Chandgi Ram (9 November 1937 – 29 June 2010), often referred to as Master Chandgi Ram, was a
freestyle wrestler
Freestyle wrestling is a style of wrestling originated from Great Britain and the United States. Along with Greco-Roman, it is one of the two styles of wrestling contested in the Olympic Games. American high school and men's college wrestling i ...
from
India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
. He won gold medal in the
1970 Asian Games
The 6th Asian Games () were held from 9 to 20 December 1970 in Bangkok, Thailand.- - Seoul, South Korea, had been selected to host the 6th Games but it declined due to both financial reasons and security threats from neighboring North Korea. (T ...
and represented India in the
1972 Summer Olympics
The 1972 Summer Olympics (), officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad () and commonly known as Munich 1972 (german: München 1972), was an international multi-sport event held in Munich, West Germany, from 26 August to 11 September 1972. ...
. Along with amateur wrestling, he was very active in the traditional Indian wrestling, where he had won all major titles, including
Hind Kesari
Hind Kesari is an Indian-style wrestling championship, established in 1958. It is affiliated to the Indian Style Wrestling Association of India (ISWAI).
Hindi Kesari Title is a biggest Kushti Wrestling Title in India .
In 2011, women were a ...
, ''Bharat Kesari'', ''Bharat Bhim'', ''Rustom-e-Hind'' and ''Maha Bharat Kesari''.
He is remembered for the work that he has done for the introduction, acceptance and popularization of the women's wrestling in India. Some of his trainees went on to become prominent women's wrestling coaches of the country.
In 1969,
Government of India
The Government of India (ISO: ; often abbreviated as GoI), known as the Union Government or Central Government but often simply as the Centre, is the national government of the Republic of India, a federal democracy located in South Asia, c ...
(GoI) conferred the
Arjuna Award
The Arjuna Award, officially known as Arjuna Awards for Outstanding Performance in Sports and Games, is the second-highest sporting honour of India, the highest being the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award. The award is named after Arjuna, one ...
on him for his achievements in the tradition wrestling. And two years later, he was conferred with the country's fourth highest civilian award –
Padma Shri
Padma Shri (IAST: ''padma śrī''), also spelled Padma Shree, is the fourth-highest Indian honours system, civilian award of the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan. Instituted on 2 January 1954, ...
British India
The provinces of India, earlier presidencies of British India and still earlier, presidency towns, were the administrative divisions of British governance on the Indian subcontinent. Collectively, they have been called British India. In one ...
Hisar district
Hisar district is one of the 22 districts of Haryana, India. Hisar city serves as the district headquarters. Hisar district has four sub-divisions that is, Hisar, Barwala, Hansi and Narnaud, each headed by an SDM. The district is also part of H ...
of
Haryana
Haryana (; ) is an Indian state located in the northern part of the country. It was carved out of the former state of East Punjab on 1 Nov 1966 on a linguistic basis. It is ranked 21st in terms of area, with less than 1.4% () of India's land ar ...
, India. He took up wrestling at a comparatively older age of 21 and became national champion three years later in 1961. He married three times and had three daughters and three sons.
Ram, who was popularly known as Master Chandgi Ram, served in
Indian army
The Indian Army is the land-based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. The President of India is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Army, and its professional head is the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), who is a four- ...
's
Jat Regiment
The Jat Regiment is an infantry regiment of the Indian Army, of which it is one of the longest-serving regiments.
Career
Ram became national champion for the first time in 1961 at
Ajmer
Ajmer is one of the major and oldest cities in the Indian state of Rajasthan and the centre of the eponymous Ajmer District. It is located at the centre of Rajasthan. It is also known as heart of Rajasthan. The city was established as "''Aj ...
, regaining his title two years later at
Jalandhar
Jalandhar is the third most-populous city in the Indian state of Punjab and the largest city in Doaba region. Jalandhar lies alongside the Grand Trunk Road and is a well-connected rail and road junction. Jalandhar is northwest of the state ...
. Although he represented India in
amateur wrestling
Amateur wrestling is a variant of wrestling practiced in collegiate, school, or other amateur level competitions. There are two international wrestling styles performed in the Olympic Games: freestyle and Greco-Roman. Both styles are under the ...
, he remained very active in the traditional Indian wrestling in 1960s, where he had won all major titles, including
Hind Kesari
Hind Kesari is an Indian-style wrestling championship, established in 1958. It is affiliated to the Indian Style Wrestling Association of India (ISWAI).
Hindi Kesari Title is a biggest Kushti Wrestling Title in India .
In 2011, women were a ...
, ''Bharat Kesari'', ''Bharat Bhim'', ''Rustom-e-Hind'' and ''Maha Bharat Kesari''. In 1969,
Government of India
The Government of India (ISO: ; often abbreviated as GoI), known as the Union Government or Central Government but often simply as the Centre, is the national government of the Republic of India, a federal democracy located in South Asia, c ...
(GoI) conferred the
Arjuna Award
The Arjuna Award, officially known as Arjuna Awards for Outstanding Performance in Sports and Games, is the second-highest sporting honour of India, the highest being the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award. The award is named after Arjuna, one ...
on him for his achievements in the tradition wrestling.
In the
1970 Asian Games
The 6th Asian Games () were held from 9 to 20 December 1970 in Bangkok, Thailand.- - Seoul, South Korea, had been selected to host the 6th Games but it declined due to both financial reasons and security threats from neighboring North Korea. (T ...
, he represented India in the 100 kg freestyle event. He reached to the final defeating en route the world championships medallist Abolfazl Anvari of Iran. In the final, he defeated Japan's
Shizuo Yada
is a Japanese former wrestler who competed in the 1972 Summer Olympics
The 1972 Summer Olympics (), officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad () and commonly known as Munich 1972 (german: München 1972), was an international multi-spor ...
, there by winning gold medal.
For the
1972 Summer Olympics
The 1972 Summer Olympics (), officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad () and commonly known as Munich 1972 (german: München 1972), was an international multi-sport event held in Munich, West Germany, from 26 August to 11 September 1972. ...
, he shifted to lower weight category and represented India in the 90 kg freestyle event. He lost his first bout to Canada's
George Saunders
George Saunders (born December 2, 1958) is an American writer of short stories, essays, novellas, children's books, and novels. His writing has appeared in ''The New Yorker'', '' Harper's'', ''McSweeney's'', and '' GQ''. He also contributed a w ...
. He was eliminated after losing his next bout to the eventual silver medallist
Gennady Strakhov
Gennady Strakhov (1 November 1944 – 30 December 2020)
After participating in the 1972 Olympics, he shifted from Haryana to Delhi, where he opened up his wrestling training centre in 1975 – ''Chandgi Ram Vyayamshala''.
Work for the women's wrestling in India
Ram's struggle to introduce women's wrestling in India begun in 1997, which was the year of its inclusion in the Olympics. To start with, he persuaded both of his daughters –
Sonika Kaliraman
Sonika Kaliraman is an Indian woman professional wrestler to win the title of Bharat Kesri in Bharat Kesri Dangal in 2001. She was a contestant on the popular reality show ''Bigg Boss'' in 2011.
Personal life
Kaliraman is the daughter of ...
and Deepika Kaliraman – to join wrestling. His wrestling training center, which is commonly known as the ''Chandgi Ram Akhara'', became India's first training center for women's wrestling. He also started to persuade coaches and wrestlers around the country to introduce women's exhibition matches in the traditional wrestling tournaments. All these efforts resulted in severe opposition both from the outsiders and the insiders of his training center. At one of the instances, when Ram's two daughters went to the wrestling pit during a village tournament of Haryana, they, along with Ram, were stoned and chased by the villagers. But, in spite of all the opposition, he kept on his efforts. Sonika went on to win country's highest wrestling title – Bharat Kesri – along with becoming Asian Junior Wrestling Champion.
Ram also influenced future women's wrestling coaches. One of his wards,
Mahavir Singh Phogat
Mahavir Singh Phogat is an Indian amateur wrestler, senior Olympics coach and politician. He is the trainer and father of the Phogat sisters. The Hindi biographical film '' Dangal'' is loosely based on his life.
Phogat was awarded the Dronac ...
– who trained at Ram's center since the age of 16 – was persuaded by Ram to introduce his daughters to wrestling. Phogat went on to train his daughters Geeta and
Babita
Babita Shivdasani-Kapoor (born 20 April 1947), also known simply as Babita or Babita Kapoor, is a former Indian actress who appeared in Hindi-language films. The daughter of actor Hari Shivdasani, she is the first cousin of her contemporary a ...
, along with their cousin Vinesh, all of whom became international wrestlers. Jabbar, who got inclined toward women's wrestling during his training stint under Ram, went on to train
Alka Tomar
Alka Tomar is an Indian wrestler. Coached by Jabbar Singh, she became the National Women Wrestling champion of India, and received the bronze medal in Wrestling (59 kg Freestyle) at the Doha Asian Games in 2006. Alka Tomar also received a bro ...
. Jagroop Rathi, Ram's co-coach, was also convinced by him to introduce his daughter Neha Rathi into wrestling.
Awards
*
Arjuna Award
The Arjuna Award, officially known as Arjuna Awards for Outstanding Performance in Sports and Games, is the second-highest sporting honour of India, the highest being the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award. The award is named after Arjuna, one ...
*
Padma Shri
Padma Shri (IAST: ''padma śrī''), also spelled Padma Shree, is the fourth-highest Indian honours system, civilian award of the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan. Instituted on 2 January 1954, ...
Legacy
* A sports stadium in
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh (; , 'Northern Province') is a state in northern India. With over 200 million inhabitants, it is the most populated state in India as well as the most populous country subdivision in the world. It was established in 1950 ...
is named after him –
Master Chandgiram Sports Stadium, Saifai
The Master Chandgi Ram Sports Stadium, Saifai is an national-level sports complex having a hockey pitch, multipurpose hall (badminton & wrestling facilities), a swimming pool and Sports Authority of India (SAI) Training Centre in Saifai, Etawa ...
.
* ''All India Chandgi Ram Gold Cup Wrestling Tournament'' is annually organised in his remembrance.