After 11 years, when Dalip returned to his native Dhirana town in Sirmaur district of Himachal Pradesh, his parents did not know whether to call him by his nick name or his popular name.
The Great Khali arrives in Dhirana in Himachal Pradesh’s Sirmaur district to a grand welcome
CHANDIGARH: After 11 years, when Dalip returned to his native Dhirana town in Sirmaur district of Himachal Pradesh on Wednesday, his parents did not know whether to call him by his nick name or his popular name. He was always Dalbu to them. But on Wednesday as he walked through a newly-constructed eight-foot-high entrance to his parental house amid chants of prayers, even his father JS Rana could not help calling him “Khali beta”.
It has indeed been a sea change in The Great Khali’s life ever since he was selected to join Punjab Police. An illiterate stone-crusher has become an international celebrity.
Overwhelmed villagers sacrificed a goat, besides arranging a dham (community meal), in Khali’s honour. Mother Tindi Devi and four brothers posed for pictures with Khali who would stay in the village just for a day. People of all ages assembled in the village to see Dalbu, whom, till recently, they had only seen on TV or on awe-inspiring postures.
Khali stayed in the newly-constructed house for which he had sent Rs5 crore to his parents. For the construction of a road in the village, he contributed Rs1 crore last year. The villagers surely could not believe a boy of unwieldy height would bring them laurels.
On Tuesday evening, the Himachal Pradesh government organised a massive public function for him in Nahan where PWD minister Gulab Singh gave him a traditional welcome and called him a proud son of the state.
Earlier in Jalandhar, Punjab Police called him a “jewel in the crown”. At a function organised to welcome him, former DGP of Punjab and his mentor MS Bhullar called him a proud son of the police. He recalled how Khali had disappointed him time and again in various sports. “It was my last endeavour to send him for training in WWE. I feel proud after that he never looked back and did proud to the entire police force,” he said.
Additional director general of police Rajan Gupta, who had earlier indicated taking disciplinary action against Khali for extending leave beyond the permitted period, assured him of all possible help and maintained that he could take special leave anytime.
The world heavyweight champion made his WWE debut in April, 2006. He signed Hollywood films as well. His first film was The Longest Yard released in 2005 and the next one Get Smart is scheduled for a release in 2008. These days he is busy doing two Bollywood films, Kushti and Rama —The Savior.
b_ajay@dnaindia.net
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