Remembering the great Gama, Pakistan’s most famous wrestler

WEB DESK: May 22nd marks the birth of one of the greatest wrestlers – or pehlwaans – Pakistan has ever produced. On his 146th birth anniversary, let us remember and honour the legacy of the Great Gama.

The Great Gama was born Ghulam Mohammad Baksh Butt on May 22, 1878, in Jabbowal, Indian Punjab during the British Raj. Also known as Rustam-e-Hind, Gama hailed from a family with deep roots in traditional South Asian wrestling.

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Gama’s wrestling prowess became evident at a young age when he won a strongman competition at the age of ten. This caught the attention of the Maharaja of Datia, who took him under his wing for training.

Gama’s training routine attained legendary status, characterised by rigorous workouts such as grappling with forty fellow wrestlers each day, coupled with thousands of squats and push-ups. His dietary regimen was equally remarkable, comprising meats, milk, almonds, ghee, butter, and fruits consumed daily to foster muscular health and better digestion.

At 17, Gama challenged the reigning Rustam-e-Hind Raheem Bakhsh Sultani Wala to a historic bout, which ended in a draw. The match marked Gama as a prominent contender for the Indian Wrestling Championship.

Gama soon ventured into international competition by 1910. He traveled to England to challenge Western wrestlers. Despite initial doubts, Gama quickly proved his prowess by defeating several opponents, notably American wrestler Benjamin Roller. His most renowned encounter occurred against world champion Stanislaus Zbyszko, resulting in a draw after nearly three hours of grappling.

Gama’s supremacy persisted as he vanquished renowned wrestlers worldwide, cementing his status as one of the greatest wrestlers in history. Upon his return to India, he was hailed as a national hero and bestowed with titles like Rustam-e-Hind and Rustam-e-Zaman.

After the partition of India in 1947, Gama relocated to Pakistan. By 1952, he retired from wrestling due to a lack of opponents. Following his retirement, Gama encountered personal hardships, including the loss of his sons and financial difficulties.

However, he continued his legacy by training his nephew Bholu Pahalwan who went on to keep the tradition of wrestling alive in Pakistan.

Gama’s health declined, and the Pakistani government provided him with a pension and covered his medical costs. Sadly, he passed away on May 23, 1960, just a day after celebrating his 82nd birthday.

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The Great Gama left behind a legacy that continues to inspire wrestlers in Pakistan. Over his lifetime, he won over 5,000 matches.

His influence reached beyond wrestling, extending to legendary martial artist Bruce Lee, who drew inspiration from Gama’s training methods.