Gama Pehlwan aka The Great Gama was a colonial Indian wrestler and was married to his wife Wazir Begum.

Ghulam Mohammad Baksh Butt, popularly known by the ring name The Great Gama, was a great Indian wrestler and strongman. He was the world’s undefeated wrestling champion in the early twentieth century.

The Jabbowal-born Gama Pehlwan was honored with a version of the 1910 World Heavyweight Championship. He was regarded as one of the greatest wrestlers of all time, having gone undefeated for more than fifty-two years.

Gama Pehlwan secured over five thousand matches throughout his career. The legendary wrestler died at 82 after suffering from a chronic illness on 23 May 1960 in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.

Who Is Gama Pehlwan Aka The Great Gama’s Wife, Wazir Begum?

Wazir Begum was one of two wives of Gama Pehlwan aka The Great Gama. As per reports, the two were parents to five sons and four daughters.

Sadly, all of the Gama’s sons died young, making it a tough time for the family. Kalsoom Nawaz and Wazir Begam are two granddaughters of Gama Pehlwan and Wazir Begum.

Gama Pehlwan was heartbroken and speechless for a few days following his youngest son Jalaluddin’s death in 1945. Thus, he moved to Pakistan with his wife after the partition and tried his hand at different unsuccessful businesses, including the “Gama Transport Service,” bus service in Karachi.

Wazir Begam’s granddaughter, Kulsoom Nawaz  became the first lady of Pakistan and was married to Nawaz Sharif. On the other hand, her second granddaughter, Saira Bano, was married to Jhara Pehalwan.

Gama Pehlwan Google Doodle Tribute

Google has created a beautiful doodle to commemorate the 144th birthday of one of the greatest wrestlers of all time, Gama Pehlwan.

Vrinda Zaveri, a guest artist, introduced the Doodle. Gama was depicted with a mace in the doodle.

“Today’s Doodle created by Vrinda Zaveri celebrates Gama Pehlwan’s achievements in the ring, as well as the impact and representation he brought to Indian Culture,” Google added, “Ghulam Mohammad got the moniker “The Great Gama” after being unbeaten in international competition.

Gama Pehlwan was a legendary wrestler who was regarded as unbreakable in the arena. Throughout his career, he went undefeated in international matches, earning the nickname “Tiger” after winning the World Wrestling Championship in 1927.

Where Is Gama Pehlwan From?

Gama Pehlwan was from Jabbowal Kapurthala District, Punjab, India (Previously Jabbowal Village, Amristar district, Punjab Province, British India).

Gama Pehlwan was born into a Kashmiri Muslim wrestling family on 22 May 1878. Historians claim that the Baksh family were originally Kashmiri Hindus (Bhat) who converted to Islam during Muslim dominance in the Indian subcontinent’s Kashmir area.

Gama Pehlwan was raised by his maternal grandfather, Nun Pahalwan, after his father, Muhammad Aziz Baksh, died when he was six years old. Also, he was looked after by his uncle Ida, another wrestler, who trained him in wrestling.

At the age of 17, Gama Pehlwan challenged then-Indian Wrestling Champion, middle-aged Raheem Bakhsh Sultani Wala, and Kashmiri wrestler from Gujranwala, Punaj Province Colonial India, in the 1895.