Was Gama Pehalwan Indian?

The Great Gama was a pehlwani wrestler in British India and a strongman who made name for himself as an undefeated wrestling champion of the world in the early 20th century.

Ghulam Mohammad Baksh Butt, commonly known as Rustam-e-Hind or by the ring name The Great Gama, was born on May 22, 1878, in Jabbowal Village, Amritsar district, Punjab Province, British India.

The Great Gama was born into a Kashmiri Muslim family of wrestlers. His father was Muhammad Aziz Baksh. He was named winner of a strongman competition held in Jodhpur at the age of ten in 1888 after he made it as the youngest among the last 15 participants.

The Great Gama rose to fame in 1895 at the age of 17 when he challenged then-Indian Wrestling Champion and middle-aged Raheem Bakhsh Sultani Wala from Pakistan. Their contest ended in a draw. He went on to have a career of more than 52 years.

The Great Gama was awarded a version of the World Heavyweight Championship on 15 October 1910. He is regarded as one of the greatest wrestlers of all time and was the father of Aslam Pahalwan. He passed away in Lahore, Pakistan on May 23, 1960.

Was Gama Pehalwan Indian?

Yes, Gama Pehalwan was Indian.