Sanitation Workers Who Earn $110 Per Month, Defy All Odds To Become Bodybuilding Champions

Bodybuilding has no age bar. For many, bodybuilding is not just an activity, it is a passionate sport. In fact, two low-wage workers made it to Pattaya and won medals at a bodybuilding world championship. Kuku and Mukesh were successful in conquering their life’s biggest dream at Thailand’s World Bodybuilding Championship which was held from 17th to 18th December, all the while competing against 18 countries.

The journey of Kuku Ram (53) and Mukesh Kumar (44) from Patiala (India) to Pattaya (Thailand) is quite inspiring. They were sanitation workers in a small district of Punjab known as Patiala. Prior to the life-altering moment when they won a goal and silver respectively, the two middle-aged earned a meager wage of $110. So, what led up to the moment is a series of challenges in their lives.

Kuku and Mukesh faced daunting challenges in their bodybuilding journey

Kuku and Mukesh participated at the 39th NBBUI (Natural Bodybuilding Union International) Mr and Miss World Bodybuilding Championship 2022. However, their bodybuilding journey is unlike most because they had to endure a long path of persistence and hard work. While they had the immense will to become successful bodybuilders, food and money were their biggest odds.

53-year-old Kuku was a bonded laborer at a dairy farmer to pay his father’s $36 debt. Later, he worked as a rickshaw puller earning $0.85 a day. Seeing his interest in bodybuilding, his dairy farmer master provided his bodybuilding diet. However, Kuku had to leave the sport after some time due to low income. Later, he began training again in 2014.

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His wife Meenu revealed that Kuku’s diet included eggs and milk. Moreover, while speaking about their adversities to Tribune India, She stated, “We can’t afford lavish meals. So, we have to be content with normal meals.” On other hand, Mukesh quit his class XII examination studies after failing to pay his fees. He told in the interview, “At times, I didn’t have Rs 5 for a train ticket.” 

Although bodybuilding was his biggest passion, he got to follow it after meeting Kuku in 2018. To Mukesh, Kuku was his bodybuilding guru with whom he practiced relentlessly. Further, when the two decided to participate in Pattaya, they required $604 each. However, they received help and financial support from local people, advocates, and judges who were aware of their passion and story.

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Although the two have won their respective medals, they still have a few debts to repay. Kuku and Mukesh still desire to get government jobs to better their lives for their families. Moreover, recognizing their achievement, the sports minister of the state has promised to honor the inspiring journey that these two had.