Google Doodle celebrated Hamida Banu, India’s first professional woman wrestler on Saturday (May 4). The Doodle highlighted her groundbreaking entry into a male-dominated sport during the 1940s and 50s. Let’s revisit the journey of Hamida Banu and explore her path to fame.
The description with the Google Doodle states, “Hamida Banu was a trailblazer of her time, and her fearlessness is remembered throughout India and across the world. Outside of her sporting accomplishments, she will always be celebrated for staying true to herself.”
Breaking barriers in Indian wrestling
“Beat me in a bout and I’ll marry you.” Hamida would openly challenge her male counterparts. Following her challenge, Banu defeated two male wrestling champions – one from Patiala in Punjab and the other from Kolkata in West Bengal, as reported.
Hailing from Aligarh in Uttar Pradesh, Hamida Banu gained fame as the “Amazon of Aligarh” and garnered a following that many of her male counterparts envied. Banu engaged in numerous bouts across the country and consistently outperformed her male adversaries.
Why is Banu celebrated on May 4?
On this day in 1954, a wrestling match brought Hamida Banu international recognition when she secured victory in just 1 minute and 34 seconds, defeating the renowned wrestler Baba Pahalwan.
Hamida Banu diet, height, weight and more
Banu often made headlines for her personality and diet during the peak of her career. Hamida Banu, reportedly weighing 108kg and standing 5ft 3in tall, had a daily diet that included 5.6 litres of milk, 1.8 litres of fruit juice, 6 eggs, a fowl, 2.8 litres of soup, nearly 1kg of mutton and almonds, half a kilo of butter, two large loaves of bread, and two plates of biryani.
In his 1987 book, author Maheshwar Dayal described how Banu’s fame attracted people from distant places as she participated in numerous fights in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab.
Reports indicate that Banu faced financial struggles in her later years and resorted to selling milk and homemade cookies as a roadside vendor to make ends meet.
