The recent dramatic entry of Dalip Singh Rana into World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) has brought back to life the interest in the art of wrestling in the land of its origin - India. The sight of the 7ft 3inch, 450 pounds Dalip striding with the worlds most popular wrestlers has evoked memories of the great age of Indian wrestling (or pehlwani)

Dalip Singh Rana, also known as 'The Giant' was born in the village of Dhirana in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, as the third of eight children. From a minor age, Dalip had to work as a stonebreaker on the roadside to help support his family.

A local police chief spotted him for his great potential as an athlete, in particular as a bodybuilder, and helped him to enter the police force. The new employment helped young Dalip concentrate on his bodybuilding and athletic training.

After emerging as a succesful professional body builder and wrestler in India, he went on to train as a competitive wrestler in the USA, where he developed the skills necessary to compete on a global stage, enabling him to win numerous wrestling titles. During this period he became known as 'The Great Khali', because he often invokes Goddess Kali during his fights.

In January 2006, Dalip Singh was signed to World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), where he immediately captured the imagination of an international audience. He was tremendously successful, winning all his fight, including a match against the 'Undertaker' at Judgement Day 2006.

The Undertaker eventually beat Dalip in a rematch on August 18 2006. After the match, a profusely bleeding Khali was administered nine stitches to the forehead to close a ghash he had acquired from being struck with a chair. This marked Khali's first ever WWE defeat. Currently Dalip Singh is out of action, having undergone surgery on both knees, but is planning a come back shortly, which is eagerly anticipated by the wrestling world.

The rise of Dalip Singh Rana on the international scene has an additional particularly admirable feature - his dedication to his roots. He is not one of those stars who became succesful only to forget where he came from. A devout follower of the Hindu Saint Ashutosh Maharaj, Dalip says that his dream is to see the land he came from fully developed. He makes good use of his fame, counselling youth in Punjab to help overcome the rampant drug abuse prevalent in that state.

As such he reminds one of the tireless discipline of the traditional Indian wrestler who combined their training with a strict moral code and devotion to dharma.

The Tradition of Wrestling in India

The original term for wrestling in ancient times was 'Mallayuddhya' and is mentioned in ancient texts such as the Vedas and Mahabharata. The discipline is most notably exhibited in the slaying of Kans by Sri Krishna and the dramatic fight of Bheema with Jarasandha. Balarama and Vali were also known as renowned wrestlers

Later under Persian and Turkish infusions the term Pehlwans became popular.

Wrestling in India is not barred by protective limitations in joint locks, etc. like in amateur competitions in the west. Dangals (wrestling competitions) are held at village levels and have their own rules which vary from place to place but usually a win is awarded by either a decision from the a panel of judges, knockouts stoppage or submission, the rules do not allow striking, but do allow the application of many joint locks and submission holds. Chokes, though, are not allowed.

Indian wrestlers achieved remarkable success in the fourth Asian Games in 1962 when all seven Indian contestants achieved a medal, bagging 12 medals between them. A repetition of this performance was witnessed again when all the 8 wrestlers sent to the Commonwealth Games held at Jamaica had the distinction of getting medals for the country.

During the 60's, India was ranked among the first eight or nine wrestling nations of the world and hosted the world wrestling championships in Delhi in 1967.

Despite the modern day decrease in the popularity of the sport amongst Hindus, we have seen with the entry of Dalip Singh, that the art of wrestling has deep enough roots in India's sporting landscape to continue to produce spectacular stars on the world stage.