Kodi Rammurthy Naidu (1882/83–1942[1]), also known as Kodi Rama Murthy Naidu, and Prof. Rammurty was an Indian bodybuilder, strongman, and wrestler. He was awarded the title of Indian Hercules by King George V.[1] He is also known by the epithets Kaliyuga Bhima (transl.Bhima of Kaliyuga), IndianSandow, Malla Marthanda.[1][2][3] He established a circus and earned a lot of money but donated it to the charitable trusts contributed a lot in the Indian independence movement.[1]
Rammurty worked as Physical Education Teacher in the Branch College of Vizianagaram. He got profound knowledge in Vayu Stambhana (en. air resistance) and Jala Stambhana (en.water resistance).[3]
His mother died when he was a child. Since the boy had become motherless, his father treated him with more care and affection in his childhood.[2] As he grew up he started quarrelling with his age group youngsters the father Venkanna sent him to Vizianagaram for his studies where he lived with his uncle who was serving there as an Inspector of Police.
Career
Joining the fitness centre
Ramamurthi and other wrestlers, c. 1912
Rammurthy joined a fitness centre in Vizianagaram and learnt kusthi, a type of wrestling. His uncle Kodi Narayana Swamy,[1] sent him to another fitness centre in Madras. He returned to Vizianagaram after one-year training and joined as a physical training instructor at a college of the state. He was a strict vegetarian and the Andhra Pradesh government devoted a chapter in the Telugu text books about the prominence of gaining strength purely based on plant based protein.
First body show
In 1911 he went to Madras and showed his skills of breaking steel chains, stopping motor cars and allowing elephant to pass over his chest before the public and government authorities. He was awarded there the title of Indian Sandow[3] for his excellence.
Established a circus company
He established a circus company at Vizianagaram with the help of his friend, Potti Panthulu. His uncommon feats attracted people from all over the country. He used to break an iron chain tied to his body by taking a deep breath and flexing his muscles. Iron chains would be tied to his shoulders and the other ends were tied to two cars and used to stop them. He took an elephant on his chest and held it for five minutes.
Impressed the lord
Then the Viceroy of British India, Lord Minto, experienced Ramamurthy's strength, when he tried to drive his car with Rammurthy holding it back with iron chains. His fame spread across the length and breadth of the country after this incident.
King George and Queen Mary were impressed with his feats and gave him the title Indian Hercules after watching his display of physical strength at Buckingham Palace.
Kaliyuga Bhima
He was the first Indian to be so honoured by the royal couple. When he put before them the historical facts of Bhima of Mahabharata and compared it with those of Greek Hercules and Prussian Sandow, the King awarded him another more prestigious title of Kaliyuga Bhima to him.
Performances abroad
This great bodybuilder performed impressive feats like stopping two cars(driving on two different directions) of 25 horse power at high acceleration[citation needed], breaking iron chains (of half inches) and holding an elephant leg on his chest, as well as juggling elephant babies[citation needed] with weights attached to them. He also performed in France, Germany, Japan and Spain.
Bullfighting in Spain
When he was in Spain the Spanish people invited him to fight the bull at ring. He entered the bullfighting ring, caught hold on a bull by its horns and threw it to the ground.[1] Although he had no experience of fighting such bulls yet he dared to do and performed it successfully.
Ramamurthy was attracted towards the freedom movement through B. Chandrayya Naidu,[1] who used to organise tribal youths against the British rulers. He earned crores of rupees through his circus company but spent a large amount of his wealth on charity and for the Freedom movement of India.
Legacy
A statue of him is erected on the Beach Road of Visakhapatnam.[1] Another statue is also situated in his home town Veeraghattam and also in his home district of Srikakulam. Kodi Rammurthy Stadium has been named after him.
References
^ abcdefghijk. The Hindu. 12 August 2002. Archived from the original on 5 May 2003.
^ abc"Kodi Rammurthy Naidu: తెరపైకి కలియుగ భీముడు". Sakshi (in Telugu). 3 November 2021. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
^ abc. Archived from the original on 6 October 2011. Retrieved 1 November 2011.
External links
Dr. Sridevi S. Kody Rammoorthy : Luminaries of Andhra Pradesh 1976 Andhra Pradesh Sahitya Academi Hyderabad.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kodi Rammurthy Naidu.
January 06, 2023
kodi, rammurthy, naidu, 1882, 1942, also, known, kodi, rama, murthy, naidu, prof, rammurty, indian, bodybuilder, strongman, wrestler, awarded, title, indian, hercules, king, george, also, known, epithets, kaliyuga, bhima, transl, bhima, kaliyuga, indian, sando. Kodi Rammurthy Naidu 1882 83 1942 1 also known as Kodi Rama Murthy Naidu and Prof Rammurty was an Indian bodybuilder strongman and wrestler He was awarded the title of Indian Hercules by King George V 1 He is also known by the epithets Kaliyuga Bhima transl Bhima of Kaliyuga Indian Sandow Malla Marthanda 1 2 3 He established a circus and earned a lot of money but donated it to the charitable trusts contributed a lot in the Indian independence movement 1 Kodi Ramamurthy NaiduBirth nameKodi Ramamurthy NaiduBorn 1883 11 03 3 November 1883 or April 1882Veeraghattam Madras Presidency British India now in Parvathipuram Manyam district Andhra Pradesh India Died1942 aged 59 60 Rammurty worked as Physical Education Teacher in the Branch College of Vizianagaram He got profound knowledge in Vayu Stambhana en air resistance and Jala Stambhana en water resistance 3 Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 2 1 Joining the fitness centre 2 2 First body show 2 3 Established a circus company 2 4 Impressed the lord 2 5 Demonstrating his physical strength 2 6 Honored by the crown 2 7 Kaliyuga Bhima 2 8 Performances abroad 2 9 Bullfighting in Spain 2 10 Contribution to charity and freedom movement 3 Legacy 4 References 5 External linksEarly life EditRammurty Naidu was born to Kodi Venkanna Naidu in the village of Veeraghattam in Srikakulam district now in Parvathipuram Manyam district of Andhra Pradesh 1 The Hindu notes his birth date as April 1882 1 while Sakshi gave the birth date as 3 November 1883 2 His mother died when he was a child Since the boy had become motherless his father treated him with more care and affection in his childhood 2 As he grew up he started quarrelling with his age group youngsters the father Venkanna sent him to Vizianagaram for his studies where he lived with his uncle who was serving there as an Inspector of Police Career EditJoining the fitness centre Edit Ramamurthi and other wrestlers c 1912 Rammurthy joined a fitness centre in Vizianagaram and learnt kusthi a type of wrestling His uncle Kodi Narayana Swamy 1 sent him to another fitness centre in Madras He returned to Vizianagaram after one year training and joined as a physical training instructor at a college of the state He was a strict vegetarian and the Andhra Pradesh government devoted a chapter in the Telugu text books about the prominence of gaining strength purely based on plant based protein First body show Edit In 1911 he went to Madras and showed his skills of breaking steel chains stopping motor cars and allowing elephant to pass over his chest before the public and government authorities He was awarded there the title of Indian Sandow 3 for his excellence Established a circus company Edit He established a circus company at Vizianagaram with the help of his friend Potti Panthulu His uncommon feats attracted people from all over the country He used to break an iron chain tied to his body by taking a deep breath and flexing his muscles Iron chains would be tied to his shoulders and the other ends were tied to two cars and used to stop them He took an elephant on his chest and held it for five minutes Impressed the lord Edit Then the Viceroy of British India Lord Minto experienced Ramamurthy s strength when he tried to drive his car with Rammurthy holding it back with iron chains His fame spread across the length and breadth of the country after this incident Demonstrating his physical strength Edit He demonstrated his skills at the Indian National Congress meeting in Allahabad Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya 1 encouraged him to perform his feats abroad and sent his team to London Honored by the crown Edit King George and Queen Mary were impressed with his feats and gave him the title Indian Hercules after watching his display of physical strength at Buckingham Palace Kaliyuga Bhima Edit He was the first Indian to be so honoured by the royal couple When he put before them the historical facts of Bhima of Mahabharata and compared it with those of Greek Hercules and Prussian Sandow the King awarded him another more prestigious title of Kaliyuga Bhima to him Performances abroad Edit This great bodybuilder performed impressive feats like stopping two cars driving on two different directions of 25 horse power at high acceleration citation needed breaking iron chains of half inches and holding an elephant leg on his chest as well as juggling elephant babies citation needed with weights attached to them He also performed in France Germany Japan and Spain Bullfighting in Spain Edit When he was in Spain the Spanish people invited him to fight the bull at ring He entered the bullfighting ring caught hold on a bull by its horns and threw it to the ground 1 Although he had no experience of fighting such bulls yet he dared to do and performed it successfully Contribution to charity and freedom movement Edit Bust of Kodi Ramamurthy Naidu in Srikakulam Information plate of the Statue in Srikakulam Ramamurthy was attracted towards the freedom movement through B Chandrayya Naidu 1 who used to organise tribal youths against the British rulers He earned crores of rupees through his circus company but spent a large amount of his wealth on charity and for the Freedom movement of India Legacy EditA statue of him is erected on the Beach Road of Visakhapatnam 1 Another statue is also situated in his home town Veeraghattam and also in his home district of Srikakulam Kodi Rammurthy Stadium has been named after him References Edit a b c d e f g h i j k Indian Hercules The Hindu 12 August 2002 Archived from the original on 5 May 2003 a b c Kodi Rammurthy Naidu త రప క కల య గ భ మ డ Sakshi in Telugu 3 November 2021 Retrieved 12 November 2022 a b c Vizianagaram District Official WebSite Archived from the original on 6 October 2011 Retrieved 1 November 2011 External links EditThe Hindu Dr Sridevi S Kody Rammoorthy Luminaries of Andhra Pradesh 1976 Andhra Pradesh Sahitya Academi Hyderabad Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kodi Rammurthy Naidu Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kodi Rammurthy Naidu amp oldid 1128351909, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
