"Beat me in a Bout and i will marry you."
This challenge was given by the lioness of Aligarh, India's first female wrestler Hamida Banu to all the male wrestler of India. February 1954's news paper headline: "Must Beat her to win" this was a time when no one could even think about women wrestling.
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| Image Credits- BBC |
Baba Pehelwan in Baroda accept this challenge, He was so confident that he said that i will leave wrestling if Hamida beats him. He had no idea of the power of Banu who made Pehlwan's last match in just 1 minute 34 second, and everyone who considered her weak was shocked.
She won 320 matches in her short career! Her name started echoing in every corner of the world when in 1954 she defeated Russia's female bear Vera Chistilin in mumbai in less than 1 minute. Today it is a matter of surprise that her story is neither in any book nor in any movie. So on 4th May 2024, to pay tribute to Hamida Banu, Google is celebrated her legacy with below Google Doodle. Here are some Facts about India's 'first' woman wrestler Hamida Banu from Aligarh.
Facts About India's 'first' woman wrestler Hamida Banu
1. Hamida Banu get's attention in the 1940's with her wrestling prowess drawing massive crowds.
2. In 1944, the Bombay Chronicle reported that about 20,000 people came to watch a match between Banu and Goonga Pahelwan, Which was later cancelled due to Goonga's demands.
3. In February 1954, Banu issued a bold challenge: "Beat me in a bout and I'll marry you."
4. She defeated two male champions, one from Patiala and another from Kolkata.
5. In May 1954, Banu's match in Vadodara against Baba Pahalwan lasted just one minute and 34 seconds, resulting in her victory.
6. In 1954, she defeated Vera Chistilin, Russia's "female bear," in Mumbai in less than a minute.
7. Banu was known as the "Amazon of Aligarh" and was described as formidable and intimidating.
8. Her weight was 108kg (17 stone) and she stood 1.6m (5ft 3in) tall. Her diet included 5.6 litres of milk, 2.8 litres of soup, 1.8 litres of fruit juice, a fowl, nearly 1kg of mutton and almonds, half a kilo of butter, 6 eggs, two big loaves of bread, and two plates of biryani.
9. Banu often faced opposition from local wrestling federations and was booed and stoned by crowds on occasion.
10. She faced allegations of making secret pacts with male wrestlers, leading to questions about the legitimacy of her matches.
11. Banu faced significant personal challenges, including an attack by her coach Salam Pahalwan, who broke her hands to prevent her from going to Europe.
12. She suffered financial difficulties in her later years, making a living by selling milk and homemade snacks.
13. Despite facing societal and personal hurdles, Hamida Banu remains a symbol of strength and perseverance in the history of Indian wrestling.
14. She passed away in 1986, but her story continues to inspire many.
These facts highlight the remarkable life of Hamida Banu, who broke barriers and made her mark in the wrestling world despite numerous challenges. Will her legacy finally get recognition? Now its depends on us. so share this Blog post With Every Indian!
Reference:
This article is based on the detailed report from BBC Urdu's Neyaz Farooquee, which traces the life and career of Hamida Banu, India's first professional woman wrestler【Read the full article】.
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