ÿþ<HTML><HEAD><TITLE>KIKKAR SI&#7748GH PAHILV&#256N (1857-1914)</TITLE> <style type="text/css"> .BODY { background-color: #EAF1F7; background-image: url('images/gtbh.jpg'); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-attachment: fixed; background-position: center; color: #0066CC;} .C1{text-align: justify;color: #0066CC;FONT-size: SMALL;FONT-family: Tahoma;} .BIB{text-align: center;color: #000099;FONT-size: SMALL;FONT-family: Tahoma;} .CONT{text-align: right;color: #FF0000;FONT-size: SMALL;FONT-family: Tahoma;} </style><META NAME="keywords" CONTENT="KIKKAR,SIDGH,PAHILVN,Person,Person"> <META http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"></HEAD> <BODY class="BODY" oncontextmenu="return false" ondragstart="return false" onselectstart="return false"> <FONT ALIGN="JUSTIFY" FACE="Tahoma"> <p class="C1">&#65279KIKKAR SI&#7748GH, PAHILV&#256N (1857-1914), wrestler of legendary fame, was born on 13 January 1857 to Jav&#257l&#257 Si&#7749gh Sandh&#363 and S&#257hib Kaur, a farming couple of moderate means living in the village of Gha&#7751&#299eke, in Lahore district (now in Pakistan). Jav&#257l&#257 Si&#7749gh, himself a wrestler, wished his only son to train as one. Young Kikkar Si&#7749gh began his apprenticeship in his mother's native village, N&#363rpur, under <u>Gh</u>ul&#257m, the potter. As he returned to his own village, he started practising with an elderly wrestler, Vas&#257v&#257 Si&#7749gh, who taught him many fine points of the sport. He had already made a name as a wrestler by the time he put himself under the tutelage of B&#363&#7789&#257 Pahilv&#257n, Rustam-i-Hind (a title for the champion wrestler of India), of Lahore. Soon Kikkar Si&#7749gh 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, Dat&#299y&#257, &#7788o&#7749k and Jamm&#363 and Kashm&#299r.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Kikkar Si&#7749gh 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 Si&#7749gh, he came to be known as Kikkar Si&#7749gh for he had once uprooted a <i>kikkar</i> tree (accacia) with bare hands. It is also likely that he earned his botanical name because of his extraordinary height and dark complexion.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Kikkar Si&#7749gh 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 Darb&#257r held in December 1911 to celebrate the coronation of King George V, he was challenged by a younger wrestler and an old rival, Kall&#363 of Amritsar. Kikkar Si&#7749gh, 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 (Mah&#257r&#257j&#257 Bh&#363pinder Si&#7749gh of Pa&#7789i&#257l&#257 and Sard&#363l Si&#7749gh Caveeshar were among the spectators), but lost although to many eye witnesses it appeared a dubious judgement.</p> <p class="C1">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Kikkar Si&#7749gh died on 18 February 1914 at his native village where a <i>sam&#257dh&#299</i> or memorial shrine was raised in his memory.</p> </ol><p class="CONT">Sarwan Si&#7749gh<br></p><BR> </font><img src="counter.aspx" width="1px" height="1px" alt=""></HTML></BODY>