The Great Gama wrestler, Courtesy Mirzajuddin Quereshi

Courtesy Mirzajuddin Quereshi

The Great Gama
Born on 22nd may.

Ghulam Mohammad Baksh Butt was born on 22nd May, 1878 and expired on 23rd May, 1960, commonly known as Rustam-e-Hind ( Hindi-Urdu for Rustam of India) and by the ring name The Great Gama, was a Kashmiri pehlwani wrestler and strongman. In the early 20th century, he was an undefeated wrestling champion of the world.

Born in village Jabbowal, Amritsar in the Punjab Province into a Kashmiri Muslim family in 1878 and was awarded a version of the World Heavyweight Championship on 15th October 1910.

Undefeated in a career spanning more than 52 years, he is considered one of the greatest wrestlers of all time. During the partition of India, the Great Gama saved the lives of many Hindus and then spent the rest of his days until his death on May 23, 1960 in Lahore, which became a part of the newly created state of Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

If sources are to be believed The Great Gama’s daily diet included 2 gallons (7.5) litre of milk, six desi chickens and more than a pound of crushed almond paste made into a tonic drink.

He used to grapple with 40 of his fellow wrestlers in the court. Gama also used to do 5000 baithaks
(squats) and 3000 dands(push-ups) in a day.

Gama married twice in his life, Wazeer Begum and one more. He had five sons and five daughters. His grand daughter , Kalsom Nawaz is the wife of Nawaz Sharif.

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