One Hundred Tamils of the 20th Century

V.S.Kumar Anandan

[Nominated by Senthuran Nadarajah, Canada]

"Kumar Anandan, son of Vivekanandan of the Engineering Service of the Irrigation Department, Sri Lanka, was from Valvettiturai, Jaffna. From his early days, Kumar set his heart on distinguishing himself and becoming an outstanding member of the community.

He had a successful educational career, graduating in Science of the London University. He also obtained the Bachelor of Laws degree in Ceylon and was an Attorney at Law by profession.

Very soon he commenced his efforts at winning World Records and seeing his name in the Guinness Book of World Records. By 1983, he had secured several records:

Record - Swimming the Palk Strait, from Sri Lanka to India and back, in 51 hours, in the year 1971.

Record - Twist Dance for 128 hours, in December 1978 .

Record - Non-stop cycling for 187 hours, a distance of 1487 miles, in May 1979.

Record - Balancing on one foot for 33 hours, in May 1979.

Record - Ball punching for 136 hours, in December 1979.

Record - Sit ups - 165 in two minutes, in May 1980.

Record - High Kicks - 9100 times, in December 1980.

Record - Walking non-stop for 159 hours, a distance of 296 miles, in August 1981.

Record - Water-Treading for 80 hours, performed at the Anna Swimming Pool in Madras, in August 1981.

He was unfortunate to meet with a serious motor accident and was in hospital for six months; afterwards he had to be in crutches for another six months. Even after that, he performed Billiards Cue-Levelling and Speed Motor Cycle riding.

But tragedy befell on the 6th of August 1984. A day of disaster for this "Heroic and Restless Life". He collapsed half-way while attempting to swim the 30 mile stretch of the English Channel from Dover to Cape Gris Nez. He encountered heavy and unfavourable currents and collapsed after six hours of valiant defiance. That was the end of a World Record Holder, a restless life who aspired to be Champion Endurance Sportsman of the world." (from S.Arumugam's Dictionary of Biography of the Tamils of Ceylon  - published here with permission)