Patesh eyes Guinness record in hot chilli eating

NEW DELHI, February 19: The best sauce for food may be hunger, but not for a boy from Assam, Patesh Kumar Talukdar, who is vying for a world record in eating maximum number of hot chillies in a minute, besides boosting his capacity to eat as many as 18 indigestible items. The 27-year-old undergraduate from Mirza is aiming to storm his way into the Guinness Book of World Record by beating the reigning world record holder in his own game. "The current world record is for eating 45 hot chillies in a minute, while I can eat 50 chillies of any variety in 35 seconds," boasted Talukdar, who is in the capital to try his luck with the Limca Book of Record to begin his quest for world records. Talukdar recently surprised the capital's elite at a function, when arriving unannounced, he demonstrated his talent of eating anything unpalatable to human being. Sulphuric Acid, shaving blades, glass, bulbs, woods, tyres, leather, Dettol, hey, grass cassette - all went into his stomach even before the gathering could manage to blink their eyes. His shopping list so far includes 18 different items and he claims he is yet to come across anyone who can manage to eat as many indigestible items. He has not suffered any indigestion or has fallen sick owing to his unusual habit. To establish his authenticity, Talukdar has even secured a verification certificate from the Deputy Commissioner of Kamrup district. The certificate was given to him after he managed to convince the Assam Police officials by eating steel wires, ball pen and the likes. "Impressed by my talent, the police not only submitted a favourable recommendation, but also gave a cash reward," he claimed. But Talukdar is a sad man today, running from pillar to post looking for sponsors to fund his trip to UK. "Everyone appreciates my feats but the next moment they forget," he lamented. Currently camping in the Capital, Talukdar has been trying to convince sponsors to fund his trip to London to challenge the Guinness World Record holder. "What pains me most is that while people at individual level has come forward to help me in any way they can, no help has come from the government or from the corporate sector, despite several attempts," he told The Assam Tribune. "My trip to Delhi to get my feat recorded in the Limca Book of Record has been partly funded by former ULFA leader, Luhit Deuri and few other friends and well-wishers, I had never met Deuri earlier in my life. But one day when we met at the Chief Minister's office, where I had gone to apply for assistance, he came forward to help me and paid Rs 12,000," he said. "Even the teachers and students of South Kamrup High School came forward and collected Rs 1,000 to fund my trip," he added. All that has come from the Assam government is Rs 10,000 from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund, he claimed. Talukdar said his main source of income so far has been from the shows he has been doing during Bihu and other festival. Besides, I have also performed elsewhere in the country in Punjab, Haryana and Delhi," he asserted. Talukdar has featured in several TV channels including the Doordarshan, and in the capital several other channels have rushed to record his feat. The urge to eat indigestible items arose in me when I was about 10 years old, when responding to an urgent desire I ate pieces of a broken bulb. Since then I have been on an eating spree. But I try only those things for which I have an urge and not anything and everything," he clarified. To keep in shape Talukdar has to daily eat few indigestible items regularly, besides practicing his chilli-eating feat.