Berhampur: He had a knack for sculpting a chiseled body when he was in his teens. Working out, keeping fit and toning the muscles, Berhampur’s Dandapani Sahu was a perfect recipe for clinching medals at body building contests. And he won several of those during youth.
However, post marriage, and responsibilities that came alongwith, Sahu’s long cherished dream confronted a hiatus. But the burdens of daily chores could not keep him from working out and maintaining a balanced diet, and the desire to excel at events, burning.
Sahu startled co-residents of Berhampur and his contemporaries, when he won the title of ‘Ganjam Shree’ at the age of 72. Though the category he clinched was for senior citizens, the jaw-dropping fitness and well-honed muscles put young guns to shame.
At the age of 17, Sahu was inspired by a body builder at a circus. Ever since, he nurtured the dream of being one. With determination and committment Sahu won his first medal in 1967 at an event in Puri and repeated the saga at Cuttack an year later.
Age is just a number, and the 72-year-old Sahu testifies this phrase. In the age of fast-food and faster ways of leading lives, Sahu sets an example in terms of living a healthy life with balanced diet, and regular workouts. At this age, when most of his counterparts would prefer to sit back at home and relax, Sahu aims at winning a National contest.
Sahu is a life member of Berhampur’s Veer Hanuman Club, an institution he has been connected with for the last four decades. Young members of the club say that he is a legend for them and they draw inspiration from Sahu. “It is difficult to maintain such a disciplined regime at a ripe age, but Sahu has defied norms. He is our mentor, our pride,” they said.
