I decided to perform my next record in DAV Public School and Junior College, Airoli, close by my residence. Significantly, my son would later be a student of the school and I had been imparting training of martial arts and gymnastics to the whole lot of students for over one year hitherto. The principal watched me perform a few records in the past that motivated him to accept my offer so I could inspire his kids to embrace sports and fitness culture for overall development of a child.
We arranged the day sans hassle, and my pure motivation was restored by the thought of so many children from my locality now waiting to be instructed in the golden tenets of the dedicated sportsman’s philosophy. To include them at a deeper level Mr Kota the principal ran an essay competition among the students with winning child receiving the honour of assisting with the record attempt. Lucky winner was ready to perform after only short briefing from me. He could not contain his excitement in fact. To be the first child and non-professional to assist in one of my records was a great honour for him and he eyed the melons like a hungry snake eyes the antelope before he swallows him. Ladders arranged in gymnasium for all the student body attending. A previously existing record so ratification was guaranteed.
The boy climbed to the top of the ladders and I lay in position beneath. Melons were passed to him by Mr Kota himself from parallel platform. Melons had been inspected and confirmed to be the genuine article, no trickery or hollowed segments and all nice and ripe for ultimate delivery.
I had gone up the ladder previously with the star student to show him where to drop the melons. Gopal Dutta stood in for me lying on the floor below and I helped the boy line up his aim in conjunction with Gopal Dutta’s solar plexus area. At this point Gopal Dutta had recovered from his tumour after several months of my close supervision and he was eager to play a hand in the attempt as marking his return to full fitness. In this instance the boy dropped a soccer ball only to replicate the trajectory and preserve Gopal Dutta from potential harm. He scored a direct hit in the intended spot. He was very happy with his success. I advised him to copy this motion closely when the real attempt began.
Lying under the ladders I received tremendous feeling of bliss. I was returning to the roots of my pure actions and all memory of my recent temptation was fading into darkness. Soon I would no longer carry the shame of it. It would be wiped out completely by my latest success under glorious banner of the children’s loving support.
Mr Kota passed the first melon to the boy and he dropped it with only slight hesitation. It scored a direct hit as practised. Next one likewise. I retreated into calm shell to absorb each impact. It was very peaceful there because I knew my meeting with the devil was over. He was far in the distance behind me and under no illusion that he would ever be welcomed back. When Gopal Dutta called time and I stirred from my trance I was a whole man again. With another World Record under my belt and pride of my community restored.
After the felicitations and photos with the student body I was invited to address the students. It was my pleasure to convey to them my advice on the best way to grow strong in body and mind. This was in years before the explosion of mobile phones and computer when the couch potato lifestyle was less of a problem and there were no malls in my locality to encourage eve-teasing and idleness of later fast food boom. My duty to instil positive habits was more easily achieved. In fact from this visit I was able to recruit many children to my karate school and some have stayed on to become black belts in adult years. My first successes as record trainer came from this batch. Six of my students created Limca records in various disciplines like step-ups, jumping jacks, cartwheels, thumb push-ups, hand rotation and forward rolls (somersaulting). All juniors from ages of six to fourteen. Over the years I have helped them develop into young people of the highest attribute owing to natural elastic quality of young limbs and lack of fear. This can be taught only if the student is willing and my role in their success is bringing me much satisfaction.
I was glad that I could motivate the youngsters to get into the competition arena. Life has certainly changed for better after having stepped into the record books as a small-time celebrity unlike film stars and cricketers. I feel great to be a person with extraordinary achievement which has been dream for others in the neighbourhood. People who know about you respect you very much for your additional calibre. That may not be sufficient to feed your stomach and family. But the passion to do something different kept me alive with utmost dignity. Clubs, institutes and associations invite you as chief guest and motivator because of your feat. I enjoy the recognition to the fullest as a common man becoming a celebrity of sorts gives me immense pleasure. I celebrate myself every other day on my own as a person having uncommon ingredients. For me every day there is a new challenge to survive and keep doing the good work to live up to the expectations of your well wishers.
At one time it was my sincere hope that my son Shubham might follow me and the young people I have trained into the record-breaking mould. He was six years old when the influx of child students first bombarded my classes and naturally keen to spend time with his father in the training. This began earlier with him imitating me while I performed my routines at home. I bought him a karate suit like mine but in small size and with a white belt to signal beginner. Shubham would wear this night and day and never take it off until he fell asleep and his mother removed it very carefully to allow washing. He was like a copy of his father in tiny scale. The kicks and punches he saw his father perform he would mirror with fine enthusiasm though technically they were inferior brand. I asked him if he wanted to join my class and he agreed sans delay. First weeks and months were a lovely time with my son never leaving my side during practice sessions in Navi Mumbai Sports Association. Many children’s voices could be heard ringing through the air in spirit of dedication but Shubham’s was the loudest because he was closest to me and his heart was full up with trying to impress his father like all boys do at this age. What a lovely feeling to know that he had chosen to make my passion his own.
I spotted the perfect chance to cement a role for him in the extreme sports field and ensure the hearts of father and son were combined for all days ahead. His great pal in the class was a boy called Dilip, who had just set a record of 6km somersaulting endurance thanks to my efforts in training him and his own indomitable thirst for excellence. Shubham was as impressed by Dilip’s achievement as anyone. This is when I asked Shubham if he would like to follow his father and his young friends into record-breaking arena. I would help him to select a suitable record and make sure he had every ingredient needed to smash it. Not only would this give Shubham a taste of the superior feeling I had enjoyed when each record fell but also would clinch a lifelong habit for the clean living and sacrifice which allows a sportsman to walk unafraid through all weathers. I told him this would make me very happy and that he would be happy also. I told him to think of a record he might wish to master. We could begin preparations as soon as he decided.
Shubham was quiet for some days after this. His tiny face clouded in high concentration as he introspected on the countless joyful moments which would open up to him when he landed on his selection. God was talking to him at this time and I did not interfere. Their conversation was private and I had no part to play in it.
This was nail-biting time for my wife. She did not understand why our son was so serious when just days before he had been running and laughing through the home. When she tried to stroke his hair he would not let her, turning his head away and going to sit on his own to facilitate clearer thinking. This made my wife cry many times.