Indore: Fifty-year-old Ramesh Chandra Kasera can put many youngsters to shame with his hair-raising feats.
To the amazement of many, Kasera has no qualms about pushing swords down his throat.
This life-threatening passion has become an integral part of Kasera's existence for over three decades, as it provides him with his daily bread and butter.
When he began at the age of 21, Kasera could take in a single sword. Today, he can push down 11 swords without difficulty.
Kasera's family is yet to come to terms with his risky act. But when there is no choice and the daredevil act provides meals on the table, it certainly seems a case of resigning to fate.
Kasera has no qualms about his job.
"As I child I used to perform with village troupes, and so, I was inspired to try it myself. It was after my uncle was hurt, that the sharpness of the swords was lessened. That gave me a further impetus to perform the feat," Kasera says.
Weighing two kilos and two feet in length, the swords are made blunt before ingestion.
Kasera, who has performed at various functions and has numerous certificates to acknowledge his feat, charges Rs 1,000 for each show.
His wailing old mother says if only the government helped them, her son could give up the hazardous job.
"He should have been provided some help by the government. It was all for a living. He started at a time when we were struggling to keep ourselves alive," said Basanti Bahi, Kasera's mother.
Kasera says he never had any health woes, although his uncle, who used to do it, previously, once got badly hurt while performing such a stunt.
Besides Kasera can even chew and eat burning sticks.
Though Kasera is aware of the concerns of his family, his dream is to teach the art to one of them.
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