We all have seen statues in museums, parks, many houses etc. But have you ever seen or heard about a man who is still like statue. Yes, this might make you wonder and confusing at the same time. Yes, but it is the reality.
Abdul Aziz (56), better known as the ‘Statue Man’, is a popular figure in Chennai. Standing stationary at the entrance of the city’s VGP Universal Kingdom Theme Park, he has attracted lakhs of visitors over the past more than three decades. He started his career as a security guard in VGP Golden Beach Resort in Chennai, way back in 1984. The park owner, while once on a visit to the UK, saw the royal guards outside Buckingham Palace and wanted to do something similar here. So, he chose around 10 people to train to become statue men. Abdul Aziz was one of them. The guards at the Buckingham Palace take a break every two hours However, that is not the case with Aziz. He stands still for 6 hours.
He says that during the three-month training in 1985, we were made to stand still in a particular pose for about four hours without moving. We were not supposed to blink our eyes, sip water, or eat food during those duty hours. We could not smile, talk, or even shoo away a fly if it bothered us. In the initial days of my career, it was very difficult to stay still if somebody tried to make me laugh by doing silly antics in front of me or by telling a joke. In fact, the resort administration has announced a reward of Rs. 10,000 for any visitor who manages to move Aziz. But Aziz does not move. He does not smile at jokes, and does not giggle on being tickled. Not once has any person been able to make Aziz move even a bit. That is the man’s resistance.
Aziz says he wakes up early every morning to practise some Yoga and other exercises. He says several celebrities have also tried to break him into a move but have failed to do so. Aziz says self-discipline and hygiene has helped his body to take on all kinds of challenges. Having started his career at the park way back in 1985, Aziz is now thinking of quitting.