Gama Pehlwan Birth Anniversary: Google Doodle Celebrates Rustam-e-Hind, Wrestler Who Inspired Bruce Lee
It’s Gama Pehlwan’s 144th birth anniversary on May 22, and today's Google Doodle celebrates his accomplishments.
New Delhi: Gama Pehlwan, considered unbeatable in the ring, was one of the top wrestlers of all time. ‘The Great Gama’ remained undefeated in international matches throughout his career, and was even given the title of “Tiger” after he won the World Wrestling Championship in 1927. His real name was Ghulam Mohammad Baksh Butt, and is commonly known as Rustam-e-Hind.
It’s Gama Pehlwan’s 144th birth anniversary on Sunday, May 22, and the day’s Google Doodle celebrates his life and accomplishments. Created by guest artist Vrinda Zaveri, the doodle shows Gama holding a gada (mace) and ready for a bout.
Born on May 22, 1878, Gama started wrestling at a young age.
The Google Doodle page on Gama Pehlwan says his workout routine included 500 lunges and 500 pushups when he was only 10 years old. He won a lunge contest in 1888, competing with over 400 wrestlers from around the country. He was said to have been 15 years old when he picked up wrestling as a profession. He went on to become a national hero and world champion by 1910.
He stayed in Lahore after Partition, and died there in 1960.
Gama won many titles throughout his career that spanned around five decades, and was said to have been presented a silver mace by the Prince of Wales who had visited India to honor him.
It is said that legendary martial artiste and actor Bruce Lee was inspired by Gama and had incorporated the latter’s techniques.
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