The adage ‘never say never’ was surely coined with Dagadu Bhamre in mind! The silver recently completed his first marathon event—the Harmony Senior Citizens’ Run of the Standard Chartered Marathon held in Mumbai on 15 January—at the age of 103.

Having walked 4.3 km to the finish line, without pausing even for a sip of water, Bhamre is all pumped up and says he wants to compete in as many marathons as he can. “I thoroughly enjoyed it and got to interact with so many people; some were even from my own hometown, Malegaon [in Maharashtra],” says the centenarian. “If I get another chance, I will come back and, this time too, I will be the one leading, and leaving everyone, young or old, behind.”

This is no idle boast. Bhamre is in great shape, something he credits to a healthy diet, ample exercise and lots of walking. He says, “My day starts at 5 am sharp. I go out for my routine walk, no matter which son’s place I am staying at, then I take a nap after coming back, eat lunch and then I walk again. I make sure to walk after every meal.”

Bhamre has six sons and two daughters scattered across different cities in India. Even though he has plenty of options, he always celebrates his birthday in Mumbai at the home of his daughter Mrunalini Wani, 59, and son-in-law Subash Wani, 63, who enrolled him for the marathon.

“We took a train to CST, and then walked from the station to the starting point of the marathon,” says Subash. “After the marathon, we walked some more as there were many people who wanted to meet him and take pictures. By the end of it, my wife and I were tired but my father-in-law was still smiling and ready to walk some more!” Adds a doting Mrunalini, “He is far more active than I am and has even attended the Nasik Kumbh Mela. We have enrolled him with the Prabhat Mitra Mandal, a senior citizens’ group here, where he loves spending time. He is an inspiration, not only to me and my family but every generation in our family.” Indeed.

—Aakanksha Bajpai

Photo: Smit Patel
Featured in Harmony — Celebrate Age Magazine
February 2017