Endearing: Squadron leader Jayasimha giving hugs to faculty members and students to set a new Guinness World Record in Aditya Institute of Technology and Management at Tekkali on Saturday. He gave 2,436 hugs in one hour breaking the previous record of an American who had given 1,749 hugs in one hour. / Photo: Bhasheer / The Hindu
Memory techniques trainer Squadron Leader Jayasimha on Saturday created a ‘Guinness World Record’ with the highest number of hugs in one hour in Aditya Institute of Technology and Management-Tekkali. He gave 2,436 hugs to students, faculty members and staff of the college, breaking the previous record which was in the name of an American Nick with 1,749 hugs in one hour in the year 2010.
Mr.Jayasimha holds 23 previous Guinness World records. The video footage, names and signatures of the students who hugged him will be sent to the office of Guinness World Records which would send the certificate in a couple of weeks if it is satisfied with details.
The AITAM college students formed into groups and queued up in a systematic manner to complete the hugging process quickly. Within 45 minutes, Mr.Jayasimha broke the previous record of 1,749 hugs and completed 2,436 hugs in the stipulated one hour.
As soon as he broke the record, the students expressed happiness with fireworks and distribution of sweets.
AITAM Director VV Nageswara Rao and others congratulated Mr.Jayasimha and thanked him. Talking to the media after breaking the record, Mr.Jayasimha said that embracing one another was part of Indian culture and it would enhance love and affection among people.
“All Indians used to greet one another with hugging in olden days. Foreigners adopted in their culture but we forgot its importance. That is why I took the event to spread the message of love and affection in the country and to remind all of the Indian tradition,”
source: http://www.TheHindu.com / Home> National> Andhra Pradesh / by Staff Reporter / Srikakulam, September 30th, 2012