| Solution | On September 27, 1958, he soared to fame when he achieved the remarkable feat of crossing the English Channel from Dover to Calais [5], accomplishing it in the fourth fastest time ever recorded, completing the challenging swim in 14 hours and 45 minutes. His triumphant return to India marked him as a national hero, and he emerged as one of the prominent youth icons of his generation. In recognition of his extraordinary achievement, Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru bestowed upon him the prestigious Padma Shri award in 1959. |
