Hooghly : Former Indian swimming icon and Padma Shri awardee Bula Choudhury faced a devastating setback recently when over 150 of her career medals and mementos were stolen from her ancestral home in Hindmotor, Hooghly. Among the stolen treasures were numerous gold medals, including those from national and international competitions, as well as the precious Padma Shri brooch awarded to her in 2009. This incident marks the second time her medals have been looted, leaving the celebrated athlete deeply distressed and questioning the protection of such invaluable symbols of her lifetime achievements.
The theft was discovered when Bula’s brother visited the house after a period of inactivity. The medals, representing decades of hard work from the time she began competing at age nine in 1979 until her retirement, are irreplaceable trophies chronicling her illustrious career that includes crossing the English Channel twice and winning multiple SAF Games medals. The theft has sparked outrage and sorrow in the sports community, as these medals held immeasurable sentimental value beyond their physical worth.
Police quickly launched an investigation, and some medals were later recovered, with an arrest made in connection to the crime. However, the loss stands as a grim reminder of the vulnerability of cherished sporting legacies and the urgent need for better safeguarding of such historic personal honors. Bula Choudhury’s story is not just about stolen medals but about respect for the sweat and spirit that brought them home.
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