The Art of Pehlwani

Pehlwani in India and Pakistan

Pehlwani (also spelled as pahlwani) is a form of wrestling native to India. A practitioner of this sport is referred to as a pehlwan (also spelled pahlwan). An expert or master of this art style of wrestling is called a Guru/"Ustad"(great teacher). The original form of pehlwani in India was based on the Greco-Roman style of wrestling that is also known as the Dungal wrestling. The earliest Pehlwans practiced the Greco-roman style of wrestling very often. However with the passage of time, free-style wrestling has become popular throughout the world and many other forms of martial arts have been introduced in the world today. Therefore the Pehlwans who compete in professional wrestling nowadays also practice the free-style wrestling which includes techniques from other forms of martial arts combined with wrestling. That it is being said, the popularity of this strong tradition seems to be withering away slowly in India. More recently, Oil Wrestling is making a comeback in Turkey. Legendary wrestlers from the bygone era eg. Karl Gotch have made tours to the traditional "Milked Sand wrestling pits" in India to learn the art of Pehlwani and further hone their skills. Karl Gotch was gifted a pair of "mudgals"(a exercise equipment used by the Indian wrestlers) by the Indian wrestlers. dungal is an old irish royalty family that the dungalwalley or the dungals bay has its name since the vikings payed theire wisit. ...

However the Indian Subcontinent did produce many greats during the past. India in the recent past had world beaters of the class of Gama, Kikkar Singh, Karim Bux, Ghulam and Gobr. India reached its peak of glory in the IV Asian Games (later on called Jakarta Games) in 1962. During the 60’s, India was ranked among the first eight or nine wrestling nations of the world. And hosted the world wrestling championships in New Delhi in 1967.

The undefeated champions of India hold the title Rustum-i-Hind title and the undefeated wrestler in Pakistan is ranked as Rustum-i-Pakistan . The term Rustam is derived from an ancient legend of Rustam and Sohrab. Whereas Rustam and Sohrab is the very old narrative of a Persian warrior-king known as Rustam. And the dual between Rustom and Sohrab is mentioned in Shah Nama And this ancient term Rustam has been used to describe the Wrestling Champions in Indian terminology. The word Rustam was used in Pehlwani or Indian Greco-roman style of wrestling to grade the Indian wrestling champions from the very beginning and has been used by the Indians even during the British rule in India to classify a champion wrestler from a runner up or an ordinary grappler. The phrase Rustam is still alive in some parts of Hindustan and Pakistan after the Indian partition and is even now used to describe the wrestling champions. Although the accurate track record of such medals or championship is hidden in the past and is yet to be discovered. Rostam (رستم Rostæm in Persian) is a mythical warrior of ancient Persia, son of Zal and Rudabe. ... Hindustan (Hindi: हिन्दुस्तान [Hindustān], Urdu: [Hindostān], from the Persian HindÅ« + -stān, archaic Hindoostan) and the adjective Hindustani may relate to various aspects of four geographic areas: Hindustan: Land of the Hindus. ...

Famous Pehlwans

(Indian and Pakistani Wrestlers)

• Great Gama, *Karim Bux - was the first wrestler to get into world headlines, when he defeated Tom Canon of England in 1892.
• Kikkar Singh - Dev-e-Hind, His chest measured 80 inches (unexpected).
• Ghulam – accompanied the late Pandit Motilal Nehru to Paris in 1900 and defeated Kader Ali of Turkey to become the world champion.
• Gobar - defeated Ali Santal in San Francisco in 1921 and became the world champion.
• Ramzi Pahlwan -
• Kalloo -
• Labhu Lohar -
• Rahim Sultaniwala -
• Imam Baksh Pehlwan -The Indian wrestling legend, and the former Rustam-I-Hind as well as the winner of several strength contests in India.
• Viddo - (Sitara-I-Hind of Lahore),
• Bular -
• Goonga Baliwala -
• Mhani Reniwala -
• Gutta Singh Khakhanwala -
• Hamida Pehlwan – former Rustam-I-Hind and the trainer of the Bholu Brothers of Pakistan.
• Gainda Singh Johl,
• Haider Amritsaria -
• Bholu – Rustam-I-Pakistan, He is the eldest son of Imam Baksh Pehlwan. And the eldest among the Pehlwan Brothers of Pakistan.
• Joginder Singh Tiger- Top Indian Wrestler,
• Dara Singh- Wrestler cum actor, famous for traveling to the United States of America; knocking out the professional wrestlers in the US, then coming back home after realizing the meaning of the word "working" in American professional wrestling.

• Ajit Singh- Indian Wrestler
• Bholu Brothers- Illustrious Pehlwan Brothers of Pakistan. (Bholu , Aslam , Goga , Akram and Azam).
• Akram Pehlwan- the son of the wrestling legend Imam Baksh Pahalwan. He becomes famous for his mixed martial arts match against Antonio Inoki. And he is one of the Bholu Brothers.
• Aslam Pahlwan - The uncrowned king of the wrestling world.
• Tiger Jeet Singh: Real name, Jagit Singh Hans, is the world renowned Indian pro-wrestler.
• Tiger Ali Singh: Real name, Gurjit Singh Hans is an Indian Pro-wrestler and son of Tiger Jeet Singh.
• Nasir Bholu- Well-known Pakistani wrestler from the Bholu family.
• Jhara Pehlwan- Real name Zubair , was the son of the famous Aslam Pehlwan
• Master Chandgiram is an Indian wrestler who is Known for defeating champions from numerous other disciplines.
• Dalip Singh– The Haryana State police bodybuilder and wrestler (Pehlwan) from Northern India . He is over 7 feet tall . In Japan, he’s known for hard fought shoot style matches.

Jump to: navigation, search The Great Gama The Great Gama (1882-1960), also known as Rustam-e-zaman Gama Pahelvan, born Ghulam Muhammad, in Amritsar, Indian subcontinent, was a renowned wrestler and the first inhabitant of British India to acclaim an international title in any sport. ... Jump to: navigation, search Motilal Nehru (May 6, 1861 - February 6, 1931) was an early leader of the Indian National Congress and Indian Nationalism. ... Jump to: navigation, search Bholu Pahalwan in 1949. ... Jump to: navigation, search The Bholu Brothers, also known as the Pahalwan Brothers of Pakistan, was a group of Pakistani wrestlers during the 1950s and 60s. ... Dara Singh is a former wrestler and actor from India. ... Jump to: navigation, search The Bholu Brothers, also known as the Pahalwan Brothers of Pakistan, was a group of Pakistani wrestlers during the 1950s and 60s. ... Jump to: navigation, search Akram Iki Pahalwan was a Pakistani pehlwan. ... Jump to: navigation, search Aslam Pahalwan : Wrestling Champion Of Punjab. ... Jump to: navigation, search Professional Name: Tiger Jeet Singh Popular Indian wrestler residing in Toronto , canada in the late 1960s and 1970s. ... Gurjit Singh Hans is a professional wrestler best known as Tiger Ali Singh. ... Jump to: navigation, search Dalip Singh is an Indian power-lifter with a few acting credits. ...

Pehlwani Titles

Indian and Pakistani Wrestling Titles

• Rustam-I-Hind: (also spelled Rustam-e-Hind ) means Wrestling Champion of India. In fact Rustam-I-Hind is the older interpretation of Indian Wrestling Champion. Similarly, Imam Baksh Pahalwan and Hamida Pahalwan held Rustam-I-Hind title respectively and were recognized as the Wrestling Champions of India.
• Rustam-I-Punjab : (also spelled Rustam-e-Punjab) means the Wrestling Champion of Punjab. And Similarly Rustam-I-Punjab is the Indian version of Wrestling Champion of Punjab. Whereas Aslam Pehlwan held the Rustam-I-Punjab honor during the 50’s.
• Rustam-I-Pakistan: means Wrestling Champion of Pakistan. Bholu Pehlwan won this honor in 1949.
• Rustam-I-Zama: The expression, Rustam-I-Zama means the World Wrestling Champion in the Indian language. For instance the Great Gama of India when he defeated Stanislaus Zbyszko in 1910 , and became Known as Rustam-I-Zama.

External Links

• Dara Singh In The Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame
• Dalip "Giant" Singh
• Great Gama
• The Art of Pehlwani
• Pehlwani

• Pahlwani in India