Ambika Charan Guha
Encyclopedia
Ambika Charan Goho (1843–1900), popularly known as Ambu babu or Ambu Goho , was an India
n wrestler
who pioneered the growth of akhada culture in Bengal
.
. The locality is presently near the Masjidbari Street near Hatibagan
.
Ambika Charan suffered a serious injury at the age of eight or nine. At the advice of the doctor he began to continue his studies at home. He also continued his physical exercises and took lessons in horse riding at home. He was trained in the art of wrestling by Kalicharan Chaubey of Mathura.
tricks. He engaged in wrestling bouts with the contemporary Indian wrestlers and became victorious in many of them. He came to be known as Ambu babu or Raja babu.
His akhada became a pilgrimage to the budding wrestlers of India. Ambika Charan became a trainer of the art and the budding wrestlers of Bengal used to train under him. Swami Vivekananda
in his early years, learned wrestling
in Ambu babu's akhada.
Some of his famous students are listed below.
, went on to become an accomplished wrestler who became the first Asian
to win the World Light Heavyweight Championship in the United States
in 1921.
The akhada culture subsequently flourished in Bengal and the Bengali
Hindu
elite were drawn into it. Hundreds of akhadas began to proliferate in the nooks and crannies of Bengal, some of which later became the breeding ground of revolutionary nationalist activities.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n wrestler
Wrestling
Wrestling is a form of grappling type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. A wrestling bout is a physical competition, between two competitors or sparring partners, who attempt to gain and maintain a superior position...
who pioneered the growth of akhada culture in Bengal
Bengal
Bengal is a historical and geographical region in the northeast region of the Indian Subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. Today, it is mainly divided between the sovereign land of People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal, although some regions of the previous...
.
Early life
Ambika Charan came from a family of wrestlers. His grandfather, Shiv Charan Goho, patronized the sport and is credited with popularizing the sport in Bengal. Ambika Charan was born to Abhay Charan Goho in 1843 in Hogolkuria in KolkataKolkata
Kolkata , formerly known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of the Hooghly River, it was the commercial capital of East India...
. The locality is presently near the Masjidbari Street near Hatibagan
Hatibagan
Hatibagan is a neighbourhood in north Kolkata . The area is under Shyampukur & Burtalla police stations. It is next to Shyambazar. The place is popular for its Shops, Markets, Cinema Halls & old Theatres, No other places in Kolkata cover as many Cinema & Theatre halls as Hatibagan covers...
.
Ambika Charan suffered a serious injury at the age of eight or nine. At the advice of the doctor he began to continue his studies at home. He also continued his physical exercises and took lessons in horse riding at home. He was trained in the art of wrestling by Kalicharan Chaubey of Mathura.
Career
In 1857, at the age of sixteen, Ambika, founded the first akhada of Bengal, at the advice of his grandfather. Ambika then travelled throughout India learning different wrestling and weight liftingPowerlifting
Powerlifting is a strength sport. It resembles the sport of Olympic weightlifting, as both disciplines involve lifting weights in three attempts. Powerlifting evolved from a sport known as 'odd lifts' which followed the same three attempt format but used a wide variety of events akin to Strongman...
tricks. He engaged in wrestling bouts with the contemporary Indian wrestlers and became victorious in many of them. He came to be known as Ambu babu or Raja babu.
His akhada became a pilgrimage to the budding wrestlers of India. Ambika Charan became a trainer of the art and the budding wrestlers of Bengal used to train under him. Swami Vivekananda
Swami Vivekananda
Swami Vivekananda , born Narendranath Dutta , was the chief disciple of the 19th century mystic Ramakrishna Paramahansa and the founder of the Ramakrishna Math and the Ramakrishna Mission...
in his early years, learned wrestling
Wrestling
Wrestling is a form of grappling type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. A wrestling bout is a physical competition, between two competitors or sparring partners, who attempt to gain and maintain a superior position...
in Ambu babu's akhada.
Some of his famous students are listed below.
- Khetra Charan Goho or Khetu babu
- Jatindra Charan GohoGobar GohoJatindra Charan Goho , popularly known by his ring name Gobar Goho , was a world famous Indian wrestler and practitioner of Pehlwani. He was the first Asian to win the World Light Heavyweight Championship in the United States in 1921.- Early life :Gobar came from a family of wrestlers...
or Gobar Goho - Swami VivekanandaSwami VivekanandaSwami Vivekananda , born Narendranath Dutta , was the chief disciple of the 19th century mystic Ramakrishna Paramahansa and the founder of the Ramakrishna Math and the Ramakrishna Mission...
- Swami Brahmananda
- Jatindranath Mukherjee or Bagha Jatin
- Phanindra Krishna Gupta
Legacy
His son, Khetra Charan Goho, (popularly known as Khetu babu) also became an accomplished wrestler. Khetu babu's nephew, Jatindra Charan GohoGobar Goho
Jatindra Charan Goho , popularly known by his ring name Gobar Goho , was a world famous Indian wrestler and practitioner of Pehlwani. He was the first Asian to win the World Light Heavyweight Championship in the United States in 1921.- Early life :Gobar came from a family of wrestlers...
, went on to become an accomplished wrestler who became the first Asian
Asian people
Asian people or Asiatic people is a term with multiple meanings that refers to people who descend from a portion of Asia's population.- Central Asia :...
to win the World Light Heavyweight Championship in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1921.
The akhada culture subsequently flourished in Bengal and the Bengali
Bengali people
The Bengali people are an ethnic community native to the historic region of Bengal in South Asia. They speak Bengali , which is an Indo-Aryan language of the eastern Indian subcontinent, evolved from the Magadhi Prakrit and Sanskrit languages. In their native language, they are referred to as বাঙালী...
Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
elite were drawn into it. Hundreds of akhadas began to proliferate in the nooks and crannies of Bengal, some of which later became the breeding ground of revolutionary nationalist activities.