Manohar Aich was a world-renowned bodybuilder who was born in British India (now in Bangladesh) in 1912. Aich started lifting weights at the age of 12, and by the time he was 20, he had won his first Mr. Universe title.
Nickname: Pocket Hercules
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
Manohar Aich, nicknamed “Pocket Hercules” due to his small stature, was an Indian bodybuilder. He was the first Indian to win the Mr. Universe title in 1952
Image: Mahora Aich
He went on to win the Mr. Olympia title four times, and was inducted into the Bodybuilding Hall of Fame in 1999. Aich was known for his incredible strength and conditioning, as well as his unique training methods.
In March 2012, Aich became a centenarian. He credited his good health with “a simple diet of milk, fruits and vegetables along with rice, lentils and fish” and not allowing any tension to creep into his life. He had two sons and two daughters. His sons run a gym and a fitness centre, in which Aich helped until the last few days of his life
He was also a proponent of natural bodybuilding, and was against the use of steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs. Manohar Aich passed away in 2016, but his legacy will live on forever in the world of bodybuilding.
