Twelve-year-old Mohammed Salman Faris from Thrissur lived out a real-life version of the story that has long inspired him — the legendary Milkha Singh’s request for a national holiday after his Commonwealth Games victory. Only this time, it played out on the village roads of Palappilly, with a heartwarming twist.
Salman, a Class 7 student from St Mary’s Lourdes School and a resident of Ollurkkara, has trained under his coach and neighbour Joby Michiel since the age of seven. Joby often shared Milkha Singh’s tale to motivate his young trainee. But on June 29, during a 12 km community run organized by the Endurance Athletes of Thrissur, that very story came to life.
District Collector Arjun Pandian had been invited to flag off the event but chose to join the run himself. Around 100 runners of all ages participated. During a hydration break, a playful challenge arose when someone joked about racing the collector. Without hesitation, Salman asked, “Sir, will you give a holiday for schools in Thrissur if I beat you?” The collector smiled and said, “Yes.”
What began as friendly banter turned into an electrifying final leg. Salman and Pandian raced shoulder-to-shoulder for the last 2.5 km. At the finish line, the collector gently nudged Salman ahead, allowing him to cross first — a symbolic win for the boy and all the children he said he represented.
The collector later declared that the next rain holiday would be in Salman’s name.
Salman has participated in over 40 marathons across Kerala and dreams of becoming the next Milkha Singh. He trains daily under Joby — running at dawn, football in the evenings, and studies at night. With a training centre beside his house set up during the lockdown, Salman has honed skills in running, long jump, and football. He regularly wins trophies and is considered a natural athlete by his coach.
Salman lives with his mother and three siblings in Thrissur, while his father works in Kuwait. Quietly determined, fiercely focused, and already building a record of achievements, Salman is running fast — not just on roads, but toward a dream.