At 91,his love of great outdoors remains undimmed

For Mahajan,it’s not just about setting a record and updating it. “I want to inspire the young generation,who shy away from physical activities,especially adventure sports,” says Mahajan,who feels parents should encourage their children to take up sports such as football,volleyball and basketball.

Mahajan is a regular trekker and mountaineer,who has got an immense experience in rock climbing and rappelling too. However,crossing a valley is a first for him. He prefers to call it a ‘calculated risk’ as the technique involved,using a rope,is quite similar to crossing a river,which he has done many times. “I am hundred per cent confident that I will be able to complete the task successfully,” he says.Mahajan follows a strict fitness regime. He wakes up at 3.30 am,does meditation and stretch exercises for half an hour each,goes for a 10-km walk,covering one km in 12 minutes. Bedtime is 8 pm. He is a pure vegetarian and prefers simple but healthy food like varan-bhaat,pitale-bhakri,green vegetables,fruits,milk,lemon juice and so on.

He does not suffer from any of the ailments associated with old-age,such as blood pressure or diabetes.

Mahajan,who retired as principal from National Modern School,now known as Erin Nagarwala School in 1980,is now the chairman of National Education Society. He has been associated with the Indian Red Cross Society since the past 35 years.

Every Sunday,he visits the forts situated around Pune like Sinhagad Fort,Lohagarh Fort and Bhimashanker Fort. Twice a year,he visits the Himalayas. He has covered regions such as Ladakh,Tibet,Uttarkashi and Mansarovar.

Anand Munje,who trained Mahajan for his parasailing task in the past,says Mahajan may be a 91-year-old biologically but his sportsmanship is unbeatable. “His ability to understand the technicalities involved in adventure sports is amazing,which is also a result of his experience of trekking and mountaineering in the Western Ghats and the Himalayas,” Munje says. malayas,” Munje says.