Undefeated, fearless, and always true to his discipline, the Great Gama is among the greatest wrestlers the world has ever seen. Born in British India as Ghulam Mohammad Baksh, Gama started his training when he was just eight. When Gama challenged professional wrestlers at a public competition at the tender age of ten, the Maharaja of Datia recognized his remarkable courage and sponsored the boy’s training. Gama soon proved to be a machine of a man, scoring medal after medal, taking down champion after champion without a hint of fear in him.
 
Although he was usually the shorter man in the ring—being only 5’7” in a sport dominated by much bigger men—Gama trained his body with such rigorous discipline that his strength and skill became unmatchable. This is why his training routine still holds a legendary rank in the world of wrestling and performance fighting, with the likes of Bruce Lee being avid fans and followers of Gama’s exercise techniques. The Great Gama remained the undefeated wrestling champion of British India until retirement and was considered the uncrowned world champion after drawing a round with the reigning champ Stanislaus Zbyszko who didn’t show up to the next match with Gama.
 
After the independence of India and the partition of Pakistan, Gama moved to Lahore where he lived to the end of his days, continuing his practice even in old age and remaining a symbol of strength, skill and courage. He died undefeated. 
 
This print was based on a vintage photograph (1916, Gama Sher-e-punjab—the lion of Punjab by Unknown). It depicts Great Gama with a steel mace—a traditional South Asian weapon in wrestling, and Gama’s preferred training aid. His use of the mace in strength training was so revered that the Prince of Wales once gifted a silver mace to Gama. This image of Gama holding his training mace reminds us how impossibilities become realities when you take on challenges with discipline, practice and unflinching courage.