105-yr-old Armyman Romel Pathania's secret to fitness

Rajiv Mahajan

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Nurpur, August 18

105-year-old Honorary Captain Romel Singh Pathania (retd) of Baroh village, Fatehpur subdivision, in Kangra district feels proud to have served in the Indian Army, and the Azad Hind Fauj (Indian National Army) of Subhas Chandra Bose.

Despite being 105 years old, he remains physically fit. He drives a two-wheeler, reads newspapers without spectacles and walks without support.

While serving in the Army, he fought three wars. He also served in Indian National Army, and participated in the Second World War (1939-1945).

After the Second World War, he fought in the Waziristan War in 1945. After Independence, he began his Army service, participating in the Indo-China war in 1962, and Indo-Pak wars in 1965 and 1971.

Speaking to The Tribune, he said he served in the 16-Dogra Regiment of the Army for 31 years, and retired as an Honorary Captain in 1976.

Drives, reads the newspaper

• At 105, he drives a two-wheeler, reads newspapers without spectacles, and walks without any support
• “In my life, I have never tasted non-vegetarian food, never drank alcohol, and never smoked. I take only light meals, walk daily, and do physical work. All these are the secrets to my healthy life, even after crossing 105 years,” Honorary Captain Romel Singh Pathania (retd) said

He is multilingual — knows Urdu, English Hindi and Pashto.

This elderly Armyman is a teetotaller and a vegetarian. Almost every day, he drives to the nearby Raja ka Talab market on his two-wheeler. He also read the newspaper daily.

According to him, despite having lived for over a century, his memory is intact, he does not take any medicine, and works in his fields every day.

“In my life I have never tasted non-vegetarian food, never drank alcohol, and never smoked. I take only light meals, walk daily, and do physical work. All these are the secrets to my healthy life, even after crossing 105 years,” he said.

His father, Tula Ram, was a freedom fighter. The Army man has placed a statue of his father at a small park near his house. He hoists the Tricolour at this park every Independence Day and Republic Day. He has two sons and three daughters, and lives with his sons and daughters-in-law at his native village.

According to his family, he gets up at 4 am, and, after taking a bath, he performs pooja at the small temple in his house. After his morning walk, he takes a light breakfast and starts working in his fields.