Early Life: Roots in the Punjab Soil
Born as Deedar Singh Randhawa on 19 November 1928 in Dharmuchak village,
Amritsar district of Punjab, Dara Singh belonged to a humble Jat Sikh farming
family. His childhood, shaped by the rustic discipline of agrarian life, laid
the foundation for his formidable physique and mental resilience.
“Even
as a boy, Dara had the gait of a lion,” said a fellow wrestler from his akhada
days.
The Rise of a Champion: Wrestling Glory
Dara Singh's formal wrestling career took off in the 1940s. He traveled through Malaysia, Singapore, Canada, and the USA, battling international opponents and never losing a single bout in his prime.
His career reached a zenith in 1954, when he was crowned Rustam-e-Hind, the ultimate Indian wrestling title. In 1968, he won the World Wrestling Championship by defeating Lou Thesz, a celebrated American grappler.
“Dara
Singh is not just a wrestler, he is India’s pride,” wrote a British sports
columnist during his tour of London in the 60s.
His match against the 200-kg Australian wrestler King Kong is legendary. The victory, though athletic, was received as a symbolic triumph of Indian might over colonial grandeur.
Into the Limelight: Dara Singh in Hindi Cinema
The magnetic pull of cinema soon found its way to Dara Singh. His debut film Sangdil (1952) went unnoticed, but by the late 1950s, he had found his niche in action and adventure films.
·
Blockbusters like:
Ø Faulad (1963)
Ø Rustom-E-Baghdad
(1963)
Ø Hercules (1964)
Ø Boxer (1965)
cemented his image as an action hero with honor.
“The
Dara Singh-Mumtaz films were the original mass entertainers - before the term
‘masala’ was even coined,” recalled film historian Ravi Vasudevan.
Dara Singh’s presence wasn’t just muscle; it was moral muscle. He often played the protector, the redeemer, or the mythological warrior - never a rogue, never a villain.
Hanuman on Earth: Myth, Morality, and Stardom
Dara Singh’s most iconic role came not in a film but in a television serial - Ramanand Sagar’s Ramayan (1987–88). As Hanuman, he transcended acting.
With his athletic body, piercing eyes, and devotional demeanor, Dara Singh’s Hanuman became synonymous with divinity. His screen presence during the Sanjeevani Booti sequence brought tears to millions.
·
Dara Singh, in a Doordarshan
interview.
“I
never acted Hanuman. I lived him,”
Children sought his blessings in real life. Housewives applied tilak to his on-screen image. Posters of Dara Singh as Hanuman adorned temples.
·
Ramanand Sagar once famously said:
“There
can never be another Hanuman like Dara Singh. His soul was in the role.”
His portrayal was so iconic that he reprised Hanuman in other serials like Luv Kush, Mahabharat, and Hanuman - The Immortal, becoming the most celebrated mythological figure on Indian television.
A Family Man and Spiritual Disciple
Behind the legendary physique and
screen divinity was a deeply disciplined and humble family man. Dara Singh was
married twice, with his second wife Surjit
Kaur being his lifelong companion.
He had six children, the most prominent being Vindu Dara Singh, who followed his father’s footsteps into acting and later won Bigg Boss Season 3.
“He
was God at home too,” said
Vindu Dara Singh. “He taught us truth, discipline, and
simplicity.”
Dara Singh was a vegetarian, non-smoker, and teetotaler. His daily routine included yoga, walking, and prayer, right into his eighties. His autobiography Meri Atmakatha reveals a deeply spiritual man who believed that strength came from moral discipline.
Service Beyond Cinema: Dara Singh in Politics
In 2003, Dara Singh entered the Rajya Sabha, nominated by the BJP. Though not politically aggressive, he was widely respected across party lines for his clean image and nationalist fervor.
He used his position to advocate for traditional Indian sports, rural development, and cultural education. His speeches were rare but meaningful - always emphasizing Indian heritage and self-reliance.
“Dara Singh brought dignity to politics,” said fellow
parliamentarian Sushma Swaraj.
Final Years and Health Struggles
In his later years, Dara Singh suffered from neurological issues and heart ailments. On 7 July 2012, he was admitted to Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai following a severe heart attack.
Despite efforts, his condition deteriorated. On 12 July 2012, India lost its Hanuman. He passed away peacefully, surrounded by family.
His body was taken for cremation at Pawan Hans crematorium in Mumbai with state honors.
Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh said:
“Dara
Singh was the symbol of Indian strength and virtue.”
Legacy: A Muscle That Held Morality
Dara Singh’s legacy lives on - not just in the wrestling arena or cinema but in collective national memory. He is seen as:
·
The
face of Indian strength
·
The
soul of cinematic virtue
·
The
epitome of mythological devotion
His statue at Madame Tussauds, his feature in school textbooks, and his timeless presence in Ramayan reruns are reminders of a man who played Hanuman and lived like one.
In Their Words: Testimonials
·
Amitabh Bachchan
“He
was my childhood idol. The first superhero I ever knew.”
·
Vindu Dara Singh
“He taught me to bow
only to truth. He never raised his voice - his silence was his power.”
·
Ramanand Sagar
“Dara
Singh was born to play Hanuman. Even gods must have smiled watching him
perform.”
Conclusion: Immortality in Indian Hearts
Dara Singh was more than a wrestler or actor. He was India's gentle giant, a symbol of masculine righteousness, and a cultural guardian. Whether in the wrestling pit, onscreen battlefield, or spiritual heart of Indian households, he stood firm - like the ashoka tree of Ramayan: unmoved, virtuous, and eternally rooted.
His story is not just that of an actor or athlete - it is the story of a nation’s idea of what a man should be.
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