The phrases "Gentle Giant" and "Lion Hearted" etc are thrown around so carelessly for so many people. For Dara Singh the phrases were so apt. RIP Super Pehelwan. In our youth we didn't need to get inspiration from American comic books. You were there for us.
Rest in peace, dear Dara singh. He will always be remembered for the role of Hanuman in Ramayan. No one can ever match him in that. I also remember how handsome he looked as Alexander the great. He also did a special appearance as himself in Malayalam movie Mutharam kunnu P.O. in 1985.
SIVASISH THAKUR GUWAHATI, July 12 – Wrestling legend and actor Dara Singh had a close involvement with Assam, and not many would know that his wrestling bouts in Guwahati were a fund-raising endeavour by the late RG Baruah for construction of the Nehru Stadium. And the lion-hearted strongman was gracious enough not to charge anything for his appearance in the wrestling events, as he was devoted to contributing to a noble cause.
During the 1960s, Dara Singh – along with several national and international stars – featured in three wrestling exhibitions in Guwahati. All were huge successes, drawing jam-packed crowds and earning substantial returns which were used for the cause of the stadium.
The Nehru Stadium was opened on July 16, 1962. Dara Singh took part in his third and fourth wrestling events in Guwahati in the Nehru Stadium. His earlier events were held in the Church Field.
RG Baruah, the founder of The Assam Tribune group of newspapers and a keen sports enthusiast, had a personal association with Dara Singh. During his stay in Guwahati, Dara Singh used to be a personal guest of Baruah.
Reminiscing about the bouts featuring Dara Singh, his brother Randhawa, King Kong, Mighty Mongol, Killer Zapata, etc., sports organizer Bhuban Lahkar said, “Dara Singh was a well-known name among the State’s sports-loving public in the 1960s and 1970s – thanks to RG Baruah’s initiative that saw holding of as many as three wrestlin
Re: Dara Singh helped build Nehru Stadium
by om shanti on Jul 13, 2012 04:42 AM
three wrestling events, followed by another under the aegis of Jyotirupa in 1978.”
Lahkar said that the Dara Singh had an arresting personality and enjoyed a huge fan following. “After RG Baruah had introduced him to Assam, Dara Singh started taking keen interest in the development of sports infrastructure in Assam. He charged nothing as profit for his appearance in the wresting bouts in Guwahati, and was very happy to have contributed to the cause of the stadium,” he said.
“The three bouts yielded in total Rs 1,10,000 – a substantial amount in those days – and was utilized for the stadium,” Lahkar said.
Veteran journalist and sports organizer Premadhar Sarma said that by holding the shows featuring Dara Singh and other top wrestlers, RG Baruah introduced the sporting-buffs of Assam to a new genre of sports.
“It was RG Baruah’s ingenuity that saw the holding of a completely new kind of wrestling event featuring international stars. People liked it a lot, and it contributed towards developing some much-needed sports infrastructure in the State,” Sarma said.
Recollecting his association with Dara Singh, Sarma said that he had met Dara Singh twice during his shows in Guwahati.
“It was quite an experience to have met Dara Singh. A giant in physical stature, he had a personality that was affable and drew people instantly towards him. He used to take a lot of interest in the sporting arena of th
Re: Re: Dara Singh helped build Nehru Stadium
by om shanti on Jul 13, 2012 04:44 AM
in the sporting arena of the State,” Sarma said.
Dwelling on how RG Baruah had put up a lot of effort towards publicizing the wrestling events, Sarma said that before the events, sports journalist Pulin Das used to report extensively on the physical attributes and often-exaggerated food habits of the wrestlers.
RG Baruah even used to distribute handbills from a sports-plane of Assam Flying Club ahead of the events.
“All this had the desired impact and made the sports-loving public to throng the wrestling venue in their hordes. It was an altogether new experience for them, and they cherished it like never before,” Sarma said.
Re: Re: Re: Dara Singh helped build Nehru Stadium
by ritesh naidu on Jul 13, 2012 05:59 PM
why so much of effort?? u shd better have posted the link from where u have copied.
I had the privilege to witness the wrestling fight between Rustam-e-Hind Dara Singh and Killer Briner organised at Ferozeshah Kotla, New Delhi. It was raining heavily in Delhi. In the first phase Dara Singh injured his arm. In the second and final phase Dara Singh grounded Killer Briner with his famous 'HAWAAI' formula. Hats off to a great soul.
Re: Re: The Great Dara Singh
by om shanti on Jul 13, 2012 04:31 AM
Dara Singh even picked up 200 kg weighed King Kong and thrown him to the public.It is still a sweet folklore among our previous generation.
For those who does not know,wrestling was hugely popular in India especially it got huge commercial success during 1960-1970.King Kong was a hungary born Indian wrestler who died in a car crash on way to a wrestling fight in the year 1970 at Singapore where he spent the last part of his life...
