The Hindu : National : Budhia vows not to hit the track

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Thursday, Aug 16, 2007
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Budhia vows not to hit the track

Bhubaneswar: Wonder kid Budhia Singh on Wednesday said he would never hit the tracks again as he unfurled the tricolour in the Atsalia Sahi slum where he has been living after being separated from his trainer, Biranchi Das.

The seven-year-old was the major attraction at the city’s biggest slum after shifting there with his mother and three sisters. “It’s a busy day for me as many people invited me to their functions,” Budhia told PTI.

Budhia, who rose to fame by running 65 km at a stretch from Puri to Bhubaneswar on May 2, 2006, unfurled the tricolour to the strains of the national anthem at an event organised by the Nirman Sramik Samiti, a body of construction workers. “I don’t understand what the national anthem means. I am not going to school now,” he said. adding he was told that India got freedom on this day in 1947.

Budhia, who was admitted to the city’s posh Buxi Jagabandhu English medium school close to the State Judo Association’s office, has not attended classes since he was separated from Mr. Das on July 27. The boy received an icecream from the organisers along with other slum children and appeared relaxed.

“I am a free bird in the slum. There is no one to guide me or order me to undertake running practice every morning,” he said. — PTI

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