View source for Manohar Aich

{{Short description|Indian bodybuilder}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2016}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
|name = Manohar Aich
|native_name = মনোহর আইচ
|native_name_lang = bn
|image = Manohar Aich.jpg
|caption = 
|birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1912|3|17}}<ref name="yahoo">[https://www.yahoo.com/news/blogs/abc-blogs/mr-universe-1952-turns-100-credits-healthy-lifestyle-140401391--abc-news.html?ref=gs Mr. Universe 1952 Turns 100, Credits Healthy Lifestyle, Happiness]. ''Yahoo'' (19 March 2012)</ref>
|birth_place = [[Comilla]], [[Bengal Presidency]], [[British India]] 
(now in [[Bangladesh]])<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/mar/18/indian-mr-universe-100th-birthday "Former Mr Universe celebrates his 100th birthday"], Associated Press, via ''The Guardian'' (18 March 2012)</ref>
|death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2016|6|5|1912|3|17}}
|death_place = [[Kolkata]], [[West Bengal]], [[India]]
|occupation = [[Bodybuilder]]
|nationality = [[India]]n
|ethnicity = [[Bengali Hindu]]
|religion = [[Hinduism]]
|spouse = Jyutika Aich (1924–2002)
|height = {{convert|1.50|m|abbr=on}}<ref name=Manohar>[http://www.sportskeeda.com/bodybuilding/indian-bodybuilding-legend-manohar-aich-passes-away Indian bodybuilding legend Manohar Aich passes away]. ''SportsKeeda'' (5 June 2016)</ref>
|nickname = Pocket Hercules<ref name=Manohar/>
|medaltemplates =
}}

'''Manohar Aich''' ({{lang-bn|মনোহর আইচ}}; 17 March 1912 – 5 June 2016) was an Indian [[bodybuilder]]. He was the second Indian (after [[Monotosh Roy]] in 1951) to win any [[Universe Championships|Mr. Universe]] title. He did so in the 1952 [[National Amateur Body-Builders' Association|NABBA]] [[Universe Championships]]. At {{convert|4|ft|11|in|m}} tall, he was given the name "Pocket [[Hercules]]".<ref name=clarke>{{cite web|last=Clarke|first=Suzan|title=Mr. Universe 1952 Turns 100, Credits Healthy Lifestyle, Happiness|url=https://news.yahoo.com/blogs/abc-blogs/mr-universe-1952-turns-100-credits-healthy-lifestyle-140401391--abc-news.html|publisher=ABC News Blogs|access-date=19 March 2012|date=19 March 2012}}</ref>

==Early life==
Since childhood Aich was interested in strength related sports, such as [[wrestling]] and [[Olympic weightlifting|weightlifting]]. At the age of 12, due to a sudden attack of [[Visceral leishmaniasis|black fever]], his health broke down.<ref name="abp19032012">{{cite news |title=কলকাতার কড়চা |page=4 |newspaper=[[Anandabazar Patrika]] |location=Kolkata |date=19 March 2012}}</ref> 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 [[K. L. Jubilee High School & College|K. L. Jubilee School]] in [[Dhaka]], [[Bangladesh]]. While at school, he used to go to the Ruplal Byayam Samiti for physical exercises.<ref>{{cite book |title=ব্যায়ামে বাঙালী |language=bn |trans-title=Byame Bangali |last=Ghosh |first=Anil Chandra |orig-year=1927 |date=February 2008 |publisher=Presidency Library |location=Kolkata |isbn=978-81-89466-04-6 |page=57}}</ref> He began to perform in shows titled ''Physique and Magic'' along with [[P. C. Sorcar]] in [[Dhanbad]].<ref name="abp19032012"/> He used to perform feats like bending steel with his teeth, bending spears with his neck and resting his belly on swords.<ref name="abp19032012"/>

==Career==
Aich joined the [[Royal Air Force]] in 1942 where he began his pursuit in bodybuilding. He was introduced to weight training by Reub Martin, a British officer in the RAF. While part of the RAF, Aich was imprisoned for slapping a British officer<ref name="indiatoday19032012">{{cite news |title=India's first Mr Universe turns 100 |url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/pocket-hercules-india-first-mr-universe-turns-100/1/178337.html |newspaper=India Today |date=19 March 2012 |access-date=21 March 2012}}</ref> in protest at the officer's remarks in favour of colonial oppression.<ref>https://www.thehindu.com/news/manohar-aich-former-mr-universe-turns-100/article3009156.ece</ref> Aich began his weight training seriously while in jail.<ref name="indiatoday19032012"/> He would spend hours in physical exercises. Observing his knack in physical culture, the jail authorities arranged a special diet for him.<ref name="abp20032012">{{cite news |title=আরও ২৫ টানব, আশা শতায়ু মনোহরের |url=http://www.anandabazar.com/archive/1120320/20cal1.html |newspaper=Anandabazar Patrika |location=Kolkata |date=20 March 2012 |access-date=21 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120527172243/http://www.anandabazar.com/archive/1120320/20cal1.html |archive-date=27 May 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 1950, at the age of 38, Aich won the Mr. Hercules contest. In 1951 he stood second in the Mr. Universe contest. In 1952 he placed first in the Pro-Short division of the NABBA Mr. Universe.<ref>[http://contest.bodybuilding.com/results/8982 "1952 NABBA Mr. Universe Results!"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708080728/http://contest.bodybuilding.com/results/8982 |date=8 July 2011 }}. Bodybuilding.com</ref> At the time his measurements were: biceps 46 cm, chest 1.2 m, forearm 36 cm.<ref name="bbc"/>

==Physical stats==
*Height :4'11"
*Chest :{{convert|1.37|m|in|abbr=on}}(4 ft. 6 in. )
*Biceps:{{convert|45.72|cm|in|abbr=on}}(1 ft. 6 in.)
*Forearms:{{convert|36|cm|in|abbr=on}}(1 ft. 2 in.)
*Waist :{{convert|58|cm|in|abbr=on}}

==In Politics ==

In 1991, he had also contested elections for the [[BJP]] and finished third, collecting over 163,000 votes. Also, in 2015, he was given the Banga Bibhushan Award by the West Bengal Government.<ref>[http://www.abplive.in/india-news/rip-life-and-times-of-pocket-hercules-manohar-aich-357017?gallery-image=1 "RIP: Life And Times Of ‘Pocket Hercules’ Manohar Aich"]. abplive.in (5 June 2016). </ref>

==Legacy==
Aich was India's second Mr. Universe, the first being [[:en:Monotosh_Roy|Monotosh Roy]] in 1951.

==Personal life==
In March 2012, Aich became a [[centenarian]].<ref name="Hindu18Mar12"/> He credited his good health with "a simple [[pescatarian|diet]] of milk, fruits and vegetables along with rice, [[lentils]] and fish"<ref name="Hindu18Mar12" /> and not allowing any tension to creep into his life.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.frontline.in/the-nation/pocket-hercules-19122016/article8756070.ece?homepage=true|title='Pocket Hercules' (1912-2016)|date=2016-06-22|access-date=2016-07-01}}</ref> He had two sons and two daughters.<ref name=Manohar/> His sons run a gym and a fitness centre, in which Aich helped until the last few days of his life.<ref name=Hindu18Mar12>{{cite web | url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/manohar-aich-former-mr-universe-turns-100/article3009156.ece | title=Manohar Aich, former Mr. Universe turns 100 | work=[[The Hindu]] | date=18 March 2012 | access-date=6 June 2016}}</ref>

==Death==
On 5 June 2016, Manohar Aich died in [[Kolkata]], aged 104 years.<ref name=Express>[http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/indias-first-mr-universe-manohar-aich-dies-at-104-in-kolkata-2836359/ "Manohar Aich aka Pocket Hercules dies at 104: ‘Was inspiration for all’"]. ''Indian Express'' (6 June 2016). </ref><ref name="bbc">[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-36457508 "Manohar Aich: Top Indian bodybuilder dies, aged 104"]. ''BBC'' (6 June 2016)</ref>

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
* [http://musclememory.com/show.php?a=Aich,+Monohar Monohar Aich] at [http://musclememory.com/ MuscleMemory]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Aich, Manohar}}
{{Physical culture}}

[[Category:1912 births]]
[[Category:2016 deaths]]
[[Category:Bengali Hindus]]
[[Category:Bodybuilders from West Bengal]]
[[Category:Indian bodybuilders]]
[[Category:Indian centenarians]]
[[Category:People associated with physical culture]]
[[Category:People from Comilla]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Kolkata]]