA championships as a member of London Athletic Club. The fact that in Olympics he participated as a member of both London Athletic club and Bengal Presidency Athletic club gives rise to the controversy. At present, International Assosiation for Athletics Federations(IAAF) regards Norman Pritchard’s achievements for Britain, but International Olympic Committee(IOC) officially considers his medals were won for India.

Even after the international recognition, India has not given him as much importance as it has given to its 1^st Olympic individual winner after Independence, K.D. Jadhav – a bronze medal in wrestling. It is definitely a moment of pride for an independent India, and I revel in that. But shouldn’t we give a thought for Norman Pritchard? Although many people might reason that he won the medals for his parent country, or he won it to prove his worth in the international arena, regardless of which club he represented. Moreover, some might say that all this happened when India was under the British Crown, even when the concept of Swaraj was in its early stages. I firmly believe that he should be given more recognition in India than just a mention of being India’s 1^st Olympic medallist. After all, India hasn’t won a medal in athletics since then, though Milkha Singh and P.T. Usha came close to winning one. Also, India won 3 of its 8 gold medals in hockey under the British rule, but we count them India’s medal laurels and not Britain’s.

Does that imply that Norman Pritchard should be posthomously conferred with a national award? Not necessarily. We should celebrate the fact that an atletic club of India helped an athlete to train and develop into a great sprinter, showcase his ability to the world and came second-best among the top sprinters in the world at that time. This also proves that India has potential of creating world-class athletes. Even if the Indian Government confers a national award to Norman Pritchard posthomously, I don’t think we should create any controversy regarding that, rather revel in the fact that an Englishman won Olympic medals for India.

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