The Trailblazer: Discovering Incredible Journey of Hamida Banu, India's First Female Wrestler

Google Doodle honors Banu

Todays Google Doodle honors Ms. Banus extraordinary life as well. Her legacy is one of tenacity, grit, and breaking down obstacles. She competed with men anyhow, issuing an open challenge to all male wrestlers and wagering her hand in marriage to the first to defeat her, described the impassioned Ms. Banu.

Amazon of Aligarh

The career of Ms. Banu even reached the international arena, where she defeated Russian female wrestler Vera Chistilin in under two minutes. She gained notoriety as the Amazon of Aligarh after her name was featured in press headlines for many years.

Marriage that gathered healdine!

I will marry you if you beat me in a bout. According to the BBC, Ms. Banu issued this challenge to male wrestlers in February 1954. She defeated two male wrestling champions—one from Patiala, Punjab, and the other from Kolkata, West Bengal—shortly after the announcement.

Baba Pahalwan's curious case

Ms. Banu then traveled to Vadodara, Gujarat, in May for her third battle of the year. Baba Pahalwan was her next opponent, but the wrestler she was meant to face pulled out of the match at the last minute. When Ms. Banu prevailed, the fight had only lasted one minute and thirty-four seconds. After that, he gave up on professional wrestling.

Wait what!!!

Author Maheshwar Dayal noted in a 1987 book that Ms. Banus notoriety drew fans from all over the world as she engaged in multiple fights throughout Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. She did, however, also have to deal with criticism from those who were offended by her public appearances.

Banu disappearence!

It seemed like Ms. Banu disappeared from the wrestling world. The BBC claims that this is when her life transformed. According to the article, Ms. Banus coach, Salam Pahalwan, did not approve of her trip to Europe, citing her grandson Feroz Shaikh. He attempted to stop her from doing so.

Assault?

Rahil Khan, her neighbor, claims that Ms. Banus coach physically assaulted her, breaking both of her legs. She could not even stand. She needed a lathi for years before it healed, but Rahil Khan was cited in the paper as saying that.

HISTORY

Salam Pahalwans daughter Sahara claimed that her stepmother, Ms. Banu, was the woman he had married. On the other hand, Ms. Banus grandson disagreed, having lived with her until her death in 1986.

After life

She did live with him, but she never got married, Mr. Shaikh was cited in the report as saying. Ms. Bani sold milk and rented out a few buildings to make ends meet. Ms. Bani sold milk and rented out a few buildings to make ends meet. She used to sell her handmade treats by the side of the road when she ran out of money.