Pocket Hercules

Comments

Login or register to add a comment

Excellent work Pratim. Manohar was a very inspirational man, he exercised almost to his last day. I have many pen and ink pictures of various bodybuilders who inspired me in my youth. I may get round to adding them to my gallery one day!

Thanks Res. Keith Phipps.... how is my Tribute work of Md. Ali?

Paying Homage to the “Pocket Hercules of India” Centenarian Manohar Aich… coloured Pencil on Violet tinted scrapbook paper….2016…Manohar Aich (17 March 1912 – 5 June 2016) was an Indian bodybuilder. He was the second Indian (after Monotosh Roy in 1951) to win any Mr. Universe title and the first Indian to win the title post-independence. He did so in the 1952 NABBA Universe Championships. At 4 feet 11 inches (1.50 m) tall, he was given the name "Pocket Hercules". Since childhood Aich was interested in strength related sports, such as wrestling and weightlifting. At the age of 12, due to a sudden attack of black fever, his health broke down. He regained his strength, however, by physical fitness exercises. He started bodybuilding exercises such as doing push-ups, squats, pull-ups, leg raises and traditional sit-ups. He only did bodyweight/calisthenics exercises with up to 100 reps per set at that age. He attended the Jubilee School in Dhaka. While at school, he used to go to t