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Created page with "{{pp-pc|small=yes}} {{Short description|Colonial Indian wrestler (1878–1960)}} {{For|Stampede Wrestling professional wrestler of the 1970s to 2000s|Gama Singh}} {{More citations needed|date=May 2022}} {{EngvarB|date=July 2016}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}} {{Use Indian English|date=May 2022}} {{Infobox professional wrestler | name = Gama Pehlwan | image = Gama1916.jpg | birth_name = Ghulam Mohammad Baksh Butt<ref>https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/deta..."
 
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{{pp-pc|small=yes}}
{{pp-pc|small=yes}}
{{Short description|Colonial Indian wrestler (1878–1960)}}
{{Short description|Wrestler from British India}}
{{for|Portuguese explorer|Vasco da Gama}}
{{For|Stampede Wrestling professional wrestler of the 1970s to 2000s|Gama Singh}}
{{For|Stampede Wrestling professional wrestler of the 1970s to 2000s|Gama Singh}}
{{More citations needed|date=May 2022}}
{{More citations needed|date=May 2022}}  
{{EngvarB|date=July 2016}}
{{EngvarB|date=July 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2022}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2022}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2022}}
{{Infobox professional wrestler
{{Infobox professional wrestler
| name        = Gama Pehlwan
| name        = Gama Pehlwan
| image        = Gama1916.jpg
| image        = Gama1916.jpg
| birth_name  = Ghulam Mohammad Baksh Butt<ref>https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/710515-the-great-gama-pahelwan</ref>
| birth_name  = Ghulam Mohammad Baksh Butt<ref name="thenews">{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/710515-the-great-gama-pahelwan|title=The Great Gama Pahelwan &#124; Sports &#124; thenews.com.pk|website=www.thenews.com.pk}}</ref>
| birth_date  = {{Birth date|1878|5|22|df=yes}}
| birth_date  = {{Birth date|1878|5|22|df=yes}}
| death_date  = {{Death date and age|1960|5|23|1878|5|22|df=yes}}<ref>Nidaay-e-Millat, Urdu Weekly Magazine 21–27 July 2016. Lahore</ref>
| death_date  = {{Death date and age|1960|5|23|1878|5|22|df=yes}}<ref>Nidaay-e-Millat, Urdu Weekly Magazine 21–27 July 2016. Lahore</ref>
| birth_place  = [[Jabbowal]], [[Amritsar district|Amritsar]], [[Punjab Province (British India)|Punjab]], [[British India]]<ref name="Lentz">{{cite book|author=Harris M. Lentz III|title=Biographical Dictionary of Professional Wrestling, 2d ed.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JyiSCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA118|date=21 October 2003|publisher=McFarland|isbn=978-0-7864-1754-4|page=118|quote=Gama the Great (Ghulum Mohammed; b. 1888, d. 1953; Amritsar, Punjab, India; 5'8", 250 lbs.) was from a prominent wrestling family in India.}}</ref><ref name="indiatimes">{{cite news |title=Here's The Story Of Gama 'The Undefeated' Pehalwan And How He Saved Hindus During 1947 Riots |url=https://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/here-s-the-story-of-gama-the-undefeated-pehalwan-and-how-he-saved-hindus-during-1947-riots-321745.html |work=[[India Times]] |date=16 May 2017|quote=Gama Pehalwan was born as Ghulam Mohammed in 1878 in Amritsar.}}</ref><ref name="pakistantoday">{{cite news |title=The Great Gama and Lahore |url=https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2018/01/05/the-great-gama-and-lahore/ |work=[[Pakistan Today]] |date=5 January 2018|quote=Ghulam Muhammad later known as the Gama Pehalwan was born in a Kashmiri family in Amritsar on May 22 1878.}}</ref> <br /> {{small|(now in [[Kapurthala District|Kapurthala]], [[Punjab, India|Punjab]], [[India]])}}
| birth_place  = [[Jabbowal]], [[Amritsar district|Amritsar]], [[Punjab Province (British India)|Punjab]], [[British India]]<ref name="Lentz">{{cite book|author=Harris M. Lentz III|title=Biographical Dictionary of Professional Wrestling, 2d ed.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JyiSCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA118|year=2003|publisher=McFarland|isbn=978-0786417544|page=118|quote=Gama the Great (Ghulum Mohammed; b. 1888, d. 1953; Amritsar, Punjab, India; 5'7", 250 lbs.) was from a prominent wrestling family in India.}}</ref><ref name="indiatimes">{{cite news |title=Here's The Story Of Gama 'The Undefeated' Pehalwan And How He Saved Hindus During 1947 Riots |url=https://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/here-s-the-story-of-gama-the-undefeated-pehalwan-and-how-he-saved-hindus-during-1947-riots-321745.html |work=[[India Times]] |date=16 May 2017|quote=Gama Pehalwan was born as Ghulam Mohammed in 1878 in Amritsar.}}</ref><ref name="pakistantoday">{{cite news |title=The Great Gama and Lahore |url=https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2018/01/05/the-great-gama-and-lahore/ |work=[[Pakistan Today]] |date=5 January 2018|quote=Ghulam Muhammad later known as the Gama Pehalwan was born in a Kashmiri family in Amritsar on May 22 1878.}}</ref> <br />(present-day [[Kapurthala District|Kapurthala]], [[Punjab, India|Punjab]], [[India]])
| death_place  = [[Lahore]], [[Punjab, Pakistan]]
| death_place  = [[Lahore]], [[Punjab, Pakistan]]
| family      = [[Imam Baksh Pahalwan]] (brother)<br/>[[Kalsoom Nawaz Sharif]] (granddaughter)
| family      = [[Imam Baksh Pahalwan]] (brother)<br/>[[Kalsoom Nawaz Sharif]] (granddaughter)
Line 22: Line 23:
| retired      =  
| retired      =  
}}
}}
'''Ghulam Mohammad Baksh Butt<ref name="thenews"/>''' (22 May 1878 – 23 May 1960), commonly known as '''''Rustam-e-Hind''''' ([[Hindi-Urdu]] for ''[[Rostam]] of [[Names_for_India#Hind_/_Hindustān|Hindostan]]'') and by the [[ring name]] '''The Great Gama''',<ref>{{cite book |last1=Garg |first1=Chitra |title=Indian Champions: Profiles of Famous Indian Sportspersons |date=2010 |publisher=Rajpal & Sons |isbn=978-81-7028-852-7 |page=352 |quote=He managed to get the Indian wrestling style introduced in the international games. He is solely responsible for earning international fame for this form of wrestling and was given the title of 'Rustam-e-Hind.'}}</ref> was a [[pehlwani]] wrestler and [[strongman]] in [[British India]]. In the early 20th century, he was an undefeated wrestling champion of India .<ref>{{cite book |last1=Green |first1=Thomas A. |title=Martial Arts of the World: A-Q |date=2001 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |isbn=978-1-57607-150-2 |page=721 |quote=An early-twentieth century studio photo of the famous Indian wrestler The Great Gama (Ghulam Mohammed, 1878-1960).}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Tadié |first1=Alexis |last2=Mangan |first2=J. A. |last3=Chaudhuri |first3=Supriya |title=Sport, Literature, Society: Cultural Historical Studies |date=2016 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-134-92024-2 |page=41 |quote=In recent years, the history of modern Indian wrestling - or ''kushti'' - has begun to receive scholarly attention. Most accounts agree that the last decades of the nineteenth century saw the coming of the modern form of this ancient Indian sport, with Indian wrestlers emerging from the confines of their ''akhadas'' and fighting with their Western counterparts. Between 1910 and 1913, a wave of Indian wrestlers visited England and took the wrestling world by storm. The most iconic of them was the great Gama – the 'lion of Punjab' – arguably the greatest wrestler India has ever produced.}}</ref>


'''Ghulam Mohammad Baksh Butt<ref>https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/710515-the-great-gama-pahelwan</ref>''' (22 May 1878 – 23 May 1960), commonly known as '''''Rustam-e-Hind''''' ([[Hindi-Urdu]] for ''[[Rostam]] of India'') and by the [[ring name]] '''The Great Gama''',<ref>{{cite book |last1=Garg |first1=Chitra |title=Indian Champions: Profiles of Famous Indian Sportspersons |date=2010 |publisher=Rajpal & Sons |isbn=978-81-7028-852-7 |page=352 |quote=He managed to get the Indian wrestling style introduced in the international games. He is solely responsible for earning international fame for this form of wrestling and was given the title of 'Rustam-e-Hind.'}}</ref> was a [[colonial India|Indian (Colonial)]] [[pehlwani]] wrestler and [[Strongman (strength athlete)|strongman]]. In the early 20th century, he was an undefeated wrestling champion of the world.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Green |first1=Thomas A. |title=Martial Arts of the World: A-Q |date=2001 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |isbn=978-1-57607-150-2 |page=721 |quote=An early-twentieth century studio photo of the famous Indian wrestler The Great Gama (Ghulam Mohammed, 1878-1960).}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Tadié |first1=Alexis |last2=Mangan |first2=J. A. |last3=Chaudhuri |first3=Supriya |title=Sport, Literature, Society: Cultural Historical Studies |date=2016 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-134-92024-2 |page=41 |quote=In recent years, the history of modern Indian wrestling - or ''kushti'' - has begun to receive scholarly attention. Most accounts agree that the last decades of the nineteenth century saw the coming of the modern form of this ancient Indian sport, with Indian wrestlers emerging from the confines of their ''akhadas'' and fighting with their Western counterparts. Between 1910 and 1913, a wave of Indian wrestlers visited England and took the wrestling world by storm. The most iconic of them was the great Gama - the 'lion of Punjab' - arguably the greatest wrestler India has ever produced.}}</ref>
Born in the village of [[Jabbowal]], [[Amritsar District]] in the [[Punjab Province (British India)|Punjab Province]] of British India in 1878,<ref name="Lentz"/> Baksh was awarded a version of the [[World Heavyweight Championship (professional wrestling)|World Heavyweight Championship]] on 15 October 1910. Undefeated in a career spanning more than 52 years, he is considered one of the greatest Indian wrestlers of all time.<ref>{{cite news|title=The culture and crisis of kushti|url=http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/columns/sainath/the-culture-and-crisis-of-kushti/article5297790.ece?homepage=true|newspaper=The Hindu|date=31 October 2013|access-date=2 July 2016}}</ref> After the [[partition of India|partition of British India]], into the [[Dominion of India]] and the [[Dominion of Pakistan]] in August 1947, Gama migrated to Pakistan, where he died in the city of [[Lahore]] on 23 May 1960.<ref name="indiatimes"/><ref name="toi1">{{cite news|last1=Banerjee|first1=Sarnath|author-link1=Sarnath Banerjee|title=Gamanamah: The story of a strongman|url=http://www.timescrest.com/society/gamanamah-the-story-of-a-strongman-7471|access-date=11 July 2017|work=The Times of India|date=10 March 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20131014144633/http://www.timescrest.com/society/gamanamah-the-story-of-a-strongman-7471|archive-date=14 October 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Hornbaker|first1=Tim|title=Legends of Pro Wrestling: 150 Years of Headlocks, Body Slams, and Piledrivers|date=2017|publisher=[[Skyhorse Publishing]]|isbn=978-1613218754|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UuGLDAAAQBAJ|access-date=11 July 2017}}</ref>
 
Born in village [[Jabbowal]], [[Amritsar District]] in the [[Punjab Province (British India)|Punjab Province]] of [[colonial India]] in 1878,<ref name="Lentz"/> Baksh was awarded a version of the [[World Heavyweight Championship (professional wrestling)|World Heavyweight Championship]] on 15 October 1910. Undefeated in a career spanning more than 52 years, he is considered one of the greatest wrestlers of all time.<ref>{{cite news|title=The culture and crisis of kushti|url=http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/columns/sainath/the-culture-and-crisis-of-kushti/article5297790.ece?homepage=true|newspaper=The Hindu|date=31 October 2013|access-date=2 July 2016}}</ref> During the [[partition of India]], the Great Gama saved the lives of many Hindus and then spent the rest of his days until his death on May 23, 1960, in [[Lahore]], which became a part of the newly created [[Islamic Republic of Pakistan]].<ref name="indiatimes"/><ref name="toi1">{{cite news|last1=Banerjee|first1=Sarnath|author-link1=Sarnath Banerjee|title=Gamanamah: The story of a strongman|url=http://www.timescrest.com/society/gamanamah-the-story-of-a-strongman-7471|access-date=11 July 2017|work=The Times of India|date=10 March 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20131014144633/http://www.timescrest.com/society/gamanamah-the-story-of-a-strongman-7471|archive-date=14 October 2013|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Hornbaker|first1=Tim|title=Legends of Pro Wrestling: 150 Years of Headlocks, Body Slams, and Piledrivers|date=2017|publisher=[[Skyhorse Publishing]]|isbn=9781613218754|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UuGLDAAAQBAJ|access-date=11 July 2017}}</ref>


==Early life==
==Early life==
Ghulam Mohammad Baksh was born on May 22nd, 1878 in [[Jabbowal|Jabbowal Village]], [[Amritsar district]], [[Punjab Province (British India)|Punjab Province]], [[British India]] (now [[Jabbowal]], [[Kapurthala District]], [[Punjab, India|Punjab]], [[India]])  into a [[Kashmiri Muslim]] family of wrestlers.<ref name="bio1">{{cite book|last1=Lentz III|first1=Harris M.|title=Biographical Dictionary of Professional Wrestling|date=2003|publisher=[[McFarland & Company|McFarland]]|isbn=9780786417544|page=118|edition=2|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JyiSCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA118|access-date=11 July 2017|quote=Gama the Great (Ghulum Mohammed; b. 1888, d. 1953; Amritsar, Punjab, India; 5'8", 250 lbs.) was from a prominent wrestling family in India.}}</ref><ref name="indiatimes">{{cite news |title=Here's The Story Of Gama 'The Undefeated' Pehalwan And How He Saved Hindus During 1947 Riots |url=https://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/here-s-the-story-of-gama-the-undefeated-pehalwan-and-how-he-saved-hindus-during-1947-riots-321745.html |work=[[India Times]] |date=16 May 2017|quote=Gama Pehalwan was born as Ghulam Mohammed in 1878 in Amritsar.}}</ref><ref name="pakistantoday" /> The Baksh family is believed by historians to originally have been [[Kashmiri Hindu]]s ([[Bhat]]) who converted to Islam during Muslim rule in the Kashmir region of the Indian subcontinent.<ref name="google">{{cite book|title=Kashmir and Its People: Studies in the Evolution of Kashmiri Society|author1=Kaw, K.|author2=Kashmir Education, Culture, and Science Society|date=2004|publisher=A.P.H. Publishing Corporation|isbn=9788176485371|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QpjKpK7ywPIC|access-date=7 July 2015}}</ref>
He was first noticed at the age of ten, in 1888, when he entered a [[Strongman (strength athlete)|strongman]] competition held in [[Jodhpur]], which included many gruelling exercises such as squats. The contest was attended by more than four hundred wrestlers and Gama was among the last fifteen and was named the winner by the Maharaja of Jodhpur due to his young age.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Sen|first1=Ronojoy|title=Nation at Play: A History of Sport in India|date=2015|publisher=[[Columbia University Press]]|isbn=9780231539937|page=167|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=O5mACgAAQBAJ|access-date=11 July 2017}}</ref> Gama was subsequently taken into training by the Maharaja of [[Datia]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.mensxp.com/special-features/today/26954-the-great-gama-story-of-the-greatest-pehelwan-to-ever-walk-on-indian-soil.html|title=The Great Gama: Story Of The Greatest 'Buffer' To Ever Walk On Indian Soil|last=Prasher|first=Shantanu|newspaper=www.mensxp.com|access-date=2017-01-14}}</ref>
==Training==
[[File:Squat, baithak, Hindu squat, possibly 'The Great Gamma'.png|thumb|Gama performing a [[Squat (exercise)#Bodyweight|baithak]]]]
[[File:Squat, baithak, Hindu squat, possibly 'The Great Gamma'.png|thumb|Gama performing a [[Squat (exercise)#Bodyweight|baithak]]]]
[[File:Dand, Dund, Hindu push-up.png|thumb|Gama performing a [[Push-up#Hindu push-up|dand]]]]
[[File:Dand, Dund, Hindu push-up.png|thumb|Gama performing a [[Push-up#Hindu push-up|dand]]]]
Gama's daily training consisted of grappling with forty of his fellow wrestlers in the ''[[akhada]]'' (court). He did a minimum of five thousand ''baithak''s (squats) and three thousand ''dand''s (Indian word for pushups)  in a day and even sometimes more within 30 to 45 minutes each by wearing a doughnut-shaped wrestling apparatus called a ''Hasli'' of 1 [[Quintal]] (approx. 100 kilos).<ref name="The Great Gama">{{Cite web|url=http://legendarystrength.com/great-gama/|title=The Great Gama -|website=Legendary Strength|date=8 December 2013|language=en-US|access-date=29 March 2016}}</ref>
Ghulam Mohammad Baksh was born on 22 May 1878 in [[Jabbowal|Jabbowal Village]], [[Amritsar district]], [[Punjab Province (British India)|Punjab Province]], [[British India]] (now [[Jabbowal]], [[Kapurthala District]], [[Punjab, India|Punjab]], [[India]]) into a [[Kashmiri Muslim]] family of wrestlers.<ref name="bio1">{{cite book|last1=Lentz III|first1=Harris M.|title=Biographical Dictionary of Professional Wrestling|date=2003|publisher=[[McFarland & Company|McFarland]]|isbn=978-0786417544|page=118|edition=2|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JyiSCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA118|access-date=11 July 2017|quote=Gama the Great (Ghulum Mohammed; b. 1888, d. 1953; Amritsar, Punjab, India; 5'8", 250 lbs.) was from a prominent wrestling family in India.}}</ref><ref name="indiatimes"/><ref name="pakistantoday" />
 
He was first noticed at the age of ten, in 1888, when he entered a [[Strongman (strength athlete)|strongman]] competition held in [[Jodhpur]], which included many gruelling exercises such as squats.<ref name="HT">{{cite web |title=Google Doodle celebrates India's Gama Pehlwan, the undefeated wrestling champion |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/google-doodle-celebrates-india-s-gama-pehlwan-the-undefeated-wrestling-champion-101653180853982.html |website=[[Hindustan Times]] |language=en |date=22 May 2022}}</ref> The contest was attended by more than four hundred wrestlers and Gama was among the last fifteen and was named the winner by the Maharaja of Jodhpur due to his young age.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Sen|first1=Ronojoy|title=Nation at Play: A History of Sport in India|date=2015|publisher=[[Columbia University Press]]|isbn=978-0231539937|page=167|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=O5mACgAAQBAJ|access-date=11 July 2017}}</ref> Gama was subsequently taken into training by the Maharaja of [[Datia]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.mensxp.com/special-features/today/26954-the-great-gama-story-of-the-greatest-pehelwan-to-ever-walk-on-indian-soil.html|title=The Great Gama: Story Of The Greatest 'Buffer' To Ever Walk On Indian Soil|last=Prasher|first=Shantanu|newspaper=www.mensxp.com|access-date=14 January 2017}}</ref>


==Career==
==Career==
===First encounter with Raheem Bakhsh Sultaniwala===
===First encounter with Raheem Bakhsh Sultaniwala===
Fame came to Gama in 1895, at the age of 17 when he challenged then-Indian Wrestling Champion, middle-aged Raheem Bakhsh Sultani Wala, another ethnic Kashmiri wrestler from [[Gujranwala]], [[Punjab Province (British India)|Punjab Province]], [[Colonial India]] (now in Pakistan).{{Citation needed|date= June 2018}} At about 7 feet tall, with a very impressive win–loss record, Raheem was expected to easily defeat the 5'7" Gama. Raheem's only drawback was his age as he was much older than Gama, and near the end of his career. The bout continued for hours and eventually ended in a draw.{{Citation needed|date= June 2018}} The contest with Raheem was the turning point in Gama's career. After that, he was looked upon as the next contender for the title of Rustam-e-Hind or the ''Indian Wrestling Championship''. In the first bout Gama remained defensive, but in the second bout, Gama went on the offensive. Despite severe bleeding from his nose and ears, he managed to deal out a great deal of damage to Raheem Bakhsh.{{Citation needed|date= June 2018}}
In 1895, at the age of 17, Gama challenged then-Indian Wrestling Champion, middle-aged Raheem Bakhsh Sultani Wala, another ethnic Kashmiri wrestler from [[Gujranwala]], [[Punjab Province (British India)|Punjab Province]], [[Colonial India]] (now in Pakistan).<ref>{{cite book |last1=Hong |first1=Fan |last2=Zhouxiang |first2=Lu |title=The Routledge Handbook of Sport in Asia |date=20 May 2020 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-0-429-59027-6 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vHjnDwAAQBAJ&dq=great+gama+%22Raheem+Bakhsh%22&pg=PT185 |language=en}}</ref> At about {{convert|7|ft}} tall, with a very impressive win–loss record, Raheem was expected to easily defeat the {{convert|5|ft|7|in|adj=on}} Gama. Raheem's only drawback was his age as he was much older than Gama, and near the end of his career. The bout continued for hours and eventually ended in a draw.<ref name="baksh">{{cite news |title=Gama Pehlwan: 144th Birth Anniversary of Gama Pehlwan 2022 |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/google-doodle-celebrates-gama-pehalwan-the-undefeated-wrestling-champion-2997919 |work=NDTV |language=en-IN}}</ref> The contest with Raheem was the turning point in Gama's career. After that, he was looked upon as the next contender for the title of ''Rustam-e-Hind'' or the ''Indian Wrestling Championship''. In the first bout Gama remained defensive, but in the second bout he went on the offensive. Despite severe bleeding from his nose and ears, he managed to deal a great deal of damage to Raheem Bakhsh.<ref name="baksh"/><ref>{{cite book |last1=Alter |first1=Joseph S. |title=The Wrestler's Body: Identity and Ideology in North India |date=3 August 1992 |publisher=University of California Press |isbn=978-0-520-91217-5 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EMu1xKEWBt4C&q=great+gama+%22Raheem+Bakhsh%22+%22biddu%22 |language=en}}</ref>


By 1910, Gama had defeated all the prominent Indian wrestlers who faced him except the champion, Raheem Bakhsh Sultani Wala (the Rustam-e-Hind or the lineal champion of India). At this time, he focused his attention on the rest of the world. Accompanied by his younger brother [[Imam Baksh Pahalwan|Imam Bakhsh]], Gama sailed to England to compete with the Western wrestlers but could not gain instant entry, because of his lower height.<ref name=alter>{{cite book|last=Alter|first=Joseph S.|title=The wrestler's body identity and ideology in North India|year=1992|publisher=University of California Press|location=Berkeley|isbn=9780520912175|page=76|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EMu1xKEWBt4C}}</ref>
By 1910, Gama had defeated all the prominent Indian wrestlers who faced him except Raheem. At this time, he focused his attention on the rest of the world. Accompanied by his younger brother [[Imam Baksh Pahalwan|Imam Bakhsh]], Gama sailed to England to compete with the Western wrestlers but could not gain instant entry, because of his lower height.<ref name=alter>{{cite book|last=Alter|first=Joseph S.|title=The wrestler's body identity and ideology in North India|year=1992|publisher=University of California Press|location=Berkeley|isbn=978-0520912175|page=76|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EMu1xKEWBt4C}}</ref>


===Tournament in London===
===Tournament in London===
In London, Gama issued a challenge that he could throw any three wrestlers in thirty minutes of any weight class. This announcement however was seen as a bluff by the wrestlers and their wrestling promoter R. B. Benjamin.<ref name="toi1"/> For a long time no one came forward to accept the challenge. To break the ice, Gama presented another challenge to specific heavy weight wrestlers. He challenged [[Stanislaus Zbyszko]] and [[Frank Gotch]], either he would beat them or pay them the prize money and go home. The first professional wrestler to take his challenge was the American [[Ben Roller|Benjamin Roller]]. In the bout, Gama pinned Roller in 1 minute 40 seconds the first time, and in 9 minutes 10 seconds the other. On the second day, he defeated 12 wrestlers and thus gained entry to official tournament.<ref name=alter/>
In London, Gama issued a challenge that he could throw any three wrestlers in thirty minutes of any weight class. This announcement however was seen as a bluff by the wrestlers and their wrestling promoter R. B. Benjamin.<ref name="toi1"/> For a long time no one came forward to accept the challenge. To break the ice, Gama presented another challenge to specific heavy weight wrestlers. He challenged [[Stanislaus Zbyszko]] and [[Frank Gotch]], either he would beat them or pay them the prize money and go home. The first professional wrestler to take his challenge was the American [[Ben Roller|Benjamin Roller]]. In the bout, Gama pinned Roller in 1 minute 40 seconds the first time, and in 9 minutes 10 seconds the other. On the second day, he defeated 12 wrestlers and thus gained entry to the official tournament.<ref name=alter/>


===Match with [[Stanislaus Zbyszko]]===
===Match with Stanislaus Zbyszko===
He was pitted against world champion [[Stanislaus Zbyszko]]<ref name=alter/> and the date of bout was set as 10 September 1910. Zbyszko was then regarded among the premier wrestlers in the world; and he would then take on the mammoth challenge of India's feared Great Gama, an undefeated champion who had been unsuccessful in his attempts to lure Frank Gotch into a match. And so, on September 10, 1910, Zbyszko faced the Great Gama in the finals of the [[John Bull]] World Championships in London.{{Citation needed|date= June 2018}} The match was £250 in prize money and the John Bull Belt. Within a minute, Zbyszko was taken down and remained in that position for the remaining 2 hours and 35 minutes of the match. There were a few brief moments when Zbyszko would get up, but he just ended back down in his previous position. Crafting a defensive strategy of hugging the mat in order to nullify Great Gama's greatest strengths, Zbyszko wrestled the Indian legend to a draw after nearly three hours of grappling, though Zbyszko's lack of tenacity angered many of the fans in attendance. {{Citation needed|date= June 2018}}
He was pitted against world champion [[Stanislaus Zbyszko]]<ref name=alter/> and the bout was set for 10 September 1910. Zbyszko was then regarded among the premier wrestlers in the world; and he would then take on the mammoth challenge of India's feared Great Gama, an undefeated champion who had been unsuccessful in his attempts to lure Frank Gotch into a match. And so, on 10 September 1910, Zbyszko faced the Great Gama in the finals of the [[John Bull]] World Championships in London.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Svinth |first1=Joseph |title=Martial Arts in the Modern World |date=2003 |publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group |isbn=978-0-275-98153-2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CayyJJg0KIsC&dq=Zbyszko+gama&pg=PA104 |language=en}}</ref> The match was worth £250 in prize money and the John Bull Belt. Within a minute, Zbyszko was taken down and remained in that position for the remaining 2 hours and 35 minutes of the match. There were a few brief moments when Zbyszko would get up, but he just ended back down in his previous position. Through this defensive strategy of hugging the mat in order to nullify Great Gama's greatest strengths, Zbyszko wrestled the Indian legend to a draw after nearly three hours of grappling, though Zbyszko's lack of tenacity angered many of the fans in attendance.<ref>{{cite web |title=Why the Great Gama is counted among the greatest wrestlers of all time |url=https://www.trtworld.com/magazine/why-the-great-gama-is-counted-among-the-greatest-wrestlers-of-all-time-57489 |website=trtworld |language=en}}</ref>


Nevertheless, Zbyszko still became one of the few wrestlers to ever meet the Great Gama without going down in defeat; The two men were set to face each other again on September 17, 1910. On that date, Zbyszko failed to show up and Gama was announced the winner by default.<ref>{{Cite news|title=The "John Bull" Wrestling belt won by an Indian|date=17 September 1910|work=The Derby Daily Telegraph}}</ref> He was awarded the prize and the John Bull Belt. Receiving this belt entitled Gama to be called [[Rustam-e-Zamana]] or [[World Champion]] but not the lineal champion of the world as he hadn't defeated Zbyszko in the ring.
Nevertheless, Zbyszko still became one of the few wrestlers to ever meet the Great Gama without going down in defeat; The two men were set to face each other again on 17 September 1910. On that date, Zbyszko failed to show up and Gama was announced the winner by default.<ref>{{Cite news|title=The 'John Bull& Wrestling belt won by an Indian|date=17 September 1910|work=The Derby Daily Telegraph}}</ref> He was awarded the prize and the John Bull Belt. Receiving this belt entitled Gama to be called ''[[Rustam-e-Zamana]]'' or [[World Champion]] but not the lineal champion of the world as he hadn't defeated Zbyszko in the ring.


===Bouts against American and European champions===
===Bouts against American and European champions===
During this tour Gama defeated some of the most respected grapplers in the world, "Doc" [[Benjamin Roller]] of the United States, Maurice Deriaz of Switzerland, Johann Lemm (the European Champion) of Switzerland, and Jesse Peterson (World Champion) from Sweden. In the match against Roller, Gama threw "Doc" 13 times in the 15-minute match.{{Citation needed|date= June 2018}} Gama now issued a challenge to the rest of those who laid claim to the World Champion's Title, including Japanese [[Judo]] champion [[Taro Miyake]], [[George Hackenschmidt]] of Russia and [[Frank Gotch]] of the United States – each declined his invitation to enter the ring to face him. At one point, to face some type of competition, Gama offered to fight twenty English wrestlers, one after another. He announced that he would defeat all of them or pay out prize money, but still no one would take up his challenge.{{Citation needed|date= June 2018}}
During this tour Gama defeated some of the most respected grapplers in the world, "Doc" [[Benjamin Roller]] of the United States, Maurice Deriaz of Switzerland, Johann Lemm (the European Champion) of Switzerland, and Jesse Peterson (World Champion) from Sweden. In the match against Roller, Gama threw "Doc" 13 times in the 15-minute match.{{Citation needed|date= June 2018}} Gama now issued a challenge to the rest of those who laid claim to the World Champion's Title, including Japanese [[Judo]] champion [[Taro Miyake]], [[George Hackenschmidt]] of Russia and [[Frank Gotch]] of the United States – each declined his invitation to enter the ring to face him. At one point, to face some type of competition, Gama offered to fight twenty English wrestlers, one after another. He announced that he would defeat all of them or pay out prize money, but still no one would take up his challenge.{{cn|date=May 2022}}


===Final encounter with Raheem Bakhsh Sultani Wala===
===Final encounter with Raheem Bakhsh Sultani Wala===


Shortly after his return from England, Gama faced Raheem Bakhsh Sultani Wala in [[Allahabad]]. This bout eventually ended the long struggle between the two pillars of Indian wrestling of that time in favour of Gama and he won the title of ''Rustam-e-Hind'' or the lineal Champion of India. Later in his life when asked about who was his strongest opponent, Gama replied, "Raheem Bakhsh Sultani Wala".{{Citation needed|date= June 2018}}
Shortly after his return from England, Gama faced Raheem Bakhsh Sultani Wala in [[Allahabad]]. This bout eventually ended the long struggle between the two pillars of Indian wrestling of that time in favour of Gama and he won the title of ''Rustam-e-Hind'' or the lineal Champion of India. Later in his life when asked about who was his strongest opponent, Gama replied, "Raheem Bakhsh Sultani Wala".<ref name="raheembaksh2">{{cite book |last1=Hornbaker |first1=Tim |title=Legends of Pro Wrestling: 150 Years of Headlocks, Body Slams, and Piledrivers |date=July 2012 |publisher=Skyhorse Publishing Inc. |isbn=978-1-61321-075-8 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4yNrCgAAQBAJ&q=great+gama+%22Raheem+Bakhsh%22 |language=en}}</ref>


===Rematch with Zbyszko===
===Rematch with Zbyszko===


After beating Raheem Bakhsh Sultani Wala, Gama faced Pandit Biddu{{citation needed|date=April 2012}}, who was one of the best wrestlers in [[India]] of that time (1916), and beat him.
After beating Raheem Bakhsh Sultani Wala, Gama faced Pandit Biddu,<ref>{{cite book |title=A problem to wrestle with |publisher=The Indian Express |page=23 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xIJlAAAAIBAJ&dq=%22Gama%22+%22pandit%22&pg=PA23&article_id=156,2990938 |language=en}}</ref> who was one of the best wrestlers in [[India]] of that time (1916), and beat him.


In 1922, during a visit to India, the [[Edward VIII|Prince of Wales]] presented Gama with a silver [[Ceremonial mace|mace]].
In 1922, during a visit to India, the [[Edward VIII|Prince of Wales]] presented Gama with a silver [[Ceremonial mace|mace]].
Line 68: Line 65:
At forty-eight years old he was now known as the "great wrestler" of India.<ref name="toi1"/>
At forty-eight years old he was now known as the "great wrestler" of India.<ref name="toi1"/>


After defeating Zbyszko, Gama beat Jesse Petersen in February 1929. The bout lasted only one and a half minutes. This was the last bout that Gama fought during his career.{{citation needed|date=May 2018}}  
After defeating Zbyszko, Gama beat Jesse Petersen in February 1929. The bout lasted only one and a half minutes. This was the last bout that Gama fought during his career.{{citation needed|date=May 2018}}


After the independence and [[partition of India]] in 1947, Gama moved to [[Pakistan]]. Although Gama did not retire until 1952, he failed to find any other opponents. Some other sources say he wrestled until 1955. After his retirement, he trained his nephew Bholu Pahalwan, who held the Pakistani wrestling championship for almost 20 years.{{Citation needed|date= June 2018}}
==Final years==
After the [[partition of India]] in 1947, Gama moved to [[Pakistan]]. During the Hindu-Muslim riots that broke out at the time of partition, Gama (a Muslim) saved hundreds of [[Hindus]] from mobs in [[Lahore]].<ref name="indiatimes"/><ref name="pakistantoday" /> Although Gama did not retire until 1952, he failed to find any other opponents. Some other sources say he wrestled until 1955. After his retirement, he trained his nephew Bholu Pahalwan, who held the Pakistani wrestling championship for almost 20 years.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ghulam Mohammad Baksh Butt — The Great Gama Pehalwan |url=https://dailytimes.com.pk/940790/ghulam-mohammad-baksh-butt-the-great-gama-pehalwan/ |work=Daily Times |date=25 May 2022}}</ref>


Gama fought and<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nwhof.org/hall_of_fame/bio_by_name/ghulam-muhammad#:~:text=Born%20in%201882%20in%20Armistar,wrestling%20in%20over%205%2C000%20matches.|title = Ghulam Muhammad}}</ref> won over five thousand matches<ref name="thenews"/><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JyiSCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA118|title = Biographical Dictionary of Professional Wrestling, 2d ed|date = 21 October 2003|isbn = 9780786417544}}</ref> His final days were difficult; he had five sons and four daughters and all the sons died young. When his youngest son Jalaluddin died in 1945 at the age of just thirteen, Gama was heartbroken and lost the power of speech for some days. He migrated to Pakistan at partition and tried his hand at different unsuccessful ventures including a bus service in Karachi called the "Gama Transport Service".<ref name="thenews">https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/710515-the-great-gama-pahelwan</ref> Gama was given land and monthly pension by the government and supported his medical expenses until his death.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/here-s-the-story-of-gama-the-undefeated-pehalwan-and-how-he-saved-hindus-during-1947-riots-321745.html|title = Here's the Story of Gama 'The Undefeated' Pehalwan and How He Saved Hindus During 1947 Riots|date = 16 May 2017}}</ref> He died in [[Lahore]], [[Pakistan]] on 23 May 1960 after a period of illness.
His final days were difficult; he had five sons and four daughters and all the sons died young. When his youngest son Jalaluddin died in 1945 at the age of just thirteen, Gama was heartbroken and lost the power of speech for some days. He migrated to Pakistan at partition and tried his hand at different unsuccessful ventures including a bus service in Karachi called the "Gama Transport Service".<ref name="thenews"/> Gama was given land and monthly pension by the government and supported his medical expenses until his death.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/here-s-the-story-of-gama-the-undefeated-pehalwan-and-how-he-saved-hindus-during-1947-riots-321745.html|title = Here's the Story of Gama 'The Undefeated' Pehalwan and How He Saved Hindus During 1947 Riots|date = 16 May 2017}}</ref> He died in [[Lahore]], [[Pakistan]] on 23 May 1960 after a period of illness.


[[Kulsoom Nawaz]], Pakistan’s first lady and wife of [[Nawaz Sharif]] who remained the Prime Minister of Pakistan, was the granddaughter of The Great Gama.
[[Kulsoom Nawaz]], politician and wife of former Pakistani Prime Minister [[Nawaz Sharif]], was the granddaughter of Gama.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Jajja |first1=Sumaira |title=WRESTLING: The Warrior's Soul |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1324342|work=Dawn| location=Pakistan |date=2 April 2017}}</ref>
[[File:The Great Gama - Title page of the book.jpg|thumb|The Great Gama – Title page of the book]]


==Legacy==
==Legacy==
[[Bruce Lee]] was an avid follower of Gama's training routine.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://english.newstracklive.com/news/happy-birthday-the-great-gama-mc23-nu901-ta901-ta321-1161342-1.html|title = The Great Gama victory journey, even Bruce Lee was a fan of him|date = 22 May 2021}}</ref> Lee read articles about Gama and how he employed his exercises to build his legendary strength for wrestling, and Lee quickly incorporated them into his own routine. The training routines Lee used included "[[Push-up#Hindu push-up|the cat stretch]]", and "the squat" (known as "baithak", and also known as the "deep-knee bend.").<ref>Little, John, ''Bruce Lee – The Art of Expressing The Human Body'' (Tuttle Publishing, 1998), p. 58</ref>
Gama fought and<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nwhof.org/hall_of_fame/bio_by_name/ghulam-muhammad#:~:text=Born%20in%201882%20in%20Armistar,wrestling%20in%20over%205%2C000%20matches.|title = Ghulam Muhammad}}</ref> won over five thousand matches.<ref name="thenews"/><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JyiSCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA118|title = Biographical Dictionary of Professional Wrestling, 2d ed|year=2003|isbn = 978-0786417544}}</ref> [[Bruce Lee]] was an avid follower of Gama's training routine.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://english.newstracklive.com/news/happy-birthday-the-great-gama-mc23-nu901-ta901-ta321-1161342-1.html|title = The Great Gama victory journey, even Bruce Lee was a fan of him|date = 22 May 2021}}</ref> Lee read articles about Gama and how he employed his exercises to build his legendary strength for wrestling, and Lee quickly incorporated them into his own routine. The training routines Lee used included "[[Push-up#Hindu push-up|the cat stretch]]", and "the squat" (known as "baithak", and also known as the "deep-knee bend.").<ref>Little, John, ''Bruce Lee – The Art of Expressing The Human Body'' (Tuttle Publishing, 1998), p. 58</ref>


Today, a doughnut-shaped exercise disc called Hasli weighing 100&nbsp;kg, used by him for squats and pushups, is housed at the [[National Institute of Sports]] (NIS) Museum at [[Patiala, India]].<ref>[http://www.tribuneindia.com/2001/20011124/windows/main5.htm A rare museum] ''[[The Tribune (Chandigarh)|The Tribune]]'', Published 24 November 2001, Retrieved 2 July 2016</ref>
Today, a doughnut-shaped exercise disc called Hasli weighing 100&nbsp;kg, used by him for squats and pushups, is housed at the [[National Institute of Sports]] (NIS) Museum at [[Patiala, India]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Tribune – Windows – Featured story|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/2001/20011124/windows/main5.htm|access-date=22 May 2022|website=www.tribuneindia.com}}</ref>


On 22 May 2022, search engine [[Google Search|Google]] commemorated Gama with a [[Google Doodle|Doodle]] on his 144th birth anniversary.<ref name="Gama Pehlwan on Google Doodle">{{cite web |title=Gama Pehlwan, undefeated wrestler 'The Great Gama,' honored in Google Doodle |website=9to5Google.com |date=21 May 2022 |url=https://www.google.com/9to5google.com/2022/05/21/gama-pehlwan-google-doodle/amp/ |access-date=22 May 2022}}</ref> Google commented: "Gama’s legacy continues to inspire modern day fighters. Even Bruce Lee is a known admirer and incorporates aspects of Gama's conditioning into his own training routine!"<ref name="Gama Pehlwan's Google Doodle">{{cite web |title=Gama Pehlwan's 144th birthday |date=22 May 2022 |url=https://www.google.com/doodles/gama-pehlwans-144th-birthday |access-date=22 May 2022}}</ref>
On 22 May 2022, search engine [[Google Search|Google]] commemorated Gama with a [[Google Doodle|Doodle]] on his 144th birth anniversary.<ref name="Gama Pehlwan on Google Doodle">{{cite web |title=Gama Pehlwan, undefeated wrestler 'The Great Gama,' honored in Google Doodle |website=9to5Google.com |date=21 May 2022 |url=https://www.google.com/9to5google.com/2022/05/21/gama-pehlwan-google-doodle/amp/ |access-date=22 May 2022}}</ref> Google commented: ''"Gama’s legacy continues to inspire modern day fighters. Even Bruce Lee is a known admirer and incorporates aspects of Gama's conditioning into his own training routine!"<ref name="Gama Pehlwan's Google Doodle">{{cite web |title=Gama Pehlwan's 144th birthday |date=22 May 2022 |url=https://www.google.com/doodles/gama-pehlwans-144th-birthday |access-date=22 May 2022}}</ref>''


==Championships and accomplishments==
==Championships and accomplishments==
*'''[[International Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame]]'''
*'''[[International Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame]]'''
**Class of 2021<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.prowrestlinghall.org/induction|title=Induction Weekend 2021 &#124; Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame}}</ref>
**Class of 2021<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.prowrestlinghall.org/induction|title=Induction Weekend 2022 &#124; Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame|website=IPWHF}}</ref>
*'''[[George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame]]'''
*'''[[George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame]]'''
** Class of 2007<ref>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2007/07/14/4339684.html|title=Emotions run high at Tragos/Thesz induction|last=Johnson|first=Steve|website=Slam! Wrestling|publisher=[[Canadian Online Explorer]]|date=July 14, 2007|access-date=November 6, 2018}}</ref>
** Class of 2007<ref>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2007/07/14/4339684.html|title=Emotions run high at Tragos/Thesz induction|last=Johnson|first=Steve|website=Slam! Wrestling|publisher=[[Canadian Online Explorer]]|date=14 July 2007|access-date=6 November 2018}}</ref>
*'''[[Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum]]'''
*'''[[Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum]]'''
** Class of 2015<ref>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2014/11/26/22096551.html|title=Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame Class of 2015 announced|last=Oliver|first=Greg|date=26 November 2014|access-date=2 July 2016|work=Slam! Sports|publisher=[[Canadian Online Explorer]]}}</ref>
** Class of 2015<ref>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2014/11/26/22096551.html|title=Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame Class of 2015 announced|last=Oliver|first=Greg|date=26 November 2014|access-date=2 July 2016|work=Slam! Sports|publisher=[[Canadian Online Explorer]]}}</ref>


== References ==
== References ==
<references/>
{{reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
*[http://ejmas.com/jalt/jaltart_noble_0502.htm The Lion of the Punjab – Gama in England, 1910] by Graham Noble
*[http://ejmas.com/jalt/jaltart_noble_0502.htm The Lion of the Punjab – Gama in England, 1910] by Graham Noble
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20061017210037/http://bod.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/6/2/45 Subaltern Bodies and Nationalist Physiques: Gama the Great and the Heroics of Indian Wrestling] by [[Joseph Alter]], Department of Anthropology at the University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20061017210037/http://bod.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/6/2/45 Subaltern Bodies and Nationalist Physiques: Gama the Great and the Heroics of Indian Wrestling] by [[Joseph Alter]], Department of Anthropology at the University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania


{{Physical culture}}
{{Physical culture}}

Revision as of 21:51, 25 June 2022

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For Portuguese explorer, see Vasco da Gama.
For Stampede Wrestling professional wrestler of the 1970s to 2000s, see Gama Singh.

Gama Pehlwan
Birth nameGhulam Mohammad Baksh Butt[1]
Born(1878-05-22)22 May 1878
Jabbowal, Amritsar, Punjab, British India[2][3][4]
(present-day Kapurthala, Punjab, India)
Died23 May 1960(1960-05-23) (aged 82)[5]
Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
FamilyImam Baksh Pahalwan (brother)
Kalsoom Nawaz Sharif (granddaughter)
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Gama Pahalwan
Billed height5 ft 8 in (173 cm)[6]
Billed weight250 lb (110 kg)[6]

Ghulam Mohammad Baksh Butt[1] (22 May 1878 – 23 May 1960), commonly known as Rustam-e-Hind (Hindi-Urdu for Rostam of Hindostan) and by the ring name The Great Gama,[7] was a pehlwani wrestler and strongman in British India. In the early 20th century, he was an undefeated wrestling champion of India .[8][9]

Born in the village of Jabbowal, Amritsar District in the Punjab Province of British India in 1878,[2] Baksh was awarded a version of the World Heavyweight Championship on 15 October 1910. Undefeated in a career spanning more than 52 years, he is considered one of the greatest Indian wrestlers of all time.[10] After the partition of British India, into the Dominion of India and the Dominion of Pakistan in August 1947, Gama migrated to Pakistan, where he died in the city of Lahore on 23 May 1960.[3][11][12]

Early life

Gama performing a baithak
Error creating thumbnail: File with dimensions greater than 12.5 MP
Gama performing a dand

Ghulam Mohammad Baksh was born on 22 May 1878 in Jabbowal Village, Amritsar district, Punjab Province, British India (now Jabbowal, Kapurthala District, Punjab, India) into a Kashmiri Muslim family of wrestlers.[6][3][4]

He was first noticed at the age of ten, in 1888, when he entered a strongman competition held in Jodhpur, which included many gruelling exercises such as squats.[13] The contest was attended by more than four hundred wrestlers and Gama was among the last fifteen and was named the winner by the Maharaja of Jodhpur due to his young age.[14] Gama was subsequently taken into training by the Maharaja of Datia.[15]

Career

First encounter with Raheem Bakhsh Sultaniwala

In 1895, at the age of 17, Gama challenged then-Indian Wrestling Champion, middle-aged Raheem Bakhsh Sultani Wala, another ethnic Kashmiri wrestler from Gujranwala, Punjab Province, Colonial India (now in Pakistan).[16] At about 7 feet (2.1 m) tall, with a very impressive win–loss record, Raheem was expected to easily defeat the 5-foot-7-inch (1.70 m) Gama. Raheem's only drawback was his age as he was much older than Gama, and near the end of his career. The bout continued for hours and eventually ended in a draw.[17] The contest with Raheem was the turning point in Gama's career. After that, he was looked upon as the next contender for the title of Rustam-e-Hind or the Indian Wrestling Championship. In the first bout Gama remained defensive, but in the second bout he went on the offensive. Despite severe bleeding from his nose and ears, he managed to deal a great deal of damage to Raheem Bakhsh.[17][18]

By 1910, Gama had defeated all the prominent Indian wrestlers who faced him except Raheem. At this time, he focused his attention on the rest of the world. Accompanied by his younger brother Imam Bakhsh, Gama sailed to England to compete with the Western wrestlers but could not gain instant entry, because of his lower height.[19]

Tournament in London

In London, Gama issued a challenge that he could throw any three wrestlers in thirty minutes of any weight class. This announcement however was seen as a bluff by the wrestlers and their wrestling promoter R. B. Benjamin.[11] For a long time no one came forward to accept the challenge. To break the ice, Gama presented another challenge to specific heavy weight wrestlers. He challenged Stanislaus Zbyszko and Frank Gotch, either he would beat them or pay them the prize money and go home. The first professional wrestler to take his challenge was the American Benjamin Roller. In the bout, Gama pinned Roller in 1 minute 40 seconds the first time, and in 9 minutes 10 seconds the other. On the second day, he defeated 12 wrestlers and thus gained entry to the official tournament.[19]

Match with Stanislaus Zbyszko

He was pitted against world champion Stanislaus Zbyszko[19] and the bout was set for 10 September 1910. Zbyszko was then regarded among the premier wrestlers in the world; and he would then take on the mammoth challenge of India's feared Great Gama, an undefeated champion who had been unsuccessful in his attempts to lure Frank Gotch into a match. And so, on 10 September 1910, Zbyszko faced the Great Gama in the finals of the John Bull World Championships in London.[20] The match was worth £250 in prize money and the John Bull Belt. Within a minute, Zbyszko was taken down and remained in that position for the remaining 2 hours and 35 minutes of the match. There were a few brief moments when Zbyszko would get up, but he just ended back down in his previous position. Through this defensive strategy of hugging the mat in order to nullify Great Gama's greatest strengths, Zbyszko wrestled the Indian legend to a draw after nearly three hours of grappling, though Zbyszko's lack of tenacity angered many of the fans in attendance.[21]

Nevertheless, Zbyszko still became one of the few wrestlers to ever meet the Great Gama without going down in defeat; The two men were set to face each other again on 17 September 1910. On that date, Zbyszko failed to show up and Gama was announced the winner by default.[22] He was awarded the prize and the John Bull Belt. Receiving this belt entitled Gama to be called Rustam-e-Zamana or World Champion but not the lineal champion of the world as he hadn't defeated Zbyszko in the ring.

Bouts against American and European champions

During this tour Gama defeated some of the most respected grapplers in the world, "Doc" Benjamin Roller of the United States, Maurice Deriaz of Switzerland, Johann Lemm (the European Champion) of Switzerland, and Jesse Peterson (World Champion) from Sweden. In the match against Roller, Gama threw "Doc" 13 times in the 15-minute match.[citation needed] Gama now issued a challenge to the rest of those who laid claim to the World Champion's Title, including Japanese Judo champion Taro Miyake, George Hackenschmidt of Russia and Frank Gotch of the United States – each declined his invitation to enter the ring to face him. At one point, to face some type of competition, Gama offered to fight twenty English wrestlers, one after another. He announced that he would defeat all of them or pay out prize money, but still no one would take up his challenge.[citation needed]

Final encounter with Raheem Bakhsh Sultani Wala

Shortly after his return from England, Gama faced Raheem Bakhsh Sultani Wala in Allahabad. This bout eventually ended the long struggle between the two pillars of Indian wrestling of that time in favour of Gama and he won the title of Rustam-e-Hind or the lineal Champion of India. Later in his life when asked about who was his strongest opponent, Gama replied, "Raheem Bakhsh Sultani Wala".[23]

Rematch with Zbyszko

After beating Raheem Bakhsh Sultani Wala, Gama faced Pandit Biddu,[24] who was one of the best wrestlers in India of that time (1916), and beat him.

In 1922, during a visit to India, the Prince of Wales presented Gama with a silver mace.

Gama did not have any opponents until 1927, when it was announced that Gama and Zbyszko would face each other again. They met in Patiala in January 1928.[25] Entering the bout, Zbyszko "showed a strong build of body and muscle" and Gama, it was reported "looked much thinner than usual".[26] However, he managed to overpower the former easily and won the bout inside a minute, winning the Indian version of the lineal World Wrestling Championship. Following the bout, Zbyszko praised him, calling him a "tiger".[27]

At forty-eight years old he was now known as the "great wrestler" of India.[11]

After defeating Zbyszko, Gama beat Jesse Petersen in February 1929. The bout lasted only one and a half minutes. This was the last bout that Gama fought during his career.[citation needed]

Final years

After the partition of India in 1947, Gama moved to Pakistan. During the Hindu-Muslim riots that broke out at the time of partition, Gama (a Muslim) saved hundreds of Hindus from mobs in Lahore.[3][4] Although Gama did not retire until 1952, he failed to find any other opponents. Some other sources say he wrestled until 1955. After his retirement, he trained his nephew Bholu Pahalwan, who held the Pakistani wrestling championship for almost 20 years.[28]

His final days were difficult; he had five sons and four daughters and all the sons died young. When his youngest son Jalaluddin died in 1945 at the age of just thirteen, Gama was heartbroken and lost the power of speech for some days. He migrated to Pakistan at partition and tried his hand at different unsuccessful ventures including a bus service in Karachi called the "Gama Transport Service".[1] Gama was given land and monthly pension by the government and supported his medical expenses until his death.[29] He died in Lahore, Pakistan on 23 May 1960 after a period of illness.

Kulsoom Nawaz, politician and wife of former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, was the granddaughter of Gama.[30]

The Great Gama – Title page of the book

Legacy

Gama fought and[31] won over five thousand matches.[1][32] Bruce Lee was an avid follower of Gama's training routine.[33] Lee read articles about Gama and how he employed his exercises to build his legendary strength for wrestling, and Lee quickly incorporated them into his own routine. The training routines Lee used included "the cat stretch", and "the squat" (known as "baithak", and also known as the "deep-knee bend.").[34]

Today, a doughnut-shaped exercise disc called Hasli weighing 100 kg, used by him for squats and pushups, is housed at the National Institute of Sports (NIS) Museum at Patiala, India.[35]

On 22 May 2022, search engine Google commemorated Gama with a Doodle on his 144th birth anniversary.[36] Google commented: "Gama’s legacy continues to inspire modern day fighters. Even Bruce Lee is a known admirer and incorporates aspects of Gama's conditioning into his own training routine!"[37]

Championships and accomplishments

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "The Great Gama Pahelwan | Sports | thenews.com.pk". www.thenews.com.pk.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Harris M. Lentz III (2003). Biographical Dictionary of Professional Wrestling, 2d ed. McFarland. p. 118. ISBN 978-0786417544. Gama the Great (Ghulum Mohammed; b. 1888, d. 1953; Amritsar, Punjab, India; 5'7", 250 lbs.) was from a prominent wrestling family in India.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "Here's The Story Of Gama 'The Undefeated' Pehalwan And How He Saved Hindus During 1947 Riots". India Times. 16 May 2017. Gama Pehalwan was born as Ghulam Mohammed in 1878 in Amritsar.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "The Great Gama and Lahore". Pakistan Today. 5 January 2018. Ghulam Muhammad later known as the Gama Pehalwan was born in a Kashmiri family in Amritsar on May 22 1878.
  5. ↑ Nidaay-e-Millat, Urdu Weekly Magazine 21–27 July 2016. Lahore
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Lentz III, Harris M. (2003). Biographical Dictionary of Professional Wrestling (2 ed.). McFarland. p. 118. ISBN 978-0786417544. Retrieved 11 July 2017. Gama the Great (Ghulum Mohammed; b. 1888, d. 1953; Amritsar, Punjab, India; 5'8", 250 lbs.) was from a prominent wrestling family in India.
  7. ↑ Garg, Chitra (2010). Indian Champions: Profiles of Famous Indian Sportspersons. Rajpal & Sons. p. 352. ISBN 978-81-7028-852-7. He managed to get the Indian wrestling style introduced in the international games. He is solely responsible for earning international fame for this form of wrestling and was given the title of 'Rustam-e-Hind.'
  8. ↑ Green, Thomas A. (2001). Martial Arts of the World: A-Q. ABC-CLIO. p. 721. ISBN 978-1-57607-150-2. An early-twentieth century studio photo of the famous Indian wrestler The Great Gama (Ghulam Mohammed, 1878-1960).
  9. ↑ Tadié, Alexis; Mangan, J. A.; Chaudhuri, Supriya (2016). Sport, Literature, Society: Cultural Historical Studies. Routledge. p. 41. ISBN 978-1-134-92024-2. In recent years, the history of modern Indian wrestling - or kushti - has begun to receive scholarly attention. Most accounts agree that the last decades of the nineteenth century saw the coming of the modern form of this ancient Indian sport, with Indian wrestlers emerging from the confines of their akhadas and fighting with their Western counterparts. Between 1910 and 1913, a wave of Indian wrestlers visited England and took the wrestling world by storm. The most iconic of them was the great Gama – the 'lion of Punjab' – arguably the greatest wrestler India has ever produced.
  10. ↑ "The culture and crisis of kushti". The Hindu. 31 October 2013. Retrieved 2 July 2016.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Banerjee, Sarnath (10 March 2012). "Gamanamah: The story of a strongman". The Times of India. Retrieved 11 July 2017.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  12. ↑ Hornbaker, Tim (2017). Legends of Pro Wrestling: 150 Years of Headlocks, Body Slams, and Piledrivers. Skyhorse Publishing. ISBN 978-1613218754. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
  13. ↑ "Google Doodle celebrates India's Gama Pehlwan, the undefeated wrestling champion". Hindustan Times. 22 May 2022.
  14. ↑ Sen, Ronojoy (2015). Nation at Play: A History of Sport in India. Columbia University Press. p. 167. ISBN 978-0231539937. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
  15. ↑ Prasher, Shantanu. "The Great Gama: Story Of The Greatest 'Buffer' To Ever Walk On Indian Soil". www.mensxp.com. Retrieved 14 January 2017.
  16. ↑ Hong, Fan; Zhouxiang, Lu (20 May 2020). The Routledge Handbook of Sport in Asia. Routledge. ISBN 978-0-429-59027-6.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 "Gama Pehlwan: 144th Birth Anniversary of Gama Pehlwan 2022". NDTV.
  18. ↑ Alter, Joseph S. (3 August 1992). The Wrestler's Body: Identity and Ideology in North India. University of California Press. ISBN 978-0-520-91217-5.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 Alter, Joseph S. (1992). The wrestler's body identity and ideology in North India. Berkeley: University of California Press. p. 76. ISBN 978-0520912175.
  20. ↑ Svinth, Joseph (2003). Martial Arts in the Modern World. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 978-0-275-98153-2.
  21. ↑ "Why the Great Gama is counted among the greatest wrestlers of all time". trtworld.
  22. ↑ "The 'John Bull& Wrestling belt won by an Indian". The Derby Daily Telegraph. 17 September 1910.
  23. ↑ Hornbaker, Tim (July 2012). Legends of Pro Wrestling: 150 Years of Headlocks, Body Slams, and Piledrivers. Skyhorse Publishing Inc. ISBN 978-1-61321-075-8.
  24. ↑ A problem to wrestle with. The Indian Express. p. 23.
  25. ↑ "World Wrestling Championship: Indian's Victory Over Pole". The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertise. 14 February 1928. p. 4. Retrieved 9 May 2017.
  26. ↑ Kundu, Sagnik (23 December 2016). "The Great Gama – The pehelwan who refused to lose". Sportskeeda. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  27. ↑ "World Wrestling Championship: Gama Beats Zbyszko". The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser. 3 March 1928. p. 6. Retrieved 9 May 2017.
  28. ↑ "Ghulam Mohammad Baksh Butt — The Great Gama Pehalwan". Daily Times. 25 May 2022.
  29. ↑ "Here's the Story of Gama 'The Undefeated' Pehalwan and How He Saved Hindus During 1947 Riots". 16 May 2017.
  30. ↑ Jajja, Sumaira (2 April 2017). "WRESTLING: The Warrior's Soul". Dawn. Pakistan.
  31. ↑ "Ghulam Muhammad".
  32. ↑ Biographical Dictionary of Professional Wrestling, 2d ed. 2003. ISBN 978-0786417544.
  33. ↑ "The Great Gama victory journey, even Bruce Lee was a fan of him". 22 May 2021.
  34. ↑ Little, John, Bruce Lee – The Art of Expressing The Human Body (Tuttle Publishing, 1998), p. 58
  35. ↑ "The Tribune – Windows – Featured story". www.tribuneindia.com. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  36. ↑ "Gama Pehlwan, undefeated wrestler 'The Great Gama,' honored in Google Doodle". 9to5Google.com. 21 May 2022. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  37. ↑ "Gama Pehlwan's 144th birthday". 22 May 2022. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  38. ↑ "Induction Weekend 2022 | Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame". IPWHF.
  39. ↑ Johnson, Steve (14 July 2007). "Emotions run high at Tragos/Thesz induction". Slam! Wrestling. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  40. ↑ Oliver, Greg (26 November 2014). "Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame Class of 2015 announced". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2 July 2016.

External links

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