His father Babu Krinamohan Rai was very fond of wrestling and he nurtured his son with great care.
Though he didn't allow his son to participate in any tournaments or competitions but his rising fame of unimaginable regimen of exercises drew attention of renowned wrestlers of his time.
Though it seems unimaginable but sports journalist Marcus Trower has mentioned it in his well researched book, "The most I heard anyone talk about a wrestler having done was 10,000 of each a day.
"[1] In 1885,Babu Hari Narayan Rai was traveling to Vadodara Gujarat on a pilgrimage with his Purohit and Nayee.
Mall babu told his Purohit and Nayee to climb on trees immediately and he started waiting for man-eater with a wrestler's prudence.
[2] Babu Hari Narayan Rai was not like a usual wrestler of his time, who used to sleep all day long after practising in akhara.
Rajnarayan Rai was his most favorite, who floored Imam Bakhs Pahalwan (younger brother of The Great Gama) in Jhariya (Jharkhand) within 5 minutes of bouts.