Recognising his feat, in a letter dated January 19, 1999, Amanda Brooks, correspondence Editor, ``Guinness book of world records'' has invited Jangra to attend the annual function to be held at London in May next.

Born on November 20, 1952, it took over six years with three to four hours' regular practice session on National Highways for Jangra to achieve the rare feat in long-run and time-bound backward march.

In an exclusive interview with The Indian Express here today, Jangra disclosed that he covered a distance of 174 Km From Gujri Mahal in Hisar to Raj Ghat in Delhi in a record time of 48 hours and 20 minutes walking backward and beating the earlier record of Swat Harden of America, who covered 70 km in 30 hours in 1982. ``Similarly, I covered a distance of 164 km in 21 hrs and 40 minutes in the time-bound non-stop category'', he said and added, ``On December 30 last, I could cover 92 km from 8 am to 8 pm non-stop and 72 km in nine hours and 40 minutes the next day''.

A humble and beaming Jangra, while telling about the risks involved in practice, informed how he walked over a dead accident victim and was once bitten by a stray dog in early hours on the National Highway.

Recalling his love for backward march , Jangra said that after reading an article in an English magazine, he decided to break the record and got in touch with the `Guinness' people to know about the details and rules and regulations to perform. ``Abiding by the mandatory requirements, I have already provided police record, eye witness account, verification from prominent persons and video recording of my backward march to ``Guinness book of world records'', who after verfying the details recognised my feat'', he disclosed.

Received by the then Delhi Chief Minister Sahib Singh Verma at Raj Ghat, Jangra was also felicitated by Haryana Dalit Sahitya Academy when Aruncchal Pradesh Governor Mata Prasad Misra honoured him for his achievements. As for the special diet needed for practice, the record holder disclosed that dry fruits and some ayurvedic herbal tonics proved to be of much use for this sport.

A vaid visharad from Allahabad Institute, Jangra remarried to a staff nurse working in the civil hospital at Hisar in 1991, after his first wife expired in 1985. He has two small kids to look after.

Jangra expressed his inability to attend the annual function in London in May next for want of money. He said, ``I could participate, if some private firm come forward to sponsor my trip''.