Brojen Das

Brojen Das (; 9 December 1927 – 1 June 1998) was a Bangladeshi (East Pakistan) swimmer who was the first Asian to swim across the English Channel and the first person to cross it six times.

Early life and education

Brojen was born in the Kuchiamora village of Bikrampur, Bengal Presidency, British India (now Munshiganj, Bangladesh). His father was Harendra Kumar Das. He completed the matriculation exam in 1946 from K. L. Jubilee High School (now K. L. Jubilee High School & College). He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Vidyasagar College in Calcutta.

Achievements

Local Champion in the 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.

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

1956: Awarded by Dhaka University 1959: 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 went to Calcutta, India, for treatment and died there on 1 June 1998. His funeral was held at the Postagola cremation site in Dhaka on 3 June 1998.