ISLAMABAD: Google today (Sunday) celebrates the 144th birthday of the undefeated Gama Pehlwan, with an artistic doodle.
In the Google Doodle, Gama Pehlwan can be seen standing strong, surrounded by the letters of “Google.”
In his right hand, he holds a silver mace, bestowed upon him by the Prince of Wales.
Ghulam Mohammad Baksh, later known as Gama Pehlwan or “The Great Gama” — was born on May 22, 1878 in Jabbowal Village in the Punjab Province of what was then known as British India.
He had a tumultuous childhood, moving after death of his father and again when his grandfather passed, ultimately living with his uncle, a wrestler.
Gaining an interest in intense exercise and wrestling from a very young age, Gama Pehlwan entered a strongman competition at the age of 10, earning the top spot among over 400 competitors. From there, his training and interest in wrestling only increased. By some accounts, Gama’s training at one point consisted of as many as 5000 squats and 3000 pushups per day.
From the 1890s through 1910, Gama Pehlwan went on a streak of undefeated matches against India’s greatest wrestlers, with only his match against the national champion ending in a draw.
Gama then grew his career internationally by challenging and defeating the greatest wrestlers in Britain, resulting in a match against world champion Stanislaus Zbyszko, which also ended in a draw.
Continuing his training, Gama Pehlwan ultimately defeated both of these opponents in rematches, earning himself the titles of Champion of India and World Champion. His career spanned multiple decades and more than five thousand matches, ending undefeated.
In 1947, after the Independence of Pakistan, Gama moved to Lahore and spent the remainder of his days there. He passed away on May 23, 1960.
So if you’re wondering what sort of man gets a Google Doodle for his birthday 144 years after the fact just for being a Wrestler , well now you know.
On the other hand, twittratis paid rich tribute to the great Gama Pehlwan. Some of the twittratis suggested that if Google can acknowledge this personality his feat should be made into a documentary so that more and more people will get an opportunity to know this great man.
They also mentioned of a stone weighing over 1,200 kilograms lifted world-renowned Gulaam Mohammed alias Great Gama Pehelwan back in 1902. This stone was now lying in Nazarbaug Palace near Mandvi.
The stone that has now been kept at Baroda Museum in Sayajibaug is two-and-a-half feet in height and has text inscribed on it. The text says that the stone was lifted by Gulaam Mohammed on December 23, 1902. Gama had visited the then Baroda state to attend a wrestling competition when he achieved the feat. He was the best wrestler in the country in those times and remained unbeaten till he died in 1960.
“The museum register has an entry number 10-10, which states that the stone was brought in the museum sometime after 1912. It is said that the stone was lifted by Gama on his chest. The stone is of historical value and so we have kept it on display outside the museum,” museum director R D Parmar said.
