Kikkar singh
Encyclopedia
Pehelvan Kikkar Singh Sandhu (1857–1914)
Kikkar Singh Sandhu 'Pehelvan' was a wrestler of legendary fame. He was born on 13 January 1857 to Javala Singh Sandhu and Sahib Kaur, a farming couple of moderate means living in the village ot Chanteke, in Lahore
district (now in Pakistan
). Javtla Singh, himself a wrestler, wished his only son to train as one. Young Kikkar Singh began his apprenticeship in his mother's native village, Nurpur, under Gulam, the potter
. As he returned to his own village, he started practising with an elderly wrestler, Vasava Singh, who taught him many fine points of the sport. He had already made a name as a wrestler by the tilne he put himself under the tutelage of Buta Pahilvan, Rustam-i-Hind (a title for the champion wrestler of India), of Lahore. Soon Kikkar Singh came to be counted as the leading Indian wrestler and one among the best in the world. He enjoyed the patronage of the rulers of the princely states of Jodhpur
, Indore
, Dasuya, Tonk
and Jammu and Kashmir
.
Kikkar Singh had a prodigious frame. He was uncommonly tall, over seven feet, as the tradition goes, and many legends became current of his Herculean
strength. For example, his real name was Prem Singh, he came to be known as Kikkar Singh for he had once uprooted a kikkar tree (acacia
) with bare hands. It is also likely that he earned his botanical name because of his extraordinary height and dark complexion .
Kikkar Singh fought and won many bouts during his lifetime. In fact there were not many competitors to match his strength and skill. He, however, lost the last contest of his life. During the Delhi Durbar
held in December 1911 to celebrate the coronation of King George V
, he was challenged by a younger wrestler and an old rival, Kallu of Amritsar. Kikkar Singh, at 54, was long past his prime and was already a patient of asthma
, but he would not let a challenge go unanswered, and came into the arena. He put up an elegant fight to the delight of the elite gathering (Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala and Sardul Singh Caveeshar
were among the spectators), but lost although to many eye-witnesses it appeared a dubious judgement.
Kikkar Singh died on 18 February 1914 at his native village where a samadhi
or memorial shrine was raised in his memory.
Kikkar singh Sandhu has still living members of family living in Muktsar punjab India. Sardar Darshan singh Sandhu is his only living grandson a wrestler in his times now in his 90,s.Most of his family tree is settled in the UK mainly Heston and New york.
Kikkar Singh Sandhu 'Pehelvan' was a wrestler of legendary fame. He was born on 13 January 1857 to Javala Singh Sandhu and Sahib Kaur, a farming couple of moderate means living in the village ot Chanteke, in Lahore
Lahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
district (now in Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
). Javtla Singh, himself a wrestler, wished his only son to train as one. Young Kikkar Singh began his apprenticeship in his mother's native village, Nurpur, under Gulam, the potter
Pottery
Pottery is the material from which the potteryware is made, of which major types include earthenware, stoneware and porcelain. The place where such wares are made is also called a pottery . Pottery also refers to the art or craft of the potter or the manufacture of pottery...
. As he returned to his own village, he started practising with an elderly wrestler, Vasava Singh, who taught him many fine points of the sport. He had already made a name as a wrestler by the tilne he put himself under the tutelage of Buta Pahilvan, Rustam-i-Hind (a title for the champion wrestler of India), of Lahore. Soon Kikkar Singh came to be counted as the leading Indian wrestler and one among the best in the world. He enjoyed the patronage of the rulers of the princely states of Jodhpur
Jodhpur
Jodhpur , is the second largest city in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It is located west from the state capital, Jaipur and from the city of Ajmer. It was formerly the seat of a princely state of the same name, the capital of the kingdom known as Marwar...
, Indore
Indore
Indore is one of the major city in India, the largest city and commercial center of the state of Madhya Pradesh in central India. Indore is located 190 km west of the state capital Bhopal. According to the 2011 Indian census, Indore city has a population of 1,960,631...
, Dasuya, Tonk
Tonk (princely state)
Tonk was a Princely State of India which by treaty in 1817 accepted British suzerainty. Following the Partition of India in 1947, Tonk acceded to the newly independent Union of India. It was located in the region that is now the Tonk district.-History:...
and Jammu and Kashmir
Jammu and Kashmir
Jammu and Kashmir is the northernmost state of India. It is situated mostly in the Himalayan mountains. Jammu and Kashmir shares a border with the states of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab to the south and internationally with the People's Republic of China to the north and east and the...
.
Kikkar Singh had a prodigious frame. He was uncommonly tall, over seven feet, as the tradition goes, and many legends became current of his Herculean
Hercules
Hercules is the Roman name for Greek demigod Heracles, son of Zeus , and the mortal Alcmene...
strength. For example, his real name was Prem Singh, he came to be known as Kikkar Singh for he had once uprooted a kikkar tree (acacia
Acacia
Acacia is a genus of shrubs and trees belonging to the subfamily Mimosoideae of the family Fabaceae, first described in Africa by the Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus in 1773. Many non-Australian species tend to be thorny, whereas the majority of Australian acacias are not...
) with bare hands. It is also likely that he earned his botanical name because of his extraordinary height and dark complexion .
Kikkar Singh fought and won many bouts during his lifetime. In fact there were not many competitors to match his strength and skill. He, however, lost the last contest of his life. During the Delhi Durbar
Delhi Durbar
The Delhi Durbar , meaning "Court of Delhi", was a mass assembly at Coronation Park, Delhi, India, to mark the coronation of a King and Queen of the United Kingdom. Also known as the Imperial Durbar, it was held three times, in 1877, 1903, and 1911, at the height of the British Empire. The 1911...
held in December 1911 to celebrate the coronation of King George V
George V of the United Kingdom
George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....
, he was challenged by a younger wrestler and an old rival, Kallu of Amritsar. Kikkar Singh, at 54, was long past his prime and was already a patient of asthma
Asthma
Asthma is the common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and bronchospasm. Symptoms include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath...
, but he would not let a challenge go unanswered, and came into the arena. He put up an elegant fight to the delight of the elite gathering (Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala and Sardul Singh Caveeshar
Sardul Singh Caveeshar
Sardul Singh Caveeshar was an Indian newspaper editor, and a major figure in the Indian independence movement. He was born in Amritsar.-Education:...
were among the spectators), but lost although to many eye-witnesses it appeared a dubious judgement.
Kikkar Singh died on 18 February 1914 at his native village where a samadhi
Samadhi
Samadhi in Hinduism, Buddhism,Jainism, Sikhism and yogic schools is a higher level of concentrated meditation, or dhyāna. In the yoga tradition, it is the eighth and final limb identified in the Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali....
or memorial shrine was raised in his memory.
Kikkar singh Sandhu has still living members of family living in Muktsar punjab India. Sardar Darshan singh Sandhu is his only living grandson a wrestler in his times now in his 90,s.Most of his family tree is settled in the UK mainly Heston and New york.
External links
- http://www.allaboutsikhs.com/1800/kikkar-singh-pahilvan.html
- http://www.jattworld.com/portal/modules/mysections/article.php?lid=44