The Daily Regimen of a 97-Year-Old with the Vitality of a 70-Year-Old
At the remarkable age of 97, Professor Guruaj Mutalik, the first professor and head of the Department of Medicine at Pune's B J Government Medical College, is a living testament to the power of a disciplined life. His biological age, as revealed by medical tests, is an astonishing 70 years, a feat he attributes to a strict routine that begins at 4:30 am every single day.
His morning commences with yoga, followed by reading non-fiction and a simple breakfast of oatmeal and spices. He maintains his strength with a daily 2.2-kilometer walk and muscle-strengthening exercises. Lunch and an early dinner at 6:30 p.m. complete his two basic meals for the day.
More Than Just Genes: The Crucial Role of Purpose and Stress Management
While Professor Mutalik acknowledges a genetic advantage—his father lived to 96 and his mother to 91—he firmly believes that lifestyle choices are paramount. He identifies stress as one of the greatest accelerators of premature ageing. "It is necessary to develop a sense of purpose in life," he emphasized in a conversation with The Indian Express.
This philosophy is deeply personal. He recalls a health scare at 90 when he suffered a cardiac arrest due to a 90% blockage in his coronary arteries. Doctors were pessimistic about his survival, but he defied the odds. He admits that a brief period of overconfidence led him to indulge in sweets, causing his weight to shoot up to 184 kg and his HbA1c level to rise to 7.8. However, through dedicated effort, he successfully brought both his weight and blood sugar levels back under control.
Classifying Ageing as a Disease and a Legacy of Wisdom
Professor Mutalik's personal experience fuels his professional advocacy. He is part of a group of researchers petitioning the World Health Organisation (WHO) to classify ageing as a disease. Their goal is to encourage more research funding and drug development aimed at improving the health and well-being of the elderly. The WHO, however, maintains its stance of not classifying "old age" as a disease, instead promoting "healthy ageing."
His insights are compiled in his new book, "Visions of Yoga," which was launched on November 15 at Savitribai Phule Pune University. The book explores the interconnection between mindfulness, meditation, self-discipline, and healthy ageing, presenting yoga as a universal path to balance and peace.
As Dr. Bhushan Patwardhan notes in the foreword, the professor's philosophy is rooted in his humble beginnings. Shaped by his father, a Sanskrit scholar, Professor Mutalik absorbed the rhythms of a life lived in harmony with nature, purpose, and self-discipline—a rhythm that continues to power his extraordinary journey nearly a century later.
