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Kodi Rammurthy Naidu (1882-1942) 'Kaliyuga Bhima' of North Eastern Andhra Pradesh, India. He was born at Veeraghattam in Srikakulam district.

Rammurthy joined a fitness centre in Vizianagaram and learnt wrestling. His uncle Kodi Narayana Swamy, a Police Inspector sent him to a fitness centre in Madras. He returned to Vizianagaram after one year training and joined as a physical training instructor at the high school.

He started a circus company. His feats attracted people 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.

He demonstrated his skills at the Indian National Congress meeting in Allahabad. Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya encouraged him to perform his feats abroad and sent his team to London.

The King George and Queen Mary of England, were impressed with his feats and gave him the title "Indian Hercules". He was the first Indian to be so honoured by the royal couple. He also performed in France, Germany and Spain.

He earned crores of rupees through his circus company but spent a large amount of his wealth on charity and for the Freedom movement.

[edit] References

1. http://vizianagaram.ap.nic.in/

2. The Hindu[1]

3. Kody Rammoorthy (1880-1938): Luminaries of Andhra Pradesh by Dr. S. Shridevi, Andhra Pradesh Sahithya Akademi, Hyderabad, First edition: 115-120, 1976.