{"id":4529,"date":"2016-10-27T13:21:33","date_gmt":"2016-10-27T07:51:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.barusahib.org\/?p=4529"},"modified":"2024-11-21T16:33:48","modified_gmt":"2024-11-21T11:03:48","slug":"first-kenya-indian-and-the-first-sikh-ever-to-win-an-international-rally","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/first-kenya-indian-and-the-first-sikh-ever-to-win-an-international-rally\/","title":{"rendered":"First Kenya Indian and the First SIKH ever to win an International Rally"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_88 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/first-kenya-indian-and-the-first-sikh-ever-to-win-an-international-rally\/#The_Flying_Sikh_Joginder_Singh_Bhachus_Inspirational_Journey\" >The Flying Sikh: Joginder Singh Bhachu\u2019s Inspirational Journey<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/first-kenya-indian-and-the-first-sikh-ever-to-win-an-international-rally\/#The_Legend_of_Speed_in_Kenya\" >The Legend of Speed in Kenya<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/first-kenya-indian-and-the-first-sikh-ever-to-win-an-international-rally\/#International_Recognition_and_Achievements\" >International Recognition and Achievements<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/first-kenya-indian-and-the-first-sikh-ever-to-win-an-international-rally\/#A_Passion_for_Cars_from_Childhood\" >A Passion for Cars from Childhood<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/first-kenya-indian-and-the-first-sikh-ever-to-win-an-international-rally\/#A_Lion_Among_Men_The_Legacy_of_Joginder_Singh_Bhachu\" >A Lion Among Men: The Legacy of Joginder Singh Bhachu<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Flying_Sikh_Joginder_Singh_Bhachus_Inspirational_Journey\"><\/span>The Flying Sikh: Joginder Singh Bhachu\u2019s Inspirational Journey<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Not many know of this ace rallyist known as the &#8220;Flying Sikh&#8221;. The journey of Joginder Singh Bhachu from the small town of Kandola Khan in Phillaur in Jalandhar district to a motor rallying legend in Kenya is a story that has inspired an entire generation.<\/p>\n<p>Joginder was the first Kenya Indian and the first Sikh ever to win an international rally. He also had the distinction of being the first man to win the Safari Rally three times. He died of heart failure in London, aged 81 on October 20, 2013.But mention his name anywhere in the east African continent and you will hear stories of the man who was known as the &#8220;Simba of Kenyan safari world&#8221; and the &#8220;Flying Sikh&#8221;.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Legend_of_Speed_in_Kenya\"><\/span>The Legend of Speed in Kenya<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Bhachu was synonymous with speed in Kenya. Kids idolized him, adults loved his daredevil driving.His successful rallying career took off in 1958 and spanned 22 years.Late president MzeeJomo Kenyatta gave him the title &#8220;Simba wa Kenya or Simbya of Kenya&#8221;.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"International_Recognition_and_Achievements\"><\/span>International Recognition and Achievements<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>In the late 70&#8217;s he was seeded and ranked as a World Class Priority `A&#8217; driver. In 1995, he was inducted into the Coco-Cola Hall of Fame &#8211; a tribute given only to Kenya&#8217;s top sportsmen. The same year, the Sikh Supreme Council of Kenya bestowed their appreciation for his distinguished service to furtherance of Sikhism. He made history in 1965 with his younger brother Jaswant, when they became the first men of non-European race to win a major international rally driving a Volvo PV544.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_Passion_for_Cars_from_Childhood\"><\/span>A Passion for Cars from Childhood<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>His elder brother, Davinder Singh recalls, &#8220;I remember our mother say ing that Joginder was very keen on cars even as a child. He joined as a patrol man rescuing stranded people whose cars had broken down. In due course of time he began to participate in motor rallies. He lost his left thumb while greasing the chain on a diesel powered generator in his earlier days, but that didn&#8217;t stop him from driving.&#8221; His wife, Satpal Kaur Bhachu, shares, &#8220;We were together for the last 57 years.. Underneath all the toughness, there was a vulnerability that I saw from the first day I met him..&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>His son, Jatinder Singh Bhachu says, &#8220;He was respected for his humility , his down-to-earth approach to life, his warmth, frankness and sincerity . He worked very hard throughout his life, against all odds, to achieve what he wanted.<\/p>\n<p>Ashok Bhalla, general manager at the East African Safari said Joginder was a close friend. I had the opportunity to navigate for him in a local rally in 1970. During surveys, he would be very particular on how to grade the corners and the roughness of the route. He would always dictate his own understanding of the route in order to maximize his speed during the event. Very soft spoken and humble, he was always available to teach and guide anyone on rallying.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_Lion_Among_Men_The_Legacy_of_Joginder_Singh_Bhachu\"><\/span>A Lion Among Men: The Legacy of Joginder Singh Bhachu<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Nairobi-based motorsport photographer Anwar Sidi, said Joginder was the Sim ba (lion) for Africans. &#8220;His fame grew like wild fire, especially in 1965, when he entered a Volvo P244 and won against the white drivers. It was only in 2001 that we met in the Rift Valley and struck friendship. Joginder was a genius. &#8216;Always respect religion,&#8221; he told me in 2005 when he flagged off the East African Classic Safari Rally.&#8221;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Flying Sikh: Joginder Singh Bhachu\u2019s Inspirational Journey Not many know of this ace rallyist known as the &#8220;Flying Sikh&#8221;. The journey of Joginder Singh Bhachu from the small town of Kandola Khan in Phillaur in Jalandhar district to a motor rallying legend in Kenya is a story that has inspired an entire generation. Joginder [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4531,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"image","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/First-Kenya-Indian-and-the-First-SIKH-ever-to-win-an-International-Rally.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[59],"tags":[],"post_folder":[],"class_list":["post-4529","post","type-post","status-publish","format-image","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-honour-and-respect","post_format-post-format-image"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4529","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4529"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4529\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4708,"href":"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4529\/revisions\/4708"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4531"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4529"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4529"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4529"},{"taxonomy":"post_folder","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/barusahib.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/post_folder?post=4529"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}