The story of the Indian Hercules begins at Veeraghattam, the ‘village of heroes’ in 1882 A.D. Kodi Rammoorthy Naidu, known to the world as the ‘Indian Hercules’ and ‘Kaliyuga Bheema’, holds a high position in the memory of Andhra Pradesh for being the first world famous wrestler from the state. His statue stands today in Vishakapatnam – depicting a broad-chested man with a handlebar moustache, his pecs bursting out of his tuxedo.
His father was a government official, and wanted his son to follow in his footsteps. Never could he have imagined that Rammoorthy would one day balance elephants on his chest, break chains with his bare hands and earn a living as a professor. But in those days Rammoorthy was not a good student at school. He was distracted by the growing signs of a freedom struggle, by the pleasures of the forest and the endless joys of play and sports.
When his father heard of Rammoorthy’s poor academic performance, he beat him black and blue. It made him run away from home, to spend a few days in the neighbouring forest. When he returned, it was alongside a tiger, casually strolling alongside him as if “it were his pet dog. Whether this is truth, or legend, is to be seen.
Worried, his father sent him to live with an uncle in Vizianagaram. It was here that he started working on his fitness. At the time, the government made physical education mandatory across all schools. It meant there was a chance not just to study but to teach as well. He returned to his studies, and delighted his father by getting a job as a drill master in the school. In 1901, he joined a college in Saidapet, Madras to teach Physical Education.
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