Google Doodle celebrates India's first woman wrestler Hamida Banu | 7 Facts about her-
04 May 2024 11:15:09
On Saturday, Google Doodle celebrated India's first professional woman wrestler Hamida Banu. It was a reminder of a female's entry into a sport that was a male bastion in the 1940s and 50s.
1. On this day in 1954, she defeated famed wrestler Baba Pahalwan, in just 1 minute and 34 seconds, after which the latter retired from professional wrestling. With this match, she earned international recognition and acclaim.
2. "Beat me in a bout and I'll marry you." This was the challenge that Banu made to male wrestlers in February 1954
3. Soon after the challenge, Banu defeated two male wrestling champions - one from Punjab's Patiala and the other from Kolkata in West Bengal.
4. Her popularity grew as her name appeared in newspaper headlines for years, and she became known as the "Amazon of Aligarh".
5. Hamida Banu reportedly weighed 108kg and was 5ft 3in tall. Her daily diet 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 big loaves of bread, and two plates of biryani.
6. In 1954, Banu triumphed over Vera Chistilin, who was Russia's "female bear," in a Mumbai bout lasting less than a minute.
7. Banu also encountered difficulties which included hurling stones at her by the public following her victory over a male opponent.
This doodle, illustrated by Bengaluru-based guest artist Divya Negi, celebrates Indian wrestler Hamida Banu depicting her in the foreground with ‘Google’ inscribed in the background, surrounded by local flora and fauna.
Here are some facts about India's first woman wrestler-
1. On this day in 1954, she defeated famed wrestler Baba Pahalwan, in just 1 minute and 34 seconds, after which the latter retired from professional wrestling. With this match, she earned international recognition and acclaim.
2. "Beat me in a bout and I'll marry you." This was the challenge that Banu made to male wrestlers in February 1954
3. Soon after the challenge, Banu defeated two male wrestling champions - one from Punjab's Patiala and the other from Kolkata in West Bengal.
4. Her popularity grew as her name appeared in newspaper headlines for years, and she became known as the "Amazon of Aligarh".
5. Hamida Banu reportedly weighed 108kg and was 5ft 3in tall. Her daily diet 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 big loaves of bread, and two plates of biryani.
6. In 1954, Banu triumphed over Vera Chistilin, who was Russia's "female bear," in a Mumbai bout lasting less than a minute.
7. Banu also encountered difficulties which included hurling stones at her by the public following her victory over a male opponent.