Manohar Aich, India's first Mr Universe, turned
100 on Sunday, 18th March 2012. Nicknamed 'Pocket Hercules' because of his
compact 4-foot-11-inch frame, Aich won the world bodybuilding title in 1952.
He overcame many hurdles, including poverty and a stint in jail, before he
won the Mr Universe title. Aich says the secret to long life is a healthy
diet and his ability to be happy. In 1942, Aich joined the RAF and took to
weight training. Some years later he was jailed for protesting against
colonial oppression and that is when he began weight training effectively.
In 1950, he won a Mr Hercules contest and this spurred him on to set his
sights on the Mr Universe tournament in London, which he eventauly won in
1952. After that he went on to win several contests, including the Asian
Bodybuilding Championship.
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