Self-History Of Brojen Das

Brojen Das (9 December 1927 – 1 June 1998) was a Bengali swimmer, who was the first Asian to swim across the English Channel, and the first person to cross it four times.

Early life and education

Brojen was born in the Kuchiamora village of Bikrampur, Bangladesh. His father was Harendra Kumar Das. He completed the matriculation exam in 1946 from KL Jubilee High School. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Vidyasagar College in Calcutta.

Swimming

Brojen meeting Queen Elizabeth after his channel crossing (1961)

Since boyhood Brojen practiced swimming in Buriganga River. After his own initiative, the East Pakistan Sports Federation introduced an annual swimming competition in Dhaka in 1953. He was invited to take part in the English Channel Swimming Competition in 1958. As a part of his training he swam in Shitalakshya River, in lower Meghna River and a distance of 46 miles starting from Narayanganj to Chandpur. Prior to the competition, he also swam in the Mediterranean Sea from Capri to Naples.

At midnight on 18 August 1958, Brojen began swimming to cross the English Channel along with other competitors from 23 countries. He completed the course on the next day after noon.

Brojen crossed the English Channel a total of 6 times from 1958 to 1961.

Achievements

Local

• Champion in 100 meter freestyle swimming competition in West Bengal in 1952.
• Champion in East Pakistan in 100, 200, 400 & 1500 meter freestyle swimming in 1953-1956.
• Champion in Pakistan in 100 & 400 meter freestyle swimming in 1955.
• Member of the Pakistan swimming team in 1956 Summer Olympic Games.

International

• Italy, July 1958, winner (placed 3rd) in the Capri Island to Naples 33-kilometer-long distance swimming competition.
• England, August 1958, secured first position among the male competitors in the Billy Butlin’s Channel Crossing Swimming Competition; 39 competitors from 23 nations participated in the competition.
• England, August 1959, successfully completed the Channel Crossing Swimming Competition from France to England.
• England, September 1959, successfully completed the Channel Swim from England to France.
• England, August 1960, successfully completed the Channel Swim from France to England.
• England, September 1961, crossed the Channel once again from France to England.
• England, September 1961, obtained the world record for the fastest swim across the English Channel from France to England.

Awards

Brojen Das receiving the Letona Trophy, 1986

• 1956: Awarded by Dhaka University
• 1960: Pride of Performance award by the Pakistan government.
• 1965: Induction into the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame
• 1986: Letona Trophy, i.e. King of the Channel from the Channel Swimming Association of the United Kingdom
• 1976: National Sports Award, Bangladesh
• Atish Dipankar Medal
• Gold Medal by Kazi Mahabubullah Trust and Jahanara Jana Kalyan Trust
• 1999: Independence Day Award, Bangladesh (posthumous)

Death

Brojen was detected to have cancer in June 1997. He died on 1 June 1998 in a clinic in Kolkata. His funeral was held at Postagola cremation site in Dhaka on 3 June 1998.