Gama Pehlwan, also known as Rustam-e-Hind, was a renowned wrestler from India. Born in 1878 into a family of wrestlers, Gama began training at a young age and eventually defeated many prominent Indian wrestlers. He later traveled to England to compete with Western wrestlers, but struggled due to his short stature. Gama was known for his intense training regimen and large diet, including 2 gallons of milk and 6 chickens a day. He died in 1960 at the age of 82.
Gama Pehlwan Summary
| Detail | Description |
|---|---|
| Name | Ghulam Mohammad Baksh |
| Nickname(s) | Rustam-e-Hind, Rustam-e-Zamana, The Great Gama |
| Ring Name | Gama Pahlwan |
| Profession | Wrestler |
| Religion | Islam |
| Physical Statistics | Billed Height: 173 cm Weight: 110 kg / 250 lbs Chest: 46 inches Waist: 34 inches Biceps: 22 inches Eye Colour: Black Hair Colour: Black |
| Date of Birth | 22 May 1878 |
| Birthplace | Village Jabbowal Amritsar, Punjab, British India |
| Date of Death | 23 May 1960 |
| Place of Death | Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan |
| Death Cause | Due to chronic illness (Heart Disease and Asthma) |
| Age (at the time of Death) | 82 Years |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Hometown | Amritsar, Punjab, India |
| Father’s Name | Muhammad Aziz Baksh |
| Mother’s Name | Not Known |
| Brother(s) | Imam Baksh Pahalwan |
| Sister(s) | Not Known |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Wife Name | Wazeer Begum |
| Family | Sons- 5 Daughters- 4 Granddaughter- Kalsoom Nawaz Sharif Husband Name-Nawaz Sharif) |
| Ethnicity | Kashmiri |
| Hobby | Doing Workouts |
| Favorite Dairy Product | Milk |
| Favorite Food | Chicken, Dry Fruits |
- Ghulam Mohammad Baksh, popularly known as Gama Pahalwan, was born on May 22, 1878, in Jabbowal village, Amritsar, Punjab, British India, into an ethnic Kashmiri family of wrestlers. He lost his father when he was just six years old and was trained in wrestling by his uncle Ida.
- Gama was first noticed at the age of 10 when he participated in a strongman competition held in Jodhpur. He won the contest despite being among the last 15 participants due to his young age, and the Maharaja of Jodhpur was impressed by his performance.
- The Maharaja of Datia later took him into training, and Gama used to grapple with 40 of his fellow wrestlers during his daily training. He also used to do 5000 Baithaks and 3000 Dands in a day. His daily diet included 2 gallons of milk, 6 desi chickens, and more than a pound of crushed almond paste made into a tonic drink.
- In 1895, at the age of 17, Gama challenged Raheem Bakhsh Sultani Wala, the then Indian Wrestling Champion. The bout continued for hours and eventually ended in a draw. By 1910, Gama had defeated all the prominent Indian wrestlers who faced him, except for Raheem Bakhsh Sultani Wala.
- Gama started to focus his attention on the rest of the world and sailed to England to compete with Western wrestlers. While in London, he issued a challenge that he could throw any three wrestlers in 30 minutes of any weight class, but no one turned up as they considered it a bluff.
- Gama defeated many wrestlers from all over the world, including Stanislaus Zbyszko, the World Heavyweight Champion, and Maurice Deriaz, the European Champion, among others.
- Gama was married to Wazeer Begum and had five sons and four daughters. His granddaughter, Kalsoom Nawaz Sharif, is the wife of Nawaz Sharif, the former Prime Minister of Pakistan.
- Gama Pahalwan died on May 23, 1960, in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan, at the age of 82, after a chronic illness of heart and asthma.
Who was Gama Pehalwan?
Gama Pehalwan, whose real name was Ghulam Mohammad Baksh, was a famous wrestler from India who was born in 1878 in Amritsar, Punjab. He was known by many nicknames such as Rustam-e-Hind, Rustam-e-Zamana, and The Great Gama.
What is Gama Pehalwan’s claim to fame?
Gama Pehalwan was considered one of the greatest wrestlers of all time. He had an impressive record of over 5000 wins and no losses. He won several championships, including the Indian Wrestling Championship and the title of Rustam-e-Zamana.
What was Gama Pehlwan’s diet and training regime?
Gama Pehlwan was known for his strict diet and training regime. He reportedly drank two gallons of milk a day, ate six desi chickens, and consumed more than a pound of crushed almond paste as a tonic drink. He did 5000 Baithaks (squats) and 3000 Dands (push-ups) every day.
Did Gama Pehalwan travel outside India for wrestling competitions?
Yes, Gama Pehalwan traveled to England and challenged wrestlers from different parts of the world. However, he faced difficulties in getting recognized due to his short stature.
What was Gama Pehalwan’s record in wrestling competitions?
Gama Pehalwan had an incredible record of over 5000 wins and no losses in his wrestling career. He defeated almost all the prominent Indian wrestlers of his time and was known for his strength, technique, and endurance.
When did Gama Pehalwan die?
Gama Pehalwan died on May 23, 1960, in Lahore, Pakistan, at the age of 82. He had been suffering from chronic heart and asthma problems.