Google released a doodle on Saturday, May 4, remembering the Hamida Banu who received worldwide recognition for her win in a wrestling match on May 4, 1954, which lasted only 1 minute and 34 seconds. On this day she challenged and defeated famed wrestler Baba Pahalwan.
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.”
The doodle, illustrated by Bangalore-based artist Divya Negi, depicts Ms Banu surrounded by local flora and fauna. It also serves as a reminder of a female’s entry into a sport that was dominated by males in the 1940s and 50s.
Why is Google honouring Hamida Banu today?
Google chose May 4 to honor Hamida Banu because on this day in 1954, she beat Baba Pahalwan, a famous wrestler. After that, he stopped wrestling professionally. Google says, “On May 4, 1954, news spread about Banu beating Baba Pahalwan in just 1 minute and 34 seconds.
Hamida Banu who is widely considered to be India’s first woman wrestler, was born in the early 1900s near Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh. In her career spanning the 1940s and 1950s, Ms Banu won more than 300 competitions.
About Hamida Banu
Hamida Banu was born in 1912 in Maharashtra, India. Banu started wrestling at a young age and quickly became known for her strength and skill in the sport. In 1936, Banu represented India at the Berlin Olympics, becoming the first Indian woman to compete in wrestling at the international level.
Hamida Banu also known as ‘Amazon of Aligarh’ was born into a family of wrestlers in the early 1900s near Uttar Pradesh’s Aligarh. She grew up practising the art of wrestling and registered victory in over 300 competitions throughout her career spanning the 1940s and 1950s.
Hamida Banu was born into a family of wrestlers in the early 1900s near Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh. She entered into wrestling at a time when women’s participation in athletics was strongly discouraged by prevalent social norms. However, Ms Banu was “passionate and she competed with men anyway, issuing an open challenge to all male wrestlers and wagering her hand in marriage to the first to defeat her,” as per Google.
