Former Mr Universe & ‘Pocket Hercules’ Manohar Aich Dies at 104

Legendary bodybuilder and former Mr Universe Manohar Aich dies; he was known for his short frame of 4 feet 11 inches.
Urmi Bhattacheryya
Lifestyle
Updated:
He was called ‘Pocket Hercules’ for his short frame of 4 feet 11 inches. (Photo Courtesy: Facebook/Manohar Aich)
He was called ‘Pocket Hercules’ for his short frame of 4 feet 11 inches. (Photo Courtesy: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Manohar-Aich-the-MrUniverse-1952-1466789126868768/photos">Facebook/Manohar Aich</a>)
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Former Mr Universe and celebrated bodybuilder Manohar Aich died at his home in Kolkata following old age related health complications, family sources said.

He was 104.

A widower, Aich is survived by his two sons and two daughters.

Fully fit till sometime back, Aich breathed his last at his Baguiati home in northeastern Kolkata at 2.30 pm on Sunday.

Manohar Aich at 100. (Photo Courtesy: Facebook/Manohar Aich)
Aich won the Mr Universe title in 1952, and was given the name “Pocket Hercules” due to his four feet, 11 inch frame.

In 1950, at the age of 36, Aich won the Mr Hercules contest.

In 1951 – after finishing second in the Mr Universe contest – he stayed back in London to have another go in the Pro-Short division of the Mr Universe contest, eventually winning it a year later.

Here’s a look at some glorious old photographs of the legendary bodybuilder:

In 1950, at the age of 36, Aich won the Mr Hercules contest. (Photo Courtesy: Facebook/Manohar Aich)
Mr Universe Manohar Aich in 1954 for Health and Strength magazine. (Photo Courtesy: Facebook/Manohar Aich)
Mr Universe Manohar Aich in 1956 for Health and Strength magazine. (Photo Courtesy: Facebook/Manohar Aich)

Born in Comilla district (now in Bangladesh), Aich joined the Royal Indian Air Force in 1942 – when India was still a British colony – and took up bodybuilding, encouraged by British officer Reub Martin.

Aich even kept his daily exercising routine till sometime back!

If you exercise daily you won’t fall ill. When you are young, you train to build but when you are old you train to maintain.
<b>Manohar Aich in an interview to a fitness portal, years back</b>
93-year-old Mr Universe Manohar Aich in 2006. (Photo Courtesy: Facebook/Manohar Aich)

In 1991, he contested Lok Sabha elections as a Bharatiya Janata Party candidate and finished third, collecting over 1.63 lakh votes.

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(With inputs from IANS)

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Published: 05 Jun 2016,06:14 PM IST

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