Arun Nandi

Career

In 1971, Arun Nandi gained international fame by swimming continuously for 90 hours and 5 minutes at College Square in Kolkata and created a record. He had undertaken this venture with the aim of creating awareness all over the world and collecting funds on behalf of the freedom fighters in the Bangladesh Liberation War. The prize money he received from the event was wholly given away for the welfare of the freedom fighters. Many dignitaries watched the swimming event, including Satyajit Ray, Uttam Kumar, and Brojen Das. Singer Manna Dey sang on the stage to help raise awareness among the Indian people for the struggle of Bangladesh's liberation. In 1962 Arun Nandi won the champion in the swimming competition at Chaumuhani College. In 1965, he stood second in the long-distance swim arranged by the English Channel Crossing Committee between Narayanganj and Chandpur. In the 1965-66 season, he was the second in 22-kilometer swim from Daudkandi to Narayanganj. In 1974, he became the champion by swimming 110 kilometers across the Padma, Meghna, and Buriganga rivers. He formed the Arun Nandi Swimming Club with the aim of rearing young swimmers in Chandpur. From 2003 to 2006, he was the Vice President of the Bangladesh Swimming Federation and became its member from 2006 to 2007.