বাংলায় পড়ুন
Remember how Lalmohan Babu’s jaws dropped in sheer amazement when he saw Gunomoy Bagchi’s well-chiseled body in Benaras? Bagchi (Moloy Roy) said in the film: “Eta mandir, aar muscle gulo tar modhye sob karukarjyo”. Well, body building has always been a serious business in Bengal, however sporadic. The bodybuilding craze among Bengali youth began since Eugen Sandow, the legendary German bodybuilder, performed in Kolkata in 1905. Exploits of our very own Geryon, Bhabendramohan Saha, better known as ‘Bhim Bhabani’, ensured ineffaceable footprints. It is true that akharas and gyms are generally attended by males. But if there’s a 'Sultan', there was a ‘Dangal’ too.
Breaking norms, Europa Bhowmik has stormed into the traditional male circuit with her outstanding performance and became the first woman bodybuilder to win a silver in the lightweight category at the ‘Asian Bodybuilding and Physique Sports Championship’ in the year 2017 in South Korea.
But why does this Bengal’s female bodybuilder have such an oxymoronic name? Well, she was born on a ship called ‘Samco Europe’. Her father was a captain in the merchant navy and her mother, who conceived in the ship, along with the crew decided that the name would be Sam if a baby boy is born and Europa, if it is a girl.
For the 19 years-old Europa, her body is her temple that she worships, with a lot of faith and fervour. She is the youngest bodybuilder in the country though.
Her first opportunity to showcase her talent as a bodybuilder came in 2015 when she appeared in a competition at a national-level bodybuilding championship in Belgaum, Karnataka. She returned empty-handed but she gained a lot of confidence. Her journey started on a rough track, but she succeeded in her mission with her grit and determination. She is an icon and inspiration for young girls, who now want to join this niche sport.
