The Great Gama

Overview

The Great Gama, born Ghulam Mohammad Baksh Butt, was a celebrated Indian wrestler (pehlwan) of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Widely regarded as one of the greatest wrestlers in the history of South Asian kushti, he is reputed to have remained undefeated through a career spanning more than five decades. He held the World Heavyweight Championship of wrestling from 1910 and is remembered as a defining figure of the traditional Indian wrestling style known as pehlwani.

Key Facts

Background

Gama was born into a Kashmiri Muslim family of wrestlers in the village of Jabbowal in Amritsar district, Punjab. His father, Muhammad Aziz Baksh, was himself a noted wrestler. After his father's early death, Gama was raised under the guardianship of his maternal grandfather and later his uncle, Ida Pehlwan, in Datia, a princely state in central India, where he received his early training in traditional wrestling techniques and physical conditioning.

His early reputation was established at the age of ten, when he is said to have participated in a strongman competition at Jodhpur involving prolonged squats (baithaks) before some four hundred wrestlers, drawing attention from the Maharaja of Jodhpur. He was subsequently patronised by the Maharaja of Datia and, most prominently, by Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala, whose court housed many of the leading wrestlers of the period.

Training Regimen

Gama's training regimen became legendary in the akhara tradition. According to widely repeated accounts, his daily routine included thousands of baithaks (Hindu squats) and dands (Hindu push-ups), long-distance running, and grappling with multiple opponents. His diet reportedly comprised large quantities of milk, ghee, almonds, and fruit. He trained at akharas in Amritsar, Datia, and later under royal patronage at Patiala.

Career and Notable Bouts

• 1895 – At about seventeen, Gama challenged Raheem Bakhsh Sultani Wala, then the reigning Indian champion. The two fought a long, drawn match that ended in a draw; a rematch later established Gama's dominance.
• 1910 – Travelled to England with his brother Imam Bakhsh and other Indian wrestlers, accompanied by promoter R. B. Benjamin. Initially barred from major tournaments because of his height, he issued an open challenge offering to throw any three wrestlers within thirty minutes.
• September 1910 – Defeated Stanislaus Zbyszko of Poland in London in a closely contested match for the John Bull Belt and the World Heavyweight Championship. Zbyszko reportedly stayed largely on the defensive; the rematch was scheduled but Zbyszko did not appear, and the title was awarded to Gama.
• 1910 – Defeated several leading Western wrestlers, including Benjamin Roller of the United States, during the same tour.
• 1916 – Defeated Pandit Biddu, a leading Indian wrestler of the time.
• 1927 – Faced Zbyszko again in Patiala in a much-publicised rematch held under the patronage of Maharaja Bhupinder Singh; Gama won within minutes, retaining his title.
• 1928 onwards – With no challengers willing to face him, Gama gradually withdrew from active competition, though he continued to train.

Later Life

After the Partition of India in 1947, Gama migrated to Pakistan and settled in Lahore. He is credited with protecting Hindu families during the communal violence of Partition in his neighbourhood. In his later years he suffered from chronic illness and financial hardship; the Government of Pakistan and admirers, including the Birla family in India, are reported to have provided assistance. He died in Lahore on 23 May 1960.

Family and Legacy

Gama belonged to a wrestling family. His younger brother Imam Bakhsh Pahalwan was also a champion wrestler. His descendants include the Pakistani wrestler Bholu Pahalwan and his brothers, who carried forward the family's wrestling tradition. The actor and wrestler Kalsoom Nawaz Sharif's family and the Bholu brothers' lineage are connected to Gama through marriage and descent.

Gama's training methods, particularly the high-volume use of baithaks and dands, influenced subsequent generations of Indian and Pakistani wrestlers and have been referenced by international athletes. Bruce Lee is reported to have studied accounts of Gama's regimen and incorporated similar conditioning exercises into his own training.

Significance

The Great Gama is considered a cultural icon in both India and Pakistan and a symbol of the golden age of pehlwani. His undefeated record, victories over leading European and American wrestlers in the early 20th century, and association with the princely court of Patiala made him one of the earliest globally recognised Indian sportsmen. He remains a frequent reference point in discussions of strength training, traditional wrestling, and South Asian sporting heritage.

Related Topics

• Pehlwani
• Kushti
• Akhara
• Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala
• Stanislaus Zbyszko
• Imam Bakhsh Pahalwan
• Bholu Pahalwan
• Wrestling in India
• Partition of India