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Reba Rakshit (; 1933–2010) was an Indian
bodybuilder Bodybuilding is the practice of progressive resistance exercise to build, control, and develop one's muscles via hypertrophy. An individual who engages in this activity is referred to as a bodybuilder. It is primarily undertaken for aesthetic ...
and exponent of
yoga Yoga (UK: , US: ; 'yoga' ; ) is a group of physical, mental, and spiritual practices or disciplines that originated with its own philosophy in ancient India, aimed at controlling body and mind to attain various salvation goals, as pra ...
who was a pupil of Bishnu Charan Ghosh at the College of Physical Culture in
Kolkata Kolkata, also known as Calcutta ( its official name until 2001), is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of West Bengal. It lies on the eastern bank of the Hooghly River, west of the border with Bangladesh. It is the primary ...
and specialized in withstanding heavy weights upon her body. She would let fully loaded cars or elephants pass over her body. She was the first Indian woman to lift an elephant upon her chest.


Early life

Reba was born in
Comilla Comilla (), officially spelled Cumilla, is a metropolis on the banks of the Gomti River in eastern Bangladesh. Comilla was one of the cities of ancient Bengal. It was once the capital of Tripura kingdom. Comilla Airport is located in the Duli ...
in a
Bengali Hindu Bengali Hindus () are adherents of Hinduism who ethnically, linguistically and genealogically identify as Bengalis. They make up the majority in the Indian states of West Bengal, Tripura, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Assam's Barak Valley ...
family sometime in the early 1930s. From girlhood she had interest in physical culture. After the Partition, she migrated to
Kolkata Kolkata, also known as Calcutta ( its official name until 2001), is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of West Bengal. It lies on the eastern bank of the Hooghly River, west of the border with Bangladesh. It is the primary ...
along with her family. In
Kolkata Kolkata, also known as Calcutta ( its official name until 2001), is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of West Bengal. It lies on the eastern bank of the Hooghly River, west of the border with Bangladesh. It is the primary ...
, she joined the akhada of Bishnu Charan Ghosh, where she trained alongside Monotosh Roy and Kamal Bhandari. In the early 1950s she was awarded the title Miss Bengal for bodybuilding.


Career

Reba began to perform in the circus from the early fifties. One of her astonishing feats was lifting elephants upon her chest. She continued this act till the mid 1960s. She was associated with Kamala Circus, International Circus and Gemini Circus. She also used to perform at the local clubs in Kolkata during the Durga Puja. She was also a good shooter. In her later life, she became a physical trainer and was associated with social works.


Awards

She was awarded Padmashri for her achievements. The Nawab of Hyderabad bestowed upon her the title of Devi Chaudhurani.


References

{{Reflist 1933 births 2010 deaths Indian female bodybuilders Bengali Hindus Sportspeople from Kolkata