Who was the first Indian to successfully swim across the English Channel?

Introduction / Context:
Swimming across the English Channel is regarded as one of the most challenging open water feats in the world due to cold temperatures, currents and shipping traffic. Several Indians have completed this swim, and their achievements often appear in competitive exams. This question asks for the first Indian to accomplish this crossing.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The landmark is the first successful English Channel swim by an Indian.
• The options list Indian names from sports and general history.
• More than one person in the options may be associated with long distance swimming.

Concept / Approach:
Mihir Sen is recognised as the first Indian, and one of the earliest from the developing world, to swim across the English Channel in nineteen fifty eight. Arati Saha also famously swam the Channel, but she followed later and is known as the first Asian woman to do so. The correct approach is to distinguish between first Indian overall and first Indian woman.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall notable Indian long distance swimmers and their achievements.Step 2: Identify Mihir Sen as the person who completed the English Channel swim in nineteen fifty eight.Step 3: Remember that Arati Saha crossed in nineteen fifty nine and holds the record as the first Asian woman rather than the first Indian overall.Step 4: Eliminate the other names that are not connected with this specific achievement and choose Mihir Sen.

Verification / Alternative check:
One can verify by linking dates: Mihir Sen's swim in nineteen fifty eight is usually mentioned along with his later crossings of other seas, while Arati Saha's nineteen fifty nine achievement is framed as a major milestone for women in swimming. P. K. Banerji and V. Merchant do not feature prominently in records of Channel swimming, so this supports the conclusion.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
P. K. Banerji is not recorded as the first Indian Channel swimmer and appears here as a distractor. V. Merchant is better known as a cricketer rather than a long distance swimmer. Arati Saha, although a celebrated swimmer, is not the first Indian overall but the first woman from Asia to perform the feat, which does not match the exact wording of the question. The option "None of the above" is wrong because there is a correct named person, Mihir Sen.

Common Pitfalls:
Candidates often confuse similar achievements when they involve the same event but different categories, such as first Indian, first woman, or first Asian. Another pitfall is to answer based on partial memory of Arati Saha's story without realising that Mihir Sen came slightly earlier. Careful reading of phrases like first Indian and first Indian woman can prevent such errors.

Final Answer:
The correct answer is Mihir Sen.