Gobar Guha - Early Life

Early Life

Gobar came from a family of wrestlers. The Goho family had been known for pioneering, promoting and popularising the art of wrestling and physical culture in Bengal, for generations. His great-grandfather had set up an akhada at Masjidbari Street. His forebears included the legendary Ambu babu, and Khetu babu, who tutored Swami Vivekananda in the finer points of wrestling. His father Ram Charan too was well versed in the art. Gobar was born to Ram Charan in 1892 in Kolkata. He began his initial training under the guidance of his grandfather Ambika Charan Guha. He also took lessons from his uncle Khetra Charan Goho and father Ram Charan Goho.He began rigorous training under the famous Indian wrestlers like Kholsa Chaubey and Rahmani Pehlwan, who were employed by the Goho family. When Gobar reached adulthood he stood at six feet and one inch and weighed around 290 pounds. His expanded chest measured 48 inches. In the meanwhile he also passed the Entrance examination from Vidyasagar school in 1910. He also received training in Hindustani classical music from Kukuv Khan and used to attend the musical soirees of Narendranath Basu.