I am from the U.S.A. I understand that the wrestling scene in Pakistan is not as strong as it was in the past, but years ago, it was said to be one of the strongest areas in the world. And for much of the 20th century, Indian-Muslim wrestlers were unbeatable.
Does anyone have the interest to discuss Gama, Bholu or other topics of Pakistani wrestling (I have heard some of the Bholu brothers are still alive, is it true?)?
Or do you know some books, websites or people I might be able to seek out to discuss it with them? Thank you.
Nasir bholu died a couple o years ago ... he emerged as a good wrestler .... while i dunn know about the gamma family :)... i dunn think there wud be any websites of paki wrestling scene .... cuz the standard has far deteriorated from wat it used to be!
Nasir bholu died a couple o years ago ... he >emerged as a good wrestler .... while i dunn >know about the gamma family ... i dunn think >there wud be any websites of paki wrestling >scene .... cuz the standard has far >deteriorated from wat it used to be!
Thanks for your reply, MahaRaja.
I have heard the name Nasir Bholo before. I'm interested in finding out more about him. I hadn't heard he died though. Was Nasir the last in the line of that family's descendents? Gama was the uncle of the Bholu brothers, through their father and Gama's brother, Imam Bux.
I've also heard the wrestler's name "Jhara." Do you know anything about him? Is there film or video in existence of him, or the Bholu brothers that you know of? The only video I have been able to hunt down is the match of the Japanese "Inoki" versus Akram at Karachi National Stadium in 1976. Inoki defeated Akram, but it was said that Akram was sick and injured, and much past his prime to have made a good run at winning that match. I have to believe there are other matches on film. Maybe even a film of Gama somewhere! Earliest wrestling film from the United States uncovered is 1920, so it could be possible?
Do you know which of the Bholu bros are still
alive? I'm pretty the one called Akram is no
longer living, and Bholu himself, but I don't
know about the others. Maybe you know?
Unfortunately you are right about the websites. I have scoured the internet through search engines for even as much as one single mention of Gama, Bholu or any Pakistani wrestlers through the years and have come up with very little. Interest is sadly very low of the once-proud sport. What do you believe is the reason for the deterioration of the sports popularity, and the disappearance of the traditional greats, like Gama was to his era, and Bholu was to his?
Jhara ... i think has been the most successful wrestler in pak history .... i remember highlights of one of his games on ptv ....if you really are interested u should write to ptv cuz they should have them or they can at least guide u as to where the right place is to get 'em!
As for the bholus .... there was a gala not long ago .... like in 1989/90 .... in which most of the paki wrestlers participated and as i remember watching it ...not sure on video or tv ... it also featured many stars from the WWF and stuff like that ... if nothing else this shud sure be available in the markets .... if u have relatives back home u can ask 'em to go to Hall road if in lahore ,and theres a similar place in karachi ...where they'd sure find it:)
Re: Pakistani Wrestling (GAMA and the BHOLU BROTHERS)
I asked my dad, this question over dinner last night. And what he said was that....diet played a big part in their training and over the time hikes in food prices made it really difficult for these wrestlers and those who managed them. And when you couple that with the public losing interest in the sport gradually as hockey and cricket gained popularity only made matters worse.
But all this couldn't cause that once popular sport to die out, because wrestling is an internation sport and generates reasonable amount of money. Secondly wrestling in pakistan is a family sport, and family sports tend to keep churning out athletes. The one main reason, my dad told me, why this sport died out was that the pahelwaans got into gunda gardi...and that marked the end of the once popular sport in Pakistan.
Gama only had 4 daughters, none of his 5 sons survived childhood.
was Imam Baksh his real name? I have not found answer to this question myself yet.
source, reference, and recommendation: Dastan-e-Shehzoran. I do not remember the author's name.
Jhara and Nasir Bhulu were same people as per my info. and none of the Bhulu brothers are alive anymore. feel free to email me anymore questions.
sorry for diggin such an old topic guys.
bye
NOTE: sorry but I tried to post it in a lineag like format but I could not.
Hi Bin Qasim,
Great post!
Would you have any ideas regarding how I could track down Dastan-e-Shehzoran? Would I need to enquire in Pakistan?
By the way, I have a LOT of rare material related to Indo-Pakistani wrestling if anybody is interested. Tons of photographs that you can't even dream of finding on the Internet etc.
I am from the U.S.A. I understand that the wrestling scene in Pakistan is not as strong as it was in the past, but years ago, it was said to be one of the strongest areas in the world. And for much of the 20th century, Indian-Muslim wrestlers were unbeatable.
Does anyone have the interest to discuss Gama, Bholu or other topics of Pakistani wrestling (I have heard some of the Bholu brothers are still alive, is it true?)?
Or do you know some books, websites or people I might be able to seek out to discuss it with them? Thank you.
Hi my father wrestled the bholu brothers and returned to England with their large silver cup, for more information google sam betts bohlu bros, or check this website. You will get more info if you google bholu bros Sam Betts. or google [wrestlers of the 60s70s where are they now.] I cant post the link here its not allowed.
Thanks Sam Betts jnr
, ps if you search face book for, sam betts, I can add u and you can see more information.
Does anyone here still follow current wrestling in Pakistan? Pakistan really needs to support such a rich cultural tradition. Does anyone know of any private societies that support wrestling?
Re: Pakistani Wrestling (GAMA and the BHOLU BROTHERS)
Kushti might not be what it used to be but it is still quite popular in Punjab. I'm not sure about other parts of Pakistan but in Gujranwala, there's a popular "akharra" in "Shairan-wala Bagh". A lot of people go there to watch their exercise and there's a "dungle" held every year.
You can find a lot of die-hard fans of Kushti. And I agree, they need our support.
Nasir bholu died a couple o years ago ... he emerged as a good wrestler .... while i dunn know about the gamma family :)... i dunn think there wud be any websites of paki wrestling scene .... cuz the standard has far deteriorated from wat it used to be!
MR
Muslim Punjabi wrestlers are the best in the world. In the united Punjab, my extended family used to say that muslims used to beat Sikhs and Hindus in all fights- 100% of the time in the akharas. Hindus used to pray to their gods and Sikhs used to chant "Wahe guru etc." and yet used to get defeated :D