Few would have heard of an akhara in this small Maharashtra town that was endorsed by none other than Mahatma Gandhi for its commitment to physical health. Hanuman Vyayam Prasark Mandal has stood the test of time, acting as a premier institute of physical education and sports.
However, despite its place in history, the institute founded in 1914 lies unsung as it prepares to celebrate its centenary next year. Mahatma Gandhi inaugurated the main building, built later in 1926, and commended the institute both for its commitment to physical health and the communal harmony it exhibited on the campus. Then a touring team from the akhara, which showcased India's traditional physical activities on its Berlin Olympics visit in 1936, received the Hitler's Medal.
The institute was established as ‘Hanuman Akhara' by the Vaidaya brothers — Anant Krishna and Ambadas Krishna — drawing inspiration from the Maharashtrian patriot, Veer Vamanrao Joshi.
The institute takes pride in its association with some of the most famous luminaries. “Apart from Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, legendary Olympics administrator Carl Diem also paid a visit to this institute,” says its treasurer S.H. Deshpande.
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