Former Mr. Universe who has just turned 100 said on March 18 that happiness and a life without tensions are the keys to his
longevity.
Manohar Aich, who is 4 foot 11 inches
tall, overcame many hurdles, including grinding poverty and a stint in
prison, to achieve body building glory.
Rippling his
muscles and flashing a toothless grin, Mr. Aich says his ability to
take his troubles lightly and remain happy during difficult times are
the secrets to his long life.
That, and a simple diet of milk, fruits and vegetables along with rice, lentils and fish have kept him healthy.
“I
never allow any sort of tension to grip me. I had to struggle to earn
money since my young days, but whatever the situation, I remained
happy,” Mr. Aich said, sitting in a room decorated with posters and
pictures of his many bodybuilding triumphs.
Mr.
Aich, who was born in the small town of Comilla in Bengal, was a puny
youngster. But he was attracted to exercising and building his muscles
when as a schoolboy he saw a group of wrestlers in action.
After
leaving school in 1942, he joined the Royal air force under India’s
British colonial rulers and it was there that he began his relentless
pursuit of body building.
Encouraged by a British
officer named Reub Martin, who introduced him to weight training, Mr.
Aich earned praise for his physique from his peers in the air force.
Some years later, however, he was thrown into prison when he protested against colonial oppression.
“It
was in the jail that I began weight training seriously. This helped me
prepare myself for the world championship,” said Mr. Aich.
“In jail I used to practice on my own, without any equipment, sometimes for 12 hours in a day,” he recalled.
But the jail authorities were impressed with his perseverance and he was given a special diet to help build his stamina.
India’s
independence in 1947 led to Mr. Aich’s release from jail. Dogged by
poverty, Mr. Aich and his wife struggled to put their four children
through school. There was little cash to indulge his passion for body
building, but Mr. Aich took up odd jobs to earn a little on the side.
In
1951, Mr. Aich came second in the contest, and stayed on in London to
prepare for another shot at the title. He returned to India after
winning the title in 1952.
What followed were a host
of awards, including top positions in Asian Body building
Championships. Over the years, he also earned the more popular title of
“Pocket Hercules” due to his 4 foot 11 inch—frame.
Six
decades later, Mr. Aich helps his sons run a gym and fitness centre and
spends his days guiding juvenile hopefuls to reach the heights of body
building that he did.
A minor stroke last year has
robbed him of the ability to lift weights, but he keeps a watchful eye
on young body builders training in his gym.
Although
his two sons did not take up body building, Mr. Aich says his mentoring
has earned him rewards. It has produced India’s eight-time national
champion, Satya Paul. Another protege, Premchand Dogra, snagged the Mr.
Universe title in 1988.
