Arati Saha was born on 24th September, 1940 to a middle class Bengali-Hindu family in Kolkata. To have lost her mother around the age of two, she was eventually raised by her grandmother in North Kolkata where she started learning to swim during her routinely baths at Champatala Ghat. Her father took notice of her interest in swimming, and admitted her to the Hatkhola Swimming Club for proper training. There she was noticed by India’s first Asian Games gold medalist, Sachin Nag who chose to train her under his mentorship, on seeing Saha’s natural inclination towards the sport. Soon after, her career kickstarted.
SHE WENT ON TO WIN 22 MEDALS BEFORE EVEN COMPLETING A DECADE IN HER CAREER. SHE BECAME THE FIRST ASIAN WOMAN TO CROSS THE ENGLISH CHANNEL, A MILESTONE WHICH WAS QUITE MALE DOMINANT.