Arati Saha (English: Arati Saha, born- 24 September, 1940, Kolkata; died- 23 August, 1994) was a famous female swimmer of India. She was the first female swimmer from India and Asia who swam across the English Channel. Arati Saha did this feat on 29 September, 1959 and was awarded ‘Padma Shri’ in 1960. Arati Saha was the first Indian female athlete to receive ‘Padma Shri’. She is called “Hindustani Mermaid”.
Introduction
Aarti Saha was born on 24 September 1940 in Kolkata, West Bengal. She belonged to a simple Bengali Hindu family. Her full name is Aarti Saha Gupta. Her father’s name was Panchugopal Saha. Aarti was the second of her father’s three children and the eldest of two sisters. Her father was an ordinary employee in the armed forces. When Aarti was two and a half years old, her mother died. Her elder brother and younger sister Bharti were kept with their maternal uncle, while Aarti stayed with her grandmother. Career
Sachin Nag recognized Aarti Saha’s swimming talent and started working on honing it.1949In 2005 Aarti won state level swimming competitions including an all India record. She also won the state level swimming competition in the year1952He also participated in the Helsinki Olympics in 1991.[1]
Awards and Honours
Aarti Saha was awarded the ‘Padma Shri’ in 1960. She was the first Indian female sportsperson to receive the ‘Padma Shri’. India Post also released a postage stamp in 1998 to inspire women from her life.
Death
Aarti Saha died on 23 August 1994 in West Bengal. The cause of her death is believed to be jaundice, but before her death she had made her life immortal with her achievements.
