Gulam
Encyclopedia
Gulam was an India
n practitioner of Pehlwani
. Gulam participated in early catch wrestling
tournaments in Europe
. At 5 foot 9, 280 pounds, Gulam wrestled in Paris
in 1900 at the time of 1900 World's Fair
.
In Paris, Gulam's manager extended a challenge to Turkish
wrestler Kurtdereli Mehmet Pehlivan
. Pandit Motilal Nehru was in attendance during the wrestling bout in Paris.
Edmond Desbonnet’s
account of the bout was given in his 1910 book, Les Rois de la Lutte. According to this account, the newcomer dominated Kurtdereli. In order to avoid harming the financial interests of those who bet on Kurtdereli, the bets on the bout were called off. Gulam was proclaimed the winner, but all bets were reimbursed.
Gulam returned to India where, shortly after 1900, he died of cholera
.
Desbonnet referred to Gulam as one of he two "super wrestlers" of modern times (the other being Yusuf İsmail
) and Stanislaus Zbyszko
told Robert W. Smith that, although he had never met Gulam himself, "I got information off one wrestler who did train with Gulam. He was the ruler of his day, of the mat, of human strength."
Gulam should not be confused with Ghulam "Great Gama" Muhammed, another Pehlwani practitioner.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n practitioner of Pehlwani
Pehlwani
Pehlwani or Pahlavani or Kushti is a Persian style of wrestling popular in Iran, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. It was developed in the Mughal era through a synthesis of Indian malla-yuddha and Persian Varzesh-e Bastani....
. Gulam participated in early catch wrestling
Catch wrestling
Catch wrestling is a style of folk wrestling that was developed and popularised in the late 19th century by the wrestlers of traveling carnivals who incorporated submission holds, or "hooks", into their wrestling to increase their effectiveness against their opponents...
tournaments in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. At 5 foot 9, 280 pounds, Gulam wrestled in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
in 1900 at the time of 1900 World's Fair
Exposition Universelle (1900)
The Exposition Universelle of 1900 was a world's fair held in Paris, France, from April 15 to November 12, 1900, to celebrate the achievements of the past century and to accelerate development into the next...
.
In Paris, Gulam's manager extended a challenge to Turkish
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
wrestler Kurtdereli Mehmet Pehlivan
Kurtdereli Mehmet Pehlivan
Kurtdereli Mehmet Pehlivan was a wrestler. He lived most of his life in the village of Kurtdere, 40 km from Balıkesir....
. Pandit Motilal Nehru was in attendance during the wrestling bout in Paris.
Edmond Desbonnet’s
Edmond Desbonnet
Edmond Desbonnet was a French academic and photographer who championed physical culture. He made physical education fashionable in belle époque France through the publication of fitness journals and by opening a chain of exercise clubs....
account of the bout was given in his 1910 book, Les Rois de la Lutte. According to this account, the newcomer dominated Kurtdereli. In order to avoid harming the financial interests of those who bet on Kurtdereli, the bets on the bout were called off. Gulam was proclaimed the winner, but all bets were reimbursed.
Gulam returned to India where, shortly after 1900, he died of cholera
Cholera
Cholera is an infection of the small intestine that is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The main symptoms are profuse watery diarrhea and vomiting. Transmission occurs primarily by drinking or eating water or food that has been contaminated by the diarrhea of an infected person or the feces...
.
Desbonnet referred to Gulam as one of he two "super wrestlers" of modern times (the other being Yusuf İsmail
Yusuf İsmail
Yusuf İsmail , also widely known as Youssouf Ishmaelo, was a Turkish professional wrestler who competed in Europe and the United States as Yusuf Ismail the Terrible Turk during the 1890s. During his lifetime, his native Turks knew him as Şumnulu Yusuf Pehlivan...
) and Stanislaus Zbyszko
Stanislaus Zbyszko
Stanislaus Zbyszko was a Polish strongman and professional wrestler popular in the United States during the 1920s. He was one of the most influential European grapplers of all-time, he was also among the sport’s great pioneer champions...
told Robert W. Smith that, although he had never met Gulam himself, "I got information off one wrestler who did train with Gulam. He was the ruler of his day, of the mat, of human strength."
Gulam should not be confused with Ghulam "Great Gama" Muhammed, another Pehlwani practitioner.