Thread by @sidart_misra

Gama is very much synonymous with strength. A thread on him, and also how he is accidentally related to the rise of Yoga in India(through his brother). Read more 👇

Gama, a relatively poor, born around 1882 in Amritsar. From 1910 until 1950, he was the world champion. Unbeaten in London, Paris, and elsewhere in Europe, and in India also. In 1928, he defended his title in Patiala against Stanley Zbyszko, the Polish former world champion.

It is said that he won the bout in two-and-a-half seconds in front of a 40,000-strong crowd. Maharaja of Patiala, Bhupinder Singh, gifted him the pearl necklace he was wearing before awarding him with a village and an annual stipend of ₹6,000.

His Brother Imam Baksh Pahalwan was also a became a famous wrestler. In 1918, Gama, at Kolhapur, passed his title of Indian Champion and then put a rule that anyone who wants to challenge him will have to first defeat Imam. Soon, both received patronage in various royal courts.

They were also getting the invitations for such Matches. Deccan Gymkhana in Pune also used to hold wrestling matches that were widely attended. In 1937, Imam was there to display his skill against Puran Singh. As expected, the match lasted a few minutes.

But the Value for money kinda Crowd didn't like it, they started vandalising the Gymkhana, in their demand of WE WANT MORE. Some members of the Deccan Gymkhana discussed among themselves and decided to do something unthinkable, they rushed their man to invite a skinny person.

Entered Bellur Krishnamachar Sundararaja Iyengar, better known as B.K.S. Iyengar. "It was like walking into a live minefield. No one had any idea how his demonstration would be received." Iyengar went on to do a breath-taking 40-minute demonstration of his most advanced asanas.

Coming back to Gama.
Though he had amassed a good fortune, by Indian Royal families, in 1947. He decided to move to Pakistan, for some years it went normal, but then without any income, as no one wanted to fight against him.

All this along with his declining income and making it tough for him. Hearing about this, GD Birla decided to give Rs. 2500 as a monthly pension and as a reaction of this Govt of Pakitan also increased the pension.

However, on 23rd May 1960, he lost his life battle. Today doughnut-shaped exercise disc called Hasli ~95 kg, used by him for squats, is housed at the National Institute of Sports (NIS) Museum at Patiala. As per this book, Bruce Lee was an avid follower of Gama's training routine.

And now let me end this thread with another Trivia.
Kulsoom Nawaz, wife of Nawaz Sharif, was the granddaughter of The Great Gama.