AKHADA

Book Details

• Publisher: Mehta Publishing House

• Translator: Leena Sohoni

• Language: Marathi (Translated from English)

• Edition: 1st Edition

• Publishing Year: May 2017

• ISBN: 9789386454911

• Pages: 208

• Cover: Paperback

• Category: Biography & True Stories

About the Book

Akhada tells the inspiring and extraordinary life story of Mahavir Singh Phogat, one of India’s greatest wrestling coaches. In the year 2000, after the Sydney Olympic Games concluded, Phogat was heartbroken to see that the prize money, meant for Olympic medalists in wrestling, went unclaimed. Determined to never witness such a tragedy again, Phogat took a bold step—one that would change the course of history.

In his small village of Balali in Haryana, a region notorious for practices like female foeticide and low literacy rates, Phogat decided to train his young daughters and nieces in wrestling, despite severe societal and family opposition. With nothing but grit and determination, he dug a pit in his courtyard and instructed his daughters to meet him there at dawn. What followed was a journey of immense sacrifices, resilience, and triumph.

Phogat’s effort was not just about training the girls in wrestling, but also about breaking cultural norms and battling the stigma that surrounded women’s sports in India. His daughters, under his relentless guidance, went on to achieve great success, winning medals and acclaim at national and international levels, including in the Olympics and Commonwealth Games.

Akhada is a powerful account of a father’s love, perseverance, and unwavering belief in his daughters. It narrates the story of a man who defied all odds to give his daughters a future that they could never have imagined, in a society that was hesitant to acknowledge their potential. A testament to fortitude and hope, this book is a celebration of the courage it takes to rewrite the future.