Dara Singh and Gama (Ghulam Box) are two of the greatest wrestlers India has produced. Both are from a different era. Gama was born in 1880 and died in 1964 in Lahore, while Dara Singh was born in 1928 and died this year. It is perhaps difficult to compare wrestlers from two different eras, but the under current is that both believed in Indian pehalwani and Kushti.
Gama was a Muslim and Dara a Sikh, but both hailed from the Punjab and belonged to Martial clans. Gama was lucky that he found a patron in the Maharaja of Patiala who
Gama was the world Champion when he beat Stanley Zbyszko and was awarded the title Rustom-e –Zamana or world Champion. Who can forget that the American champion Benjamin Roller was pinned by Gama to the mat in 1:40 sec? In another bout he pinned him in 9 minutes flat. Dara also had his fair share of wins with
Dara is more famous with his name in wrestling’s hall of fame, while Gama wrestled at a time when sports were not so popular. But he did enough to be remembered for all time to come. I think it is a matter of pride that the sub continent produced two great wrestlers and made India proud. Partition was the tragedy that took Gama to Pakistan. But that is part of the game and we can relish his exploits when he was the protégé of Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala. Give him some credit as well.
Dara went one better and took to films where he made a pile. That is part of the game
