Manohar Aich

On 5 June 2016, Manohar Aich died in Kolkata, aged 104 years.

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.

In 1991, he had also contested elections for the BJP and finished third, collecting over 163,000 votes. Also, in 2015, he was given the Banga Bibhushan Award by the Government of West Bengal.

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. At the time his measurements were: biceps 46 cm, chest 1.2 m, forearm 36 cm.

Aich joined the Royal Air Force in 1942 where he began his pursuit in bodybuilding. He was introduced to weight training by Reub Martin, a British officer in the RAF. While part of the RAF, Aich was imprisoned for slapping a British officer in protest at the officer's remarks in favour of colonial oppression. Aich began his weight training seriously while in jail. He would spend hours in physical exercises. Observing his knack in physical culture, the jail authorities arranged a special diet for him.

Manohar Aich (Bengali: মনোহর আইচ; 17 March 1912 – 5 June 2016) was an Indian bodybuilder. He was the second Indian (after Monotosh Roy in 1951) to win any Mr. Universe title. He did so in the 1952 NABBA Universe Championships. At 4 feet 11 inches (1.50 m) tall, he was given the name "Pocket Hercules".