Hoshiarpur:- Dalip Singh Rana is better known as The Great Khali all over the world, who has made a place for himself in the hearts of crores of people. Senior journalist Daljit Ajnoha spoke to him about his life, struggle, achievements and future plans. Here is the details of his inspiring journey for the readers.
Born on 29 August 1972 in Miraina village of Sirmaur district of Himachal Pradesh to farmer father Jawala Ram and mother Tandi Devi, Dalip Singh Rana was the third among eight siblings. His elder brother Mangal Singh Rana is an Assistant Sub-Inspector in the Punjab Police, while sister Daya Devi is married to Guman Singh from Himachal. Younger brother Bhagat Singh Rana is a teacher; Inder Singh Rana runs a dairy farm; Atar Singh Rana runs a repair shop; Surinder Singh Rana lives at the Kangli Bal Academy; and the youngest Rana has settled permanently in America.
Jwala Ram and Tandi Devi could never have imagined that their son, born into a simple farming family in their small Himalayan village, would one day make not only his family, village, state and country, but the entire world proud. The siblings were educated, but young Dilip worked in the fields with his father and never went to school. At the age of about 17-18, he started learning karate from a private coach in Shimla, who later called him to Jalandhar at the age of about 21.
There, Sardar Mahendra Singh Bhullar recruited him as a constable in the 75th Battalion of the Punjab Armed Police (PAP) and inspired him to take up shot put. Despite his initial lack of interest, he worked hard and won a gold medal in his first inter-unit shot put competition. Soon he was in the top 10 in a bodybuilding competition. Bhullar, who was there, immediately promoted him to head constable.
Time passed. In 1996, Dilip won the Mr. Punjab and Mr. North India titles in bodybuilding. In 1997, he became Mr. India. Despite his height, he wanted to train in wrestling abroad, especially in San Francisco, USA. But Bhullar kept his passport and said that India's "diamond" should shine for the country in the police force.
Fate turned again when bodybuilding competitions started in Malaysia and Dilip got a visa. The federation demanded Rs 40,000—a huge sum at the time—but the police department refused, citing empty coffers, but allowed the trip. Dilip got a passport, left Malaysia and moved to the US in 2000. He trained in wrestling for a year in San Francisco, then made his debut fight against Nagata in Tokyo, Japan in 2001 and earned his first salary. Dilip continued his journey, got married and became the father of a daughter and a son. He opened Khali Dhaba near Karnal in Haryana, the inauguration of which was attended by wrestlers and prominent figures from Punjab, Haryana and Himachal. Today, The Great Khali inspires society through Instagram and social media, where millions of his fans eagerly await a glimpse of him. Possessed of a warm and friendly nature, he is deeply connected to his roots.