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A nostalgic trip for former circus artist

KOCHI: The lush green tea plantations of Assam are still vivid in Ralph Armstrong’s memory. Time has also failed to erase from his mind the bicycle act with which he amused the audience that assembled amidst that picturesque setting.

For 74-year-old Armstrong from America, to be back in a circus tent after more than half a century meant taking a nostalgic ride through a period when he enthralled crowds across the length and the breadth of this country. Besides, it was also a real homecoming. He was born in India and his mother was a Manipuri.

Watching Gemini Circus, now being played at Bhagavathy Ground at Puthiyakavu near here, Mr. Armstrong felt that adrenaline rush once again to perform, notwithstanding his age.

“I enjoyed coming back with the whole family and receiving this kind of reception,” Mr. Armstrong said after being greeted by the circus artists before the start of the evening show.

Accompanying him on the tour and listening to his circus tales were his three children, four grand children, and seven friends.

Mr. Armstrong was born into a circus family in 1935. His father, William, married the Manipuri girl while touring India with his troupe. Youngest of the four children, his two brothers and sister were also circus performers.

“My sister did the wire walking and roller balance act. She did quite a bit and was almost our main star,” Mr. Armstrong recollected. He was known for his sharp shooting and bicycle acts. “Back then, I was known as the champion bicycle performer of India,” he giggled.

Trained by his father, he started performing at the age of four.

And his life in the circus tent continued till August 1959 when he left for the U.S. So, why did he leave, if he loved the circus life and this country so much? “Well, first my brothers left and then I felt like hey, I got to go too,” he said. He thought he would continue performing in U.S. but only until he saw how circus was being staged there. “My kind of circus was not held in auditoriums or domes but in a tent,” he said.

Asked to describe the life of a circus artist, Mr. Armstrong said that a circus artist always performs his or her heart out. “And that I believe, takes a lot and lot of practice,” he said.

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