Rustam e hind wrestler, the giant of Gujranwala Raheem Baksh Sultaniwala

[Crusher]

Born in 1864 in Gujranwala town, Rahim’s family originally hailed from Kashmir but moved to the plains in the 1820s when his grandfather, Umar Baksh Pahelwan (died 1840), came under the patronage of the province’s Sikh governor, Hari Singh Nalwa. On Nalwa’s reassignment to the North-West-Frontier Province, Umar Baksh accompanied his patron and resettled his family in the governor’s native town of Gujranwala. Umar Baksh’s wrestling career continued for a few years after Hari Singh’s death in 1837. His son, Sultan Pahelwan entered into the wrestling fraternity under the patronage of the Sikh court of Lahore around 1840.

Ghulam Pahelwan’s most successful pupil was Rahim Baksh Sultaniwala. Though born in Gujranwala, Rahim’s association with Ghulam meant that he was reared in his akhara in Amritsar.

Under his master’s watchful eye, Rahim developed a superb physical build; in his heyday he was the picture of a veritable giant, standing almost seven feet tall and weighing close to 300 pounds. To strike fear into his opponents, he would often enter the arena covered from head to toe in vermillion, appearing like a fearsome red demon arisen from the underworld.

Between 1902 and 1918, Rahim fought, and mostly won, his bouts against Khalifa Bhai Madho Singh (ustad of the Great Gama), Sain Pahelwan, Rajab, Kala Partapa, Gora Partapa, Mehanni Reniwala, Khalifa Meraj Din, Biddo Pahelwan and Channan Qasai.

Rahim’s most formidable rival in this period was the Great Gama with whom he clashed four times. They first met in 1902 during a wrestling festival in the state of Junagarh. Rahim enjoyed the rank of chief court wrestler from amongst the maharaja’s stable of sixty pahelwans. Towering over Gama, who stood five-feet-seven-inches, Rahim entered the arena as the clear favourite. The contest raged for almost an hour before a draw was eventually declared. The return match in 1906 was held at Indore at the invitation of Sivaji Rao Holkar. The two pahelwans were evenly matched, and after two hours of skilful and thrilling grappling, the bout ended in a draw once again.

They met a third time several months later at Lahore. They clashed for two hours but the issue remained undecided. Their fourth and final meeting took place in December 1910 at Allahabad. The huge Rahim was out for blood, his body covered in red powder. At first Rahim evaded Gama's favourite shoulder-throw (“dhobi pat”) but his evasive tactics soon became less effective. Gama managed to score with the throw but was unable to secure a pin. Coming to grips again, Gama hoisted Rahim up by a crotch hold, turned him, and was starting to pin when Rahim scissored his arm and extricated himself. After two-and-a-half-hours of epic wrestling, Rahim’s rib broke, forcing him to concede the fight to Gama. This rib injury also forced Rahim to forfeit the match against Gama’s brother, Imam Baksh, at Kohlapur in 1918.

Rahim spent most of his later life in the princely states of Indore, Kohlapur, Junagarh, Murshidabad, Patiala and Datia. In recognition of his services to the sport, the nawab of Bahawalpur granted him a life pension of one hundred rupees per month. In a career spanning over half a century, Rahim fought over three hundred bouts, lost maybe six decisions, but was never pinned.

n 1926, Goonga Pahelwan (right) insisted on having a clash with Rahim who, at 52, was double his age. The old giant threw Goonga with an outside leg throw (‘bahrli tang’), causing one of the greatest upsets of the century. Inspired by the outcome, a local punjabi poet composed the following verse (translated in english) in praise of the victor:

‘O Rahim pinned Goonga and paid him in his own coin; Goonga bought trouble by awakening the sleeping lion!’

Despite sustaining several serious injuries, Rahim enjoyed perhaps the longest competitive career of any pahelwan. In his last serious public engagement at Wazirabad in 1936, the 72-year-old defeated a 28-year-old Canadian wrestler named Hudson with a body-lift and throw (‘ukher’). It was all over in just three minutes. The giant from Gujranwala died in August 1942 in his native town.

 

[Crusher]

View attachment 564871

Born in 1864 in Gujranwala town, Rahim’s family originally hailed from Kashmir but moved to the plains in the 1820s when his grandfather, Umar Baksh Pahelwan (died 1840), came under the patronage of the province’s Sikh governor, Hari Singh Nalwa. On Nalwa’s reassignment to the North-West-Frontier Province, Umar Baksh accompanied his patron and resettled his family in the governor’s native town of Gujranwala. Umar Baksh’s wrestling career continued for a few years after Hari Singh’s death in 1837. His son, Sultan Pahelwan entered into the wrestling fraternity under the patronage of the Sikh court of Lahore around 1840.

Ghulam Pahelwan’s most successful pupil was Rahim Baksh Sultaniwala. Though born in Gujranwala, Rahim’s association with Ghulam meant that he was reared in his akhara in Amritsar.

Under his master’s watchful eye, Rahim developed a superb physical build; in his heyday he was the picture of a veritable giant, standing almost seven feet tall and weighing close to 300 pounds. To strike fear into his opponents, he would often enter the arena covered from head to toe in vermillion, appearing like a fearsome red demon arisen from the underworld.

View attachment 564872

Between 1902 and 1918, Rahim fought, and mostly won, his bouts against Khalifa Bhai Madho Singh (ustad of the Great Gama), Sain Pahelwan, Rajab, Kala Partapa, Gora Partapa, Mehanni Reniwala, Khalifa Meraj Din, Biddo Pahelwan and Channan Qasai.

Rahim’s most formidable rival in this period was the Great Gama with whom he clashed four times. They first met in 1902 during a wrestling festival in the state of Junagarh. Rahim enjoyed the rank of chief court wrestler from amongst the maharaja’s stable of sixty pahelwans. Towering over Gama, who stood five-feet-seven-inches, Rahim entered the arena as the clear favourite. The contest raged for almost an hour before a draw was eventually declared. The return match in 1906 was held at Indore at the invitation of Sivaji Rao Holkar. The two pahelwans were evenly matched, and after two hours of skilful and thrilling grappling, the bout ended in a draw once again.

They met a third time several months later at Lahore. They clashed for two hours but the issue remained undecided. Their fourth and final meeting took place in December 1910 at Allahabad. The huge Rahim was out for blood, his body covered in red powder. At first Rahim evaded Gama's favourite shoulder-throw (“dhobi pat”) but his evasive tactics soon became less effective. Gama managed to score with the throw but was unable to secure a pin. Coming to grips again, Gama hoisted Rahim up by a crotch hold, turned him, and was starting to pin when Rahim scissored his arm and extricated himself. After two-and-a-half-hours of epic wrestling, Rahim’s rib broke, forcing him to concede the fight to Gama. This rib injury also forced Rahim to forfeit the match against Gama’s brother, Imam Baksh, at Kohlapur in 1918.

Rahim spent most of his later life in the princely states of Indore, Kohlapur, Junagarh, Murshidabad, Patiala and Datia. In recognition of his services to the sport, the nawab of Bahawalpur granted him a life pension of one hundred rupees per month. In a career spanning over half a century, Rahim fought over three hundred bouts, lost maybe six decisions, but was never pinned.

n 1926, Goonga Pahelwan (right) insisted on having a clash with Rahim who, at 52, was double his age. The old giant threw Goonga with an outside leg throw (‘bahrli tang’), causing one of the greatest upsets of the century. Inspired by the outcome, a local punjabi poet composed the following verse (translated in english) in praise of the victor:

‘O Rahim pinned Goonga and paid him in his own coin; Goonga bought trouble by awakening the sleeping lion!’

Despite sustaining several serious injuries, Rahim enjoyed perhaps the longest competitive career of any pahelwan. In his last serious public engagement at Wazirabad in 1936, the 72-year-old defeated a 28-year-old Canadian wrestler named Hudson with a body-lift and throw (‘ukher’). It was all over in just three minutes. The giant from Gujranwala died in August 1942 in his native town.

Source: http://www.pahelwani.com/#/rahim-sultaniwala/4544812222

 

[Crusher]

Born in 1864 in Gujranwala town, Rahim’s family originally hailed from Kashmir but moved to the plains in the 1820s when his grandfather, Umar Baksh Pahelwan (died 1840), came under the patronage of the province’s Sikh governor, Hari Singh Nalwa. On Nalwa’s reassignment to the North-West-Frontier Province, Umar Baksh accompanied his patron and resettled his family in the governor’s native town of Gujranwala. Umar Baksh’s wrestling career continued for a few years after Hari Singh’s death in 1837. His son, Baba Sultan Pahelwan entered into the wrestling fraternity under the patronage of the Sikh court of Lahore around 1840.

Ghulam Pahelwan’s most successful pupil was Rahim Baksh Sultaniwala. Though born in Gujranwala, Rahim’s association with Ghulam meant that he was reared in his akhara in Amritsar.

Under his master’s watchful eye, Rahim developed a superb physical build; in his heyday he was the picture of a veritable giant, standing almost seven feet tall and weighing close to 300 pounds. To strike fear into his opponents, he would often enter the arena covered from head to toe in vermillion, appearing like a fearsome red demon arisen from the underworld.

Between 1902 and 1918, Rahim fought, and mostly won, his bouts against Khalifa Bhai Madho Singh (ustad of the Great Gama), Sain Pahelwan, Rajab, Kala Partapa, Gora Partapa, Mehanni Reniwala, Khalifa Meraj Din, Biddo Pahelwan and Channan Qasai.

Rahim’s most formidable rival in this period was the Great Gama with whom he clashed four times. They first met in 1902 during a wrestling festival in the state of Junagarh. Rahim enjoyed the rank of chief court wrestler from amongst the maharaja’s stable of sixty pahelwans. Towering over Gama, who stood five-feet-seven-inches, Rahim entered the arena as the clear favourite. The contest raged for almost an hour before a draw was eventually declared. The return match in 1906 was held at Indore at the invitation of Sivaji Rao Holkar. The two pahelwans were evenly matched, and after two hours of skilful and thrilling grappling, the bout ended in a draw once again.

They met a third time several months later at Lahore. They clashed for two hours but the issue remained undecided. Their fourth and final meeting took place in December 1910 at Allahabad. The huge Rahim was out for blood, his body covered in red powder. At first Rahim evaded Gama's favourite shoulder-throw (“dhobi pat”) but his evasive tactics soon became less effective. Gama managed to score with the throw but was unable to secure a pin. Coming to grips again, Gama hoisted Rahim up by a crotch hold, turned him, and was starting to pin when Rahim scissored his arm and extricated himself. After two-and-a-half-hours of epic wrestling, Rahim’s rib broke, forcing him to concede the fight to Gama. This rib injury also forced Rahim to forfeit the match against Gama’s brother, Imam Baksh, at Kohlapur in 1918.

Rahim spent most of his later life in the princely states of Indore, Kohlapur, Junagarh, Murshidabad, Patiala and Datia. In recognition of his services to the sport, the nawab of Bahawalpur granted him a life pension of one hundred rupees per month. In a career spanning over half a century, Rahim fought over three hundred bouts, lost maybe six decisions, but was never pinned.

n 1926, Goonga Pahelwan insisted on having a clash with Rahim who, at 52, was double his age. The old giant threw Goonga with an outside leg throw (‘bahrli tang’), causing one of the greatest upsets of the century. Inspired by the outcome, a local punjabi poet composed the following verse (translated in english) in praise of the victor:

‘O Rahim pinned Goonga and paid him in his own coin; Goonga bought trouble by awakening the sleeping lion!’

Despite sustaining several serious injuries, Rahim enjoyed perhaps the longest competitive career of any pahelwan. In his last serious public engagement at Wazirabad in 1936, the 72-year-old defeated a 28-year-old Canadian wrestler named Hudson with a body-lift and throw (‘ukher’). It was all over in just three minutes. The giant from Gujranwala died in August 1942 in his native town.

Source: http://www.pahelwani.com/#/rahim-sultaniwala/4544812222

 

[Crusher]

 

[Whirling_dervesh]

Almost all these pehelwans seem to be ethnic kashmiris. Why did they have monopoly? Anyone know?

 

[Crusher]

Almost all these pehelwans seem to be ethnic kashmiris. Why did they have monopoly? Anyone know?

But the modern Kashmiri people look very "fragile" from physique wise. I personally believe these pehlwans had mixed ancestries so they were not pure "kashmiri" as these pehlwan families used to intermarry only among other pehlwan families irrespective of their ethnicities and they used to roam in various kingdoms ranging from Afghanistan to deep India. And their ancestries were all mixed, it was a common occurrence for a "kashmiri" pehlwan from Gujranwala to marry into a pehlwan family of Amritsar, Multan or some other hub of wrestler families which were not necessarily "kashmiri".

 

[M. Sarmad]

Rahim’s most formidable rival in this period was the Great Gama with whom he clashed four times. They first met in 1902 during a wrestling festival in the state of Junagarh. Rahim enjoyed the rank of chief court wrestler from amongst the maharaja’s stable of sixty pahelwans. Towering over Gama, who stood five-feet-seven-inches, Rahim entered the arena as the clear favourite. The contest raged for almost an hour before a draw was eventually declared. The return match in 1906 was held at Indore at the invitation of Sivaji Rao Holkar. The two pahelwans were evenly matched, and after two hours of skilful and thrilling grappling, the bout ended in a draw once again.

They met a third time several months later at Lahore. They clashed for two hours but the issue remained undecided. Their fourth and final meeting took place in December 1910 at Allahabad. The huge Rahim was out for blood, his body covered in red powder. At first Rahim evaded Gama's favourite shoulder-throw (“dhobi pat”) but his evasive tactics soon became less effective. Gama managed to score with the throw but was unable to secure a pin. Coming to grips again, Gama hoisted Rahim up by a crotch hold, turned him, and was starting to pin when Rahim scissored his arm and extricated himself. After two-and-a-half-hours of epic wrestling, Rahim’s rib broke, forcing him to concede the fight to Gama. This rib injury also forced Rahim to forfeit the match against Gama’s brother, Imam Baksh, at Kohlapur in 1918.

Rahim was 46 years old and near the end of his career when Gama defeated him in 1910. (Gama was 15 years younger than him).

 

[Crusher]

Rahim was 46 years old and near the end of his career when Gama defeated him in 1910. (Gama was 15 years younger than him).

But Gama couldn't pin him down, Raheem got his rib broken after two hours wrestling bout and Gama won because of technical knock out.

 

[Crusher]

@Dubious , can you delete this thread, I seem to have posted this thread three times by mistake.

 

[Crusher]

@Dubious , can you delete this thread, I seem to have posted this thread three times by mistake.

 

[M. Sarmad]

But Gama couldn't pin him down, Raheem got his rib broken after two hours wrestling bout and Gama won because of technical knock out.

No doubt, Rahim who had never been pinned in his entire career, has had a very impressive and distinguished career. Gama, Rahim and Imam Bukhsh were the greatest wrestlers we ever had.

 

[Crusher]

No doubt, Rahim who had never been pinned in his entire career, has had very impressive and distinguished career. Gama, Rahim and Imam Bukhsh were the greatest wrestlers we ever had.

I would include "Goonga pehlwan" of Pasroor/Sialkot too in the list.

 

[B.K.N]

Almost all these pehelwans seem to be ethnic kashmiris. Why did they have monopoly? Anyone know?

these sports have nothing to do with their ancestories but it is about exposure to some specific sport
When people see some of their family member or someone from niehborhood successful in some sport or some other thing then a lot of others start copying the successful person
One big reason maybe for this sport training starts from childhood so taking part in it is only possible if you have some akhara in nieghborhood
so availability of facilities is one major reason

 

[Thorough Pro]

three separate threads on the same topic?

 

[Crusher]

these sports have nothing to do with their ancestories but it is about exposure to some specific sport
When people see some of their family member or someone from niehborhood successful in some sport or some other thing then a lot of others start copying the successful person
One big reason maybe for this sport training starts from childhood so taking part in it is only possible if you have some akhara in nieghborhood
so availability of facilities is one major reason

Absolutely agree with you, I don't know why some people have "fetish" about the "ancestry" (even if it is distant) of an athlete rather than looking at that athlete as an individual who rose to fame due to his "own" hard work and training starting from childhood under experts of his chosen sport. People just excel in field in which they put their sweat and blood, achievement in sports is always an individual achievement. Just because Usan Bolt became world record holder as the fastest man on earth doesn't mean that every "Jamaican" is going to be second Usan Bolt, it doesn't happen this way.
In case of some Kashmiri families dominating the wrestling field in the 19th and 20th century, it was purely coincidence that some handful of Kashmiri families developed a passion for wrestling and their kids were fascinated with this sport and put their sweat and blood to achieve the excellence in this field, it had nothing to do with their "kashmiri" ancestry but depended entirely on their individual family histories. Goonga pehlwan was a formidable wrestler from Pasroor Sialkot and he was not Kashmiri but belonged to "Faqeer" bradari of his village.