Ranjit Bhatia Explained

Ranjit Bhatia (27 May 1936 – 9 February 2014) was an Indian athlete and journalist who ran in the marathon and 5000 meters events at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome.[1] [2]

Biography

Ranjit Bhatia was born on 27 May 1936. He studied at the Lawrence School, Sanawar.[3] He then attended Oxford University as a Rhodes scholar, matriculating from Jesus College in 1957.[4]

Bhatia was an active athlete, both at Oxford (awarded a Blue) as well as a member of the Belgrave Harriers. He participated in the 1960 Rome Olympics, coming 60th in the marathon and participating in heats of the 5000 metres race.[5]

Following a long battle with Parkinson's disease,[6] Bhatia died on 9 February 2014 in Delhi.

Career

Following his graduation from Oxford, Ranjit Bhatia returned to India. In 1960, he joined St. Stephen's College, Delhi to teach Mathematics.[7] He remained there until his retirement as Reader.

He was a sports writer and presenter. He wrote for Athletics Weekly and covered several Olympic Games for Indian newspapers, including The Statesman.[8] [9]

Bhatia was an active member of the Association of Track and Field Statisticians. He was also a national-level selector for Indian athletics between 1976 and 1984.

Among his written works are the Handbook of Indian Athletics,[10] and the Book of Asian Games.[11]

Ranjit Bhatia was an administrator for the Indian chapter of the Rhodes Scholarships from 1962 till his retirement in 1997.[12]

Awards

For his services to the Rhodes Trust and athletics, Bhatia was awarded the OBE.[13]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Sports Reference: Ranjit Bhatia . https://web.archive.org/web/20200418072735/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/bh/ranjit-bhatia-1.html . dead . 2020-04-18 . 2014-02-09 . Sports Reference.
  2. http://www.ststephens.edu/alumni/hof.htm St Stephen's Alumni Hall of Fame.
  3. Prabhsharan Singh Kang, Leadership through Initiative and Innovation A Case Study on Sanawar at sirtaj.net, accessed 7 March 2012
  4. Old Members' News. De'Ath. John. Jesus College, Oxford. The Jesus College Record. 1998. 58.
  5. Web site: Belgrave Olympians. 12 February 2014. Belgrave Harriers.
  6. Belgravia Harrier Newsletter. Grapevine. 1. 7. 17 October 2004.
  7. Book: B. G. Verghese. Tomorrow's India, Another Tryst with Destiny. 2006. Penguin Books India. 978-0-670-05863-1. 343.
  8. News: 9 February 2014. Distance runner Olympian Ranjit Bhatia passes away. https://archive.today/20140212103258/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2014-02-09/athletics/47167932_1_indian-athletics-milkha-singh-athletics-federation. dead. The Times of India. 12 February 2014.
  9. News: The Statesman. Editorial: Gentleman athlete. 12 February 2014.
  10. Book: Ranjit Bhatia. Reebok Handbook of Indian Athletics. 1999. Full Circle. 978-81-7621-051-5.
  11. Book: Ranjit Bhatia. Sangam Book of Asian Games. 1982. Sangam Books. 978-0-86131-372-3.
  12. Encyclopedia: The History of the Rhodes Trust. Anthony Kenny. The Rhodes Trust and its Administration. Anthony Kenny. 2001. Oxford University Press. 95. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140221121748/http://www.systemdns.us:9722/loc.svr.b/books/ROHDS-0-19-920191-9.pdf. 21 February 2014.
  13. News: The Times of India. Ranjit Bhatia: A scholar, a sportsman. 12 February 2014. K. Datta.

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