When many men his age struggle to walk without support, Air Marshal PV Iyer (Retd) goes for a run every morning. At 93, he stands straight and shakes hands firmly to send a message. In his case age is really just a number. book by famous japanese writer haruki murakami what i talk about when i talk about running Running has attracted thousands to take up running but Iyer had ‘fallen in love’ with this daily routine long before.
author of fit any age, he received praise from Amitabh Bachchan for his bestselling book. Known for his relentless dedication towards work, Bachchan says, “If you are one of those people who believe that physical fitness and age are inversely related, that fitness declines with increasing age, then Here’s a masterclass that systematically debunks this belief.” ,
Front cover of the book Fit at Any Age by Air Marshal PV Iyer. , Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Iyer is a man who has an amazing energy to absorb. Based in Bengaluru, he was on a visit to Delhi to present a copy of his book to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Iyer writes in the book, “People generally think of fitness as a difficult goal to achieve, involving hours and strenuous workouts, visits to the gym and a dedication that requires you to sacrifice the simple pleasures of life.” calls for.” About his life experiences and why ‘being fit’ is such a compelling part of his personality.
Iyer has focused on sharing suitable and convenient fitness schedules for the common man and sportspersons as well. He says, “One needs to exercise daily and should not think of it as a punishment.” Iyer makes the book a delight to read while sharing his knowledge in an engaging style laced with humor to keep the reader engaged.
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Runathon: An enthusiastic group of runners led by Air Marshal PV Iyer (No. 1) reached the finish point after four days of jogging from Agra. Photo: The Hindu Archives | Photo credit: Shankar Chakraborty
A striking resemblance to Hollywood star Paul Newman made Iyer popular during his student days. “Many people told me,” he laughs. His wife Kalyani once won the prize in a surprise competition in Nagpur in 1972. “It was a monthly party for Air Force officers’ wives and they were asked who had the husband’s photograph. Kalyani immediately took out my (Newman lookalike) photograph, which she always kept in her handbag for 57 years.
Air Marshal PV Iyer in his youth | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Iyer was 47 when the Indian Air Force, in a policy decision, mandated minimum age-specific fitness to be eligible for promotion. With pride in his voice, he says, “I have always loved challenges.” As he passed the test, he learned the lessons and in later years shared his knowledge with friends and colleagues.
A man of varied interests, Iyer found a fan in cricket icon Rahul Dravid. “A great guide who shows us that it’s never too late when it comes to starting our path towards fitness,” says Dravid. fit any age, For Iyer, it was a message that captured the essence of his brilliant book that inspires people of all ages.
Iyer has a gym at his house. His interest in tennis had helped him partner with former tennis star Ramesh Krishnan to set up an academy in Chennai, which required him to come to India from the United States. When his granddaughter Tara represented India in tennis and often had to travel for tournaments, Iyer accompanied her. “I would drive her to the venue and back and be on her lap and literally call,” laughs Iyer. She was in her 70s when Tara was busy playing tennis around the world including the Fed Cup for India. To understand the way of life in Europe, Iyer learned French (in 1958) from a priest in Kashmir. He used to wake up at 4.30 am for classes and later, fine-tune his French at the Alliance Française in Pondicherry, where he was appointed as the sports director after his retirement.
“I also learned Russian and German,” he adds. He was posted as Assistant Air Attache at the Indian High Commission in Moscow from 1967 to 1970. “I remember a funny incident from my Moscow days. Because of my appearance, I was often mistaken for a Russian. Once I was stopped at a mall exclusively for foreigners because they said I was a Russian. It was only my wife (Kalyani), who wore a saree, who convinced them of my nationality.
Iyer can converse fluently in Sanskrit, Marathi, Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam, Hindi and of course Tamil. “I used to listen to lessons while jogging and thus I learned a lot of languages,” he says, delivering his speech in impeccable Marathi.
In 1981, he won the 5,000 m gold at the Asian Veterans Athletic Meet in Singapore. “Milkha Singh was the team leader and I was inspired by the stories of Milkha’s training and achievements,” recalls Iyer, adding that standing on the podium listening to the national anthem gave him goosebumps.
Today, the multi-faceted non-politician remains a picture of inspiration for the fitness-crazed youth.
Air Marshal PV Iyer leading the parade in his heyday | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement