Manohar Aich, the bodybuilder who became the first Indian to take the Mr. Universe title in 1952 and won the nickname “Pocket Hercules” for his tiny stature, has died aged 104. However, the Indian in him always rooted him to the ground.
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After getting a job as a physical instructor in the Royal Air Force in British India in 1942, Mr Aich led his team to rebel against what he felt was the “oppression” of their British commanders. A court-martial and jail time ensued but it turned out to be a blessing in disguise.
Aich’s journey started as a coconut vendor at Sealdah station.
When Mr Aich competed in the 1952 Mr Universe contest in London, his statistics were awe-inspiring: bicep 46cm, chest 1.2m when swollen, forearm 36cm and wrist 16.5cm.
“He had once told me, “I had to work as a bus conductor in London to live there and train”, and he was so determined he won it next year”, Ashim Mallik, a former body-builder who had seen Aich from close quarters, told IANS. He lost the contest, but stayed there to run for the second time.
That was just the beginning.
“He made us proud”, Ms Banerjee said. “His mantra to stay healthy was simple healthy eating and exercise”, Khokan added. With his death a gloom also descended on the body building fraternity of the city.
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After suffering a stroke, Aich lamented that he could not hit the gym anymore as the stroke had restricted his movement. “In fact, he encouraged it”, Aich told the Indian Express newspaper in an interview to mark his 100th birthday.
