Rustam-e-Hind Gama Pehalwan . Biography Of Gama Pahalwan

Rustam-e-Hind Gama Pehalwan . Biography Of Gama Pahalwan. Urdu رستم ہند

Who Was The Great Gama Pehlawan Aka Rustam E Hind?

گاما پہلوان

Ghulam Mohammad( 1878-1960) a.k.a Gama pehalwan was born in Amritsar to a Kashmiri Butt family. He remained undefeated in a wrestling career spanning over 52 years and is regarded as one of the greatest wrestlers of the world. Pakistan’s first lady Kulsoom Nawaz Sharif is his granddaughter.

Gama was initially trained by the Maharaja of Datia when at the age of 10 he won a strongman competition held in Jodhpur. At 17, Gama who was just 5’ 7” tall had a bout with 7 feet tall Raheem Bukhsh Sultani Wala from Gujaranwala, who at that time was the Indian wrestling champion. The match continued for hours and finally ended in a draw. But that proved a turning point in Gama’s life and by 1910 he had defeated all prominent Indian wrestlers.

The same year he went to England and challenged that he could throw any three wrestlers in thirty minutes of any weight class. The challenge was taken as a bluff and none came forward. But after he announced that either he would beat them or pay them the prize money and go home, American wrestler Benjamin Roller accepted the challenge. Gama defeated Roller and entered the official tournament.

Later, he was pitted against world champion Stanislaus Zbyszko. Zbyszko wrestled the Indian legend to a draw after nearly three hours of grappling. In the second round, Zbyszko didn't show up and Gama was announced victor.

After returning to India Gama faced Raheem Bakhsh Sultani Wala in Allahabad, whom he defeated and won the title of Rustam-e-Hind.

In January,1928,when old opponent Zbyszko came to India, they both faced each other in Patiala where Gama again beat his old opponent.

Prior to partition Gama along with his family moved to Mohni road Lahore where most of the residents were Hindus. Gama had sensed that bad days were ahead and he told Hindu residents of Mohni road that he would defend them in case they were attacked.

The wait was soon over when a mob approached Mohni road to loot and kill, Hindus. Gama and several of his fellow wrestlers stood in front of the mob. As the leading mobster approached, Gama slapped him so hard that the scoundrel was sent flying. The rest ran away. But soon Gama realized that he would not be able to protect the Hindu residents for long.

Moreover, the threatened community also wanted to migrate. Gama arranged one week ration for them and escorted them to the border where they crossed to the other side safely. It was then that Gama broke down. And that was the only time in his life that people saw him crying like a child.

Gama died in Lahore on 23 May 1960 after protracted illness. G. D. Birla, an industrialist and wrestling fan, donated ₹2,000 and a monthly pension of ₹300.

There can be no better title than Rustam-e-Hind for Ghulam Mohammad alias Gama, who not only remained undefeated throughout his career, he was also above the petty concerns of religion, caste and creed.

Waseem Altaf

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