Sudhakar Chaturvedi

Sudhakar Chaturvedi (ಸುಧಾಕರ್ ಚತುರ್ವೇದಿ) (claims to have been born April 20, 1897) is an Indian Vedic scholar, Indologist, and alleged supercentenarian. At the claimed age of 127 years, 129 days, some Indian newspapers report him as the oldest living Indian.

Early life
Chaturvedi claims to have been born on April 20, 1897 in Bangalore, Karnataka, India  (or in Kyatsandra in Tumkur according to one report) (or in 1890 according to one report)

Freedom Struggle and Vedic Scholarship
Chaturvedi was given his surname, which literally means "master of the four Vedas," for his knowledge of the Vedas. He is a disciple of Swami Shraddhanand at Gurukul Kangri in Haridwar, where he got his Veda Vachaspati degree (equivalent to a postgraduate degree).

Chaturvedi was a contemporary of Mahatma Gandhi, whom he first met when studying the Vedas in a gurukula in northern India. Subsequently, he became an ardent follower of Gandhian methods. He was a witness to many events in the Indian independence movement, including being an eyewitness to the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. He was known as Gandhiji's Postman, as he took down and delivered letters dictated by Gandhi addressed to the Viceroys or Governors-General. Gandhi called him 'Karnataki'. He lost the use of his right arm in 1938 while travelling with Gandhi, when the railwayman detached the last three compartments of the train as it was struggling to climb uphill. He was arrested at least 31 times during the freedom struggle, landing in prisons all over the country from Peshawar to Vellore.

He was offered the post of minister in the old Mysore state by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, which he turned down. He also campaigned for the unification of the state.

Later life
He has adopted a Harijan as his son, and has never married: ""My youth was spent in the struggle. By the time we got freedom [in 1947], I was over 50 years. Who would give me a girl then?""

Chaturvedi was the first teacher of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. As of 2007, he continues to give discourses on the Vedas. As of 2013, he lives in Jayanagar, Bangalore, Karnataka, India. He advises people to "follow the instructions in the Vedas and a happy life awaits you." He practices a strict vegetarian diet.

Recent awards
He was honoured by Motilal Banarsidass for his contributions to Indology, when it celebrated its centenary in 2003. The Karnataka Sahitya Anuvada Academy gave him an honorary award for 2007–08. In 2010 he was given a "Living Legend" Award by IDL at a public function where he pledged to donate his eyes. He was honoured by his alma mater, Gurukul Kangri university, in 2010. On Republic Day in 2010, he was felicitated by the Governor of Karnataka.