Whenever this legendary wrestler is described, even the titles of Rustam-e-Hind (Champion of India) and Rustam-e-Zamana (Champion of the Universe) cannot do justice to this legendary wrestler and he is none other than Gama Pehalwan . No matter how much time passes, Gama Pehalwan remains a source of inspiration to countless wrestlers across the globe. Although more than fifty years have passed, Gamma, also known as the undefeated, remains undefeated in the hearts of everyone in the Indian subcontinent. Check out Gama Pehalwan Wiki, age, wife, family, death, religion, caste, diet and more.
Biography/Wiki
The Great Gama, popularly known as Gama Pehalvan, was born as Ghulam on May 22, 1878 (age 82) in a family of traditional Kashmiri Muslim wrestlers in Jabowal village, Amritsar, Punjab, British India ·Ghulam Muhammad Baksh. His family is committed to producing top-notch, elite wrestlers. Throughout his life, he was known for challenging various nationally and even internationally renowned wrestlers to beat him. The legendary wrestler was so great that he often pinned his opponents in just a few minutes.
Gama Pehalwan and his team
family, religion and children
Mohammad Aziz Bakshi is the father of Indian wrestler Gama Pehalwan. The Muslim wrestler also has a brother, Imam Baksh Pehalwan.
Gama Pehalwan and his brother Imam Baksh Pehalwan
Gama married twice in his life. Wazeer Begum and another. He has five sons and four daughters. His granddaughter Kalsoom Nawaz is the wife of Nawaz Sharif. Kalsoom’s sister Saira Bano, also the granddaughter of Gama, was the wife of Jhara Pehalwan.
Gama Pehalvan
Kalsoom and Nawaz Sharif
Saira Bano – Wife of famous wrestler Jhara Pehalwan
Jarla Pehawan
appearance
Big Gama is a tall man, standing 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighing 110 kilograms. He has black eyes and hair. His body measurements are chest 46 inches, waist 34 inches, and biceps 22 inches.
Gama Pehalvan in his youth
Diet and exercise
If sources are to be believed, the Great Gamma’s daily diet consisted of 2 gallons (7.5 liters) of milk, six desi chickens, and more than a pound of crushed almond paste made into a tonic drink.
His daily training is not easy. Gama once grappled with 40 fellow wrestlers in court. Gama also used to do 5,000 Baithaks (squats) and 3,000 Dands (push-ups) every day.
Gama Pehalwan during training
Gama Pehalwan during training
Big Gama once used a 95kg donut-shaped exercise plate to perform squats. The CD is now on display at the National Institute of Sports (NIS) Museum in Patiala.
Gama Pehalwan’s Squats
The beginning of a wrestling career
When Gama was 6 years old, he lost his father, Mohammad Aziz Bakshi, who was also a famous wrestler. After his father’s death, his maternal grandfather and fellow wrestler Nun Pahalwan took care of him. After Noon Pahalwan’s death, he was placed under the supervision of his uncle Ada (another wrestler), who provided Gama with his first wrestling training.
First time accreditation and training
In 1888, 10-year-old Gama first came to attention when he participated in the Strongman Competition in Jodhpur. In the competition, Gama made it to the last 15, and the Maharaja of Jodhpur was impressed by Gama’s performance and declared Gama the winner because he was young.
Maharaja of Jodhpur: Sir Jaswant Singh II
When the story of Gama’s wrestling prowess reached Queen Datiya, he took him in for training, and from then on, Gama’s professional wrestling journey began.
Maharaja of Datiya: Sir Bhawani Singh Bahadur
rare achievement
While traveling to the then state of Vadodara (now Vadodara) to participate in a wrestling competition, Gama Pehalwan lifted a stone weighing 1,200 kilograms. The stone is now kept in the Vadodara Museum.
vadodara museum
turning point
In 1895, at the age of 17, Gama challenged Raheem Bakhsh Sultani Wala (then the Indian wrestling champion), a native of Gujranwala (now in Pakistan). Another Kashmiri wrestler from Punjab). Raheem Bakhsh Sultani Wala is a middle-aged man with a height of nearly 7 feet who also has an impressive record. The match lasted several hours and ended in a draw. This match with Raheem Bakhsh Sultani Wala was a turning point in Gama’s career.
Rahim Bakhsh Sultani Wala
By 1910, Gamma had defeated all the famous Indian wrestlers who faced him except Raheem Bakhsh Sultani Wala. After achieving success at home, Gamma began to focus its attention on other parts of the world.
Gama Pehalwan and Raheem Bakhsh Sultaniwala
A challenge that is seen as a bluff
In order to compete with Western wrestlers, Gama sailed to England, accompanied by his younger brother Imam Bakhsh. But because of his short stature, he could not enter immediately. While in London, he issued a challenge where he could knock out any 3 wrestlers in any weight class within 30 minutes, but no one turned around because they thought it was a bluff. In addition, Gama specifically challenged Stanislaus Zbyszko and Frank Gotsch to either attend or give up their prize money.
Stanislaus Zbyszko
Frank Gotch
But American wrestler Benjamin Rohrer was the first to take on Gamma’s challenge. Gamma pinned him in 1 minute and 40 seconds the first time, and in 9 minutes and 10 seconds the other time. The next day, Gama defeated 12 wrestlers and qualified for the official competition.
Benjamin Roll
Gamma and World Champion
On September 10, 1910, Gamma faced world champion Stanislaus Zbyszko in the final of the John Bull World Championship in London. The prize money for this match is £250 (Rs. 22,000). After nearly three hours of fighting, Zbyszko and the great Gamma ended in a draw.
Stanislaus Zbyszko: World Champion
The next time Zbyszko and Gama faced off, Zbyszko didn’t show up and Gama won.
International lottery
During his tour of the West, Gamma defeated some of the most respected fighters in the world – France’s Maurice Deriaz, America’s Benjamin “Doc” Rohrer, Sweden’s Jesse Peterson World Champion) and John Lem (European Champion). Swiss Champion).
Battle of Gama Pehawan
Against Benjamin Rhule, Gama threw him 13 times in 15 minutes of play.
challenge accepted
After defeating many of the world’s leading fighters, Gama challenged other claimants to the world title, including Russia’s George Hackenschmidt, Japanese judo champion Taro Miyake and America’s Frank Gotch. However, each of them declined his invitation.
Gamma and his challenge
At one point, Gama offered to fight 20 British wrestlers in back-to-back matches, but still no one was willing to accept his challenge.
When Gama returned to India from England, Gama played against Rahim Bakhsh Sultani Wala in Allahabad. After a fierce battle, Gama eventually emerged victorious and earned the title “Rustam-e-Hind”.
Gama Pehalwan: Rustam-e-Hind
Great Gamma: Rustam-e-Hind
Strongest opponent
When asked about his strongest opponent, Gama replied: “Rahim Bakhsh Sultani Wala.”
In 1916, Gama defeated another of India’s best wrestlers, Pandit Biddu.
Pandit Bidu
Prince of Wales Honors
In 1922, when the Prince of Wales visited India, he presented Gama with a silver mace.
Prince of Wales presents silver mace to Gamma
tiger”
Until 1927, Gamma had no rivals. Soon, however, it was announced that Gama and Zbyszko would face off again. In a match held in Patiala in January 1928, Gama defeated Zbyszko in one minute to win the Indian version of the World Wrestling Championship. After the game, Zbyszko called Gama “Tiger.”
Gamma (right) wrestling with Stanislaus Zbyszko
Gamma Pehavan and Stanislaus Zbyszko
New beginning
Gamma’s final match in his career was against Jesse Peterson in February 1929. The match lasted just a minute and a half, with Gamma winning.
In the 1940s, at the invitation of the Nizam of Hyderabad, Gama defeated all his warriors. The Nizam then sent him to fight the wrestler Balram Heeraman Singh Yadav, who was never defeated in his life. After a long battle, Gama failed to defeat him, and neither side emerged victorious.
Gama Pehalwan and Balram Heeraman Singh Yadav (left)
After the partition of India in 1947, Gama moved to Pakistan.
retire
Until his retirement in 1952, Gamma failed to find another opponent. After retiring, Gama trained his nephew Bholu Pahalwan, who remained in the Pakistan Wrestling Championship for nearly two decades.
Borupehavan
die
In his final days, Gamma suffered from chronic illness and struggled to afford treatment. To help him out, industrialist and wrestling fan GD Birla donated Rs 2,000 and a monthly pension of Rs 300. The Government of Pakistan also funded his medical expenses until his death on May 23, 1960.
Gamma’s last days
biggest admirer
International martial arts coach Bruce Lee called himself an avid follower and biggest admirer of the great Gamma. What’s even more fascinating is that he even incorporated Indian elements of push-ups and squats (baithaks) into his training system.
bruce lee
fact
- Gama Pehalwan does not drink or smoke.
- Here’s a glimpse into the life of the legendary wrestler:
- On May 22, 2022, Google celebrated the success of Gama Pehalwan with a doodle artwork.
Google Doodle by Gama Pehalwan
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education