A thematic exhibition on sports dubbed “Indian Sports Through The Ages” based on Indian archival heritage of tremendous cultural importance is under way in Bhopal in connection with the Archives Week Celebrations-2005. The exhibition was organized by the Bhopal regional office of the National Archives of India, the genuine and real custodian of cultural heritage.
This unique exhibition has culled out rare 15th-19th century paintings from contemporary manuscripts on games and sports as well as exhibited important documents shedding light on various aspects of the modern games and sports ranging from 1894 till New Delhi Asiad in 1982. The exhibits shed ample light on the rich tradition of games and sports in India and stories about chaupar, wrestling, polo and hide & seek.
The exhibition was inaugurated by international cricket commentator J.P. Narayanan, who is general manager (C & PR) BHEL, Bhopal. Former hockey Olympian-1984 Syed Jalaluddin Rizvi was the guest of honor on the occasion.
Narayanan, speaking on the occasion lauded National Archives of India, Bhopal regional office for organizing such an excellent exhibition which gives an idea that sports and games were the privilege of the royals in the past while today also only the well-to-do have access to indulge in this luxury. He suggested that such exhibitions should also be organized at district levels so that it gets wide publicity and common man is motivated to take up sports seriously.
While talking about Indian cricket Narayanan, who has to his credit broadcasting running commentary in 100 ODIs, said that all is not lost after losing ODI series to Pakistan recently. He said that India should have more all-rounders in its ranks while preparing for the 2007 World Cup. “A number of all-rounders in Indian team enabled it to win the 1983 World Cup”, he remarked. He pleaded strongly for the inclusion of JP Yadav from Bhopal, who plays for Indian Railways, in Indian cricket team. Yadav claimed five or more wickets five or six times in the 10 matches played in the Ranji Trophy tournament this season, he pointed out.
Ex-Olympian Jalaluddin, who is manager public relations in State Bank of India, while recalling his playing days regretted that the new generation feels shy of putting in hard labor to achieve their goals in life. He urged youth to perform their duties with full devotion and dedication. Assistant director of Bhopal regional office of National Archives, Dr. M. A. Haque welcomed the guests. Archivist D.R. Pratihar proposed a vote of thanks while V.K. Juneja conducted the inaugural function.
Surprisingly enough we come to know from the Futuhas Salatin a well known historical treatise that Qutubuddin Aibek, the real founder of Delhi Sultanate died while he was playing chaughan, which was medieval polo.
Since games and sports were played with a dual purpose to train the players to encounter with the dangers of real the life and coping with the situation, it imparted training in horsemanship and warfare.
A Mughal painting of 1535 reflects Humayun and his brother Kamran busy in a hunting excursion near Kabul that was in the Mughal occupation. Another Mughal painting showing Emperor Akbar on a hunting expedition and an extract from Ain-e-Akbari furnishing details of chaugan is a rare fact available in the exhibition.
Besides, a miniature painting of Akbar hunting a black buck with cheetahs in the vicinity of Agra and an extract from Tuzuk-e-Jehangiri regarding elephant fighting are also on display.
A separate section on Delhi Durbar, a memorable event of the modern India that is known in the history for organizing various sports and cultural activities is on display. Three documents of Deccan Gymkhana are also there bearing report of February 1928 on Rustam-e-Zaman Gama regarding his overpowering of Zybysko (Polish rival) in 30 seconds, 621/2 hours of world swimming record of P.K. Ghosh of Calcutta in 1935, and permission of grant for playing indoor games as reward for good conduct to the prisoners of Cellular Jail, Andaman and Nicobar, are worth reading.
Besides, five exhibits pertaining to Olympics while three concerning the first Asian Games including Asiad Motto Play (The Games in the Spirit of Games, 1951) are available there. A photograph of Jawaharlal Nehru donning bat and pads along with a list of 100 best cricketers are also worth seeing. On display is also an exhibit of a telegram addressed to the then viceroy of India informing him about the historic win of Indian hockey team in the German Olympic Games in 1932.
