Gama Gives Google Some Doodle Buzz

Google decided to go great with its doodle on Sunday. As in The Great Gama.

Don’t know him? Most people probably don’t. But just know that the later wrestler known Ghulam Mohammad Baksh Butt was viewed as perhaps the greatest strongman of his day. And yes, he was also an unbeaten champion long before big-time wrestling outcomes were scripted.

The Great Gama actually hailed from British India and was of pehlwani descent. So Google’s decision to make him the main event was celebrated worldwide. Sunday would have been his 144th borthday.

Google honours The Great Gama on his 144th birth anniversary. Gama was an undisputed king of wrestling, remained unbeaten for over five decades. The former First Lady of Pakistan, late Kulsoom Nawaz sahiba, was granddaughter of Gama Pehlwan. pic.twitter.com/NG2kwupoDC

— Faizan Lakhani (@faizanlakhani) May 22, 2022

According to CNET, “Pehlwan was born Ghulam Mohammad Baksh Butt on May 22, 1878, in what is now Punjab, India.  Each day he would perform at least 3,000 pushups, 5,000 squats and grappling with 40 other wrestlers — a training regimen that inspired martial arts great Bruce Lee.”

In 1928, #GamaPehlwan defeated Stanley Zbyszko, a famous wrestler from Poland, in Patiala in front of 40,000 people within 42 seconds. The stadium was especially built for the match witnessed by Nawabs, Rajas & English Governors from across India pic.twitter.com/1MrZKfwgB2

— Heritage Times (@HeritageTimesIN) May 22, 2022

That’s not all. As CNET added, “A Muslim by faith, Pehlwan is credited with saving hundreds of Hindus from violence that erupted over the division of land between India and Pakistan during the partition of India in 1947. He is said to have faced down angry mobs in Lahore and paid for the safe passage of hundreds from the colony when the violence escalated.”

Gama Pehlwan (great Gama) features on today's Google Doodle. Born in modern day Kapurthala District he became the greatest wrestler of his time. he's more than that though, he's the archetypal Indian strongman
A must listen is this on BBC Great Lives
https://t.co/NuFw5uPyNH pic.twitter.com/xGPH1sOeG9

— Amandeep Madra OBE (@amanmadra) May 22, 2022

Google honoured the Great Gama pehlwan Mohammad Baksh Butt born in Amritsar, India! He was an undefeated wresting champion of the world of his time! 🙌🙌👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🥳 pic.twitter.com/FtQmT9mElm

— Nain Tara🤩 (@YadavNain) May 22, 2022

Ok, since Google has done a doodle for his birthday today and some ppl are wondering who he is, gather around children, it is storytime. A story that starts with a secret. Superheroes do exist in real life. Well one did.

Meet Ghulam Mohammad Baksh Butt AKA The Great Gama. pic.twitter.com/meYyIfTsL1

— Shiv Ramdas Traing To Rite Buk (@nameshiv) May 22, 2022