Hamida Banu: Google Doodle, which celebrates special days around the world, on Saturday (May 4) placed India's first female wrestler Hamida Banu as a doodle. Hamida Banu made a special appearance in the 1940s and 1950s by rocketing into Indian wrestling, which was a stronghold for men. It marked the entry of women into a sport that was traditionally a men's game. She became the only wrestler who challenged her to marry those who defeated her in wrestling. Banu defeated two male wrestling champions as part of the challenge. One is a wrestler from Patiala in Punjab and the other is from Kolkata in West Bengal. Banu reached Vadodara in Gujarat to face the third person. Vadodara resident decided to face Sudhir Parab. But he remembers how when he visited the city of Banu in his childhood, banners and posters displayed on trucks and other vehicles advertised her arrival. Newspapers called her the 'Amazon of Aligarh'. In this competition, Banu withdrew at the last minute. Banu gave way to his next challenger, Baba Pahlwan. The bout lasted one minute and 34 seconds, when the woman won by fall, the Associated Press reported on May 3, 1954. 'Then the referee declared Pahlwan out of her marriage.
What made Banu popular?
Hamida Banu's weight, height and diet are all in the news. Hamida Banu weighed 108 kg and was 5 feet 3 inches tall. Banu's daily diet includes 5.6 liters of milk, 1.8 liters of fruit juice, 6 eggs, one chicken, 2.8 liters of soup, about 1 kg of mutton and almonds, half a kg of butter, two large loaves of bread and two plates of biryani. .Maheshwar Dayal in his book on Banu describes how Banu's fame attracted people from far and wide as he was engaged in many struggles in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab. However, Banu also faced trouble from people who were angered by his public appearance. In Pune, a bout against male wrestler Ramachandra Salunke had to be canceled due to the objection of the local wrestling federation. On another occasion, Banu was pelted with stones by fans after her victory over a male opponent. In 1954, in a Mumbai bout that lasted less than a minute, Banu defeated Vera Chistilin, known as the 'female bear' of Russia. That same year she considered competing with wrestlers in Europe.
Difficult personal life
Banu coach Salam Pahlwan does not want her to go to Europe, the report said. He tried to stop her from doing so. Banu's legs were broken when the coach hit her. 'She couldn't stand. It later healed, but she was unable to walk properly for years without the aid of a cane. Salam Pahlwan's daughter, Sahara, claims he is married to Banu, whom he considers his stepmother. But Banu's grandson Feroze Sheikh did not agree. 'She really stayed with him, but never married him,' says the Shaikh.
