Many of us complain about aches here and there, barely before turning 50.

Uncle V. Ranganathan is double that age, but he still drives about 40km to work five days a week, and walks two two three kilometres daily.

The Star highlighted the story of the centenarian, who turned 100 on April 12, and named walking as one of the "secrets" to his long, healthy life.

According to the report, Ranganathan wakes up before 7am daily and drives from his home in Teluk Intan Perak, where he lives with his wife and eldest daughter, to the Mon Repos Eestate in Sabak Bernam, Selangor, where he works part-time as an estate manager.

Once there, he would walk up to three kilometres supervising the harvesting and transporting of oil palm fruits, among other tasks.

"I only eat to live, not live to eat. I don't have diaberes or heart issues.

"In 1941, I had an operation on my appendicitis, that's all," he told the portal when explaining his good health, save for hemorrhoids.

Ranganathan came from India to the then Malaya when he was just 10 years old, with his 13 younger siblings.

He worked as a probationary dresser in an estate hospital before starting off as a planter in 1954. The following year, he became an estate manager, and went on to work in various estates around Negeri Sembilan and Selangor.

After his retirement in the early 1980s, Ranganathan was tasked to manage a property in Mon Repose Estate, which is doing until today.

Besides his busy schedule at his advanced age, Ranganathan still helps out with charity work, welfare homes and temples.

He is blessed with eight children, 16 grandchildren, and 22 great-grandchildren - some of whom are doctors, accountants, and lawyers here, as well as abroad.

Ranganathan has one advice that we could follow to have a long fulfilling life: "Pray to God, don't do harm, don't be jealous, be honest."

Very inspiring indeed Sir! May you be blessed with many more healthy years to come.


Source: The Star
Photos source: The Star