The Mallakhamb Man

Uday Deshpande, Mallakhamb Guru, is a man on a mission.  Passionate about his belief in ‘Samartha Bharat, Sashakt Bharat’ and a heathy Globe ‘Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam’, he introduced Mallakhamb, the traditional Indian physical practice to millions around the world.

It was in the early 1970s that the then 18-year-old Uday Deshpande pledged to dedicate his life to revive, revitalise and propagate Mallakhamb. He knew that it contained the magic formula that could almost completely satisfy the human quest for vigour, vitality and eternal youth and Deshpande worked with fervour and focus to this end. Cognizant of the unique ability of the sport to use all major, minor and macro-minor muscle groups, without exerting undue pressure on the heart, he viewed Mallakhamb as a wonder sport with its unfailing formula of health and fitness. This, he believed, would be India’s gift to the world.

His first step was teaching students at Shree Samartha Vyayam Mandir (SSVM), a pioneering sports institution in Mumbai. This Charitable trust thrived under his leadership bringing thousands out to exercise. He conducted Mallakhamb demonstrations with workshops, offering detailed descriptions of its health benefits. He slowly broke barriers of urban-rural, normal-challenged, young-old, bringing everyone together on the exercise ground.  

Deshpande took Mallakhamb outside the mainstream to orphans, destitute and the differently-abled, especially making a mark with visually-challenged school girls. The opportunity to climb the pole/rope, to those who were hitherto never allowed physical activity, opened whole new horizons. Improved mobility resulting in better appetite, sleep, and weight control enriched their quality of life. Aggression was channelized. The courage, confidence, improved self-esteem, helped several such students scale the heights of success. Mallakhamb workshops across India for marginalized adivasis and vanvasis gave them good health and a sense of achievement. Today, Deshpande is the chief coach of JSW Projects and trains teachers from 50 tribal schools, to teach Mallakhamb.

At the time when exercise was the social norm for men, Deshpande brought women into the exercise ethos. This ensured exposing entire families to the exercise culture besides improving their strength, stamina and attention. Gender bias was challenged and equality ensured.

Unlike western exercise systems which require expensive equipment, Deshpande highlighted the benefits of exercising on one pole/rope. He took the rich Indian physical culture tradition to the youth and developed in them a sense of national pride.  He reached out to a diverse population of adults. Artists, circus performers, yoga enthusiasts, jawans, commandos flocked to Mallakhamb to become flexible, strong and fit. Deshpande himself travelled to almost every district, every state in India, establishing and rejuvenating several Mallakhamb centres. Mallakhamb Associations were formed and its visibility increased manifold.

Competitions were used as an important medium of outreach. Their primary goal was health awareness as Mallakhamb players did not receive any monetary benefits then. Deshpande instituted competitions and encouraged sportspersons to play competitive Mallakhamb, resulting in improved health, positive occupation, improved productivity of children and youth and better public health.

His writing and talks brought foreigners from 48 countries to SSVM to learn Mallakhamb. Deshpande used every opportunity to promote this exercise culture overseas, making Mallakhamb training a regular feature, creating global coaching facilities across six continents and reaching millions.

A force multiplier, Deshpande has created generations of students, who became passionate honorary teachers like him. He introduced education pedagogy to Mallakhamb, encouraged research and designed Teachers Training Courses for the rapid spread of expertise, from District to International Levels. One lamp has lit several others, assuring continuity in work.

A Ted speaker, Deshpande has effectively showcased the immense value that India has to offer the world through Mallakhamb. He has meticulously documented all that happens in the field and has thus created a body of knowledge ensuring that the History, the Science and the Art of Mallakhamb will be available for posterity.  Through this, his message is loud and clear - Practice Mallakhamb and create a healthy, thriving world.

Health through Mallakhamb is a goal that has consumed his life. This once non-glamorous, less-known sport, often tagged a ‘game of the poor’, which had been made obscure by colonization, has grown to international acclaim, thanks to his tireless efforts. It is today the state game of Madhya Pradesh and the central government has given grants to develop over 100 Mallakhamb centers nationwide. Needless to say, Deshpande has received many awards from the government of Maharashtra and other National and International Institutions.

With unflagging zeal, he has rendered 50 years of honorary service to the society. Previously employed with Customs and Central Excise he retired as Deputy Commissioner in 2013. Today at 70, he continues to be unstoppable in his aim to get the world to adopt Mallakhamb as the means to elevate humankind, to help human potential to unfold and evolve, and to reach new heights.

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