Gama Pehlwan, also known as Ghulam Muhammad Baksh Butt, was a legendary wrestler from Punjab, India (now part of Pakistan) who lived from 1878 to 1963. He is considered to be one of the greatest wrestlers of all time and was known for his immense strength, endurance, and skill.
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Gama Pehlwan’s wrestling career spanned more than 50 years, during which he remained undefeated in over 5000 matches. He won numerous championships and titles, including the Indian Wrestling Championship, the Rustam-e-Hind (Champion of India) title, and the World Heavyweight Championship.
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Gama Pehlwan was also known for his philanthropic work, particularly for his efforts to promote physical fitness and wrestling among the youth. He was a mentor to many aspiring wrestlers and is remembered as a great role model and inspiration for generations of wrestlers.
Gama Pehlwan passed away in 1963 at the age of 85, but his legacy continues to inspire and influence the sport of wrestling in India and beyond.
Early life
Gama Pehlwan was born on May 22, 1878, in Amritsar, Punjab, which was then part of British India. His father, Aziz Baksh, was a wrestler and taught Gama Pehlwan and his brothers the art of wrestling from an early age.
Gama Pehlwan began training in wrestling when he was just seven years old and quickly developed a passion for the sport. He would often wrestle with other children in his neighborhood and was known for his exceptional strength and skill even as a young boy.
As he grew older, Gama Pehlwan continued to train rigorously and soon became a formidable wrestler. He began competing in local wrestling tournaments and quickly gained a reputation as a skilled and powerful wrestler.
Gama Pehlwan’s early life was marked by poverty and hardship, and wrestling provided him with a means to support his family. Despite facing many challenges, he remained committed to his training and quickly rose to become one of the greatest wrestlers of his time.
Career
Gama Pehlwan’s wrestling career spanned more than five decades and he competed in numerous wrestling tournaments and matches in India and around the world. He was known for his incredible strength, agility, and skill, and remained undefeated throughout his career, winning more than 5000 matches.
One of Gama Pehlwan’s most notable achievements was winning the Rustam-e-Hind (Champion of India) title in 1910, which was considered to be the most prestigious wrestling title in India at the time. He held the title for nearly 50 years, until his retirement in 1954.
Gama Pehlwan also competed in international wrestling tournaments, including the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics, where he represented India in the freestyle wrestling competition. Although he did not win a medal at the Olympics, he won the gold medal at the 1930 British Empire Games in Canada.
In addition to his wrestling career, Gama Pehlwan was also known for his philanthropic work. He opened a wrestling academy in Lahore, Pakistan, where he trained and mentored young wrestlers. He also supported various social causes and was a vocal advocate for physical fitness and healthy living.
Gama Pehlwan retired from wrestling in 1954 at the age of 76. He passed away in 1963 at the age of 85, but his legacy continues to inspire and influence the sport of wrestling in India and around the world.
First encounter with Raheem Bakhsh Sultaniwala
One of the most famous episodes in Gama Pehlwan’s wrestling career is his first encounter with Raheem Bakhsh Sultaniwala, another legendary wrestler from Punjab, India.
The two wrestlers met for the first time in 1908, when Raheem Bakhsh Sultaniwala challenged Gama Pehlwan to a wrestling match. At the time, Raheem Bakhsh was considered to be the strongest wrestler in Punjab, and many people believed that he would defeat Gama Pehlwan easily.
The match took place in Lahore, Pakistan, in front of a large audience, and it lasted for several hours. Gama Pehlwan and Raheem Bakhsh both displayed incredible strength and skill, and the match was very closely contested.
In the end, Gama Pehlwan emerged as the victor, defeating Raheem Bakhsh and establishing himself as one of the greatest wrestlers of his time. The match became legendary and is still remembered as one of the most epic wrestling matches in history.
Despite their intense rivalry, Gama Pehlwan and Raheem Bakhsh remained close friends and mutual admirers throughout their lives. They went on to have several more matches against each other, with Gama Pehlwan winning most of them.
Tournament in London
One of the most significant moments in Gama Pehlwan’s wrestling career was his participation in a tournament in London in 1910. The tournament was organized by the Indian High Commission and featured wrestlers from India, Europe, and the United States.
Gama Pehlwan was invited to participate in the tournament, along with other top wrestlers from India, such as Imam Baksh Pahalwan and Rahim Baksh Sultaniwala. The tournament was held in the famous Albert Hall, and it attracted a large audience of wrestling fans from all over the world.
Gama Pehlwan dominated the tournament, defeating all of his opponents and winning the title of World Heavyweight Champion. His victory was a significant achievement, as it established him as one of the greatest wrestlers in the world.
Gama Pehlwan’s success in the London tournament helped to popularize wrestling in India and around the world. He became a national hero in India and inspired a new generation of wrestlers to take up the sport.
The London tournament was just one of many international competitions in which Gama Pehlwan participated throughout his career. He competed in wrestling matches and tournaments all over the world, including in the United States, Europe, and Asia. His incredible strength and skill, combined with his humble and gracious personality, made him a beloved figure in the world of wrestling and a symbol of Indian pride and resilience.
Match with Stanislaus Zbyszko
One of the most famous matches in Gama Pehlwan’s wrestling career was his encounter with Stanislaus Zbyszko, a Polish wrestler who was considered to be one of the best wrestlers in the world at the time.
The match took place in 1928 in Patiala, India, in front of a crowd of more than 50,000 people. It was a highly anticipated match, as both wrestlers were known for their incredible strength and skill.
The match lasted for several hours and was fiercely contested, with both wrestlers displaying incredible stamina and technique. In the end, Gama Pehlwan emerged as the victor, defeating Zbyszko and retaining his status as the World Heavyweight Champion.
The match with Zbyszko was significant for several reasons. It demonstrated Gama Pehlwan’s incredible strength and skill, and solidified his reputation as one of the greatest wrestlers in history. It also helped to elevate the status of wrestling in India and around the world, as the match was widely covered in the press and helped to popularize the sport.
Gama Pehlwan’s victory over Zbyszko is still remembered as one of the most epic wrestling matches in history, and it remains a testament to his enduring legacy as a wrestler and a symbol of Indian pride and resilience.
Final years
After retiring from wrestling in 1954, Gama Pehlwan continued to support and promote the sport of wrestling in India. He founded a wrestling academy in Lahore, Pakistan, where he trained and mentored young wrestlers, passing on his knowledge and experience to future generations of athletes.
Gama Pehlwan also remained active in social and political circles, advocating for physical fitness and healthy living. He was known for his philanthropic work and his support for various social causes, including education, healthcare, and community development.
In his later years, Gama Pehlwan faced health problems and was confined to a wheelchair due to arthritis. However, he continued to inspire and influence people through his words and actions, and his legacy as a wrestler and a humanitarian continued to grow.
Gama Pehlwan passed away in 1963 at the age of 85, but his legacy continues to inspire and influence the sport of wrestling in India and around the world. He remains a national hero in India and a symbol of strength, resilience, and dedication. His contributions to the sport of wrestling and to society as a whole are still remembered and celebrated today.
Legacy
Gama Pehlwan’s legacy as one of the greatest wrestlers in history is still widely recognized and celebrated today. He is remembered for his incredible strength, skill, and endurance, as well as for his dedication to promoting the sport of wrestling in India and around the world.
Gama Pehlwan’s contributions to the sport of wrestling are many. He developed a unique style of wrestling that combined traditional Indian techniques with modern techniques from around the world. He also helped to elevate the status of wrestling in India, demonstrating that Indian wrestlers could compete and win against the best wrestlers from around the world.
Gama Pehlwan was also known for his philanthropic work and his support for social causes. He was a strong advocate for physical fitness and healthy living, and he used his influence to support various education, healthcare, and community development projects.
Today, Gama Pehlwan is remembered as a national hero in India, and his legacy continues to inspire and influence the sport of wrestling in India and around the world. Wrestlers from all over the world continue to study and emulate his techniques and his approach to the sport, and his impact on wrestling is still felt to this day.
