The Manipuri legacy of the modern day game of polo

Rituparna

The Manipuri legacy of the modern day game of polo

In the 1850s, when the British visited Silchar in Assam, they saw a group of exiled Manipuris playing a peculiar sport which combined horse-riding with hockey. This was the game of Sagol Kangjei, an indigenous sport of the Meities of Manipur, which the British re-introduced to the world as modern-day polo.

The original name of polo is Sagol Kangjei. Image Source: La Polo

Let us picture a game of polo. The image of the riders in horses, wearing helmets and western uniforms, tossing around a ball with a stick gives a very elite European impression, if we are being stereotypical. You would be amused and amazed to find however, that there was a time, when polo was played around by men wearing dhoti and turbans, typical Indian style! That's because the modern game of polo took roots not in Europe but in the Indian state of Manipur. Infact, the oldest polo ground, known as the Mapal Kangjeibung remains a popular site in Manipur, holding a banner that says, "Manipur gave the world the game of polo".

The indigenous Meitei community of Manipur has been playing this sport since 33 AD, while the Europeans and the rest of the world became familiarised with the sport only in the 19th century.

Like many tribal legends, the earliest story of Polo is also rooted in the Manipuri belief systems and folklore. The local Meitei community of Manipur argue that polo originated as Sagol Thangjei, in 14th BCE under Thangba, presumably the deity god of the ancient Ningthouja dynasty. The name ‘sagol’ means "pony" and ‘thangjei’ means "a game played with sticks". Apparently, the idea of Sagol Thangjei came to him when he once playfully dribbled a ball with his walking stick.

Over time, the fate of Manipuri polo and the ponies in particular, became deplorable as the popularity of this sport soared all over the world. With the exception of occasions like Lai Haraoba, a Meitei festival, polo is seldom played by the commoners in Manipur today.

The breed of ponies, which is found in Manipur, is known for its stamina, resilience and training spirit. It is one of the five indigenous horse breeds found in India and the smallest among them. These ponies were once held in high regard and treated almost as equally as the Gods. Infact a local temple, known as Marjing, atop a hill in Imphal, is also dedicated to the God of Horses, Ibodou Marjing, whose idol sits on a pony in the shrine.

However, the first official match of polo was not played until 33 AD. The historical evidence for this comes from the contemporary royal chronicle of Meiteis, Cheitharol Kumbaba. This was under Nongda Pakhangba, the founder of the Meitei kingdom, and it is believed that the king and his friends played the game to celebrate the establishment of the kingdom. Later, Sagol Kangjei matches became a recreational activity among the Meitei ruling elite.

In the 1850s, when the British witnessed one of the Sagol Khangjei matches in Silchar, Assam, they became fascinated and showed immense interest in learning the game. Before long, Lt. Joseph Ford Sherer of the British Army’s Sylhet Light infantry popularised the game as the polo we know today. The rules of the games, including the number of players, which were earlier flexible, were now fixed. The first polo club was set up in Silchar followed by another one in Kolkata in 1862. Soon, polo became a hit game among the rich Europeans who could afford to be a part of these clubs and afford to maintain horses.

Polo even became an Olympic game between 1900-1936 although unfortunately, it is no longer a part of the international event.

In a way, it is hard to imagine that a small community from the isolated region of India gave such a sophisticated sport to the world. It is ironical that the Europeans who perceive themselves as the supreme beings ended up imitating a game that originated among the so called "uncivilised" "barbaric" men of the Orient.

Following the rapid urbanisation and modernization processes, Manipuri ponies reduced in number due to scarcity of grazing grounds and the neglect of people. The declining number of this particular breed of pony has alerted the state government. The Manipuri statehood day women's polo tournament, an initiative which began in 2016, encourages the revival of these polo ponies to their former glory, under the banner "Save Manipuri Pony". If a tournament is held in Manipur, players from any part of the world are obliged to ride the Manipuri Pony.

What is also incredible at present is that an impressive number of polo players from Manipur include women, who come from diverse socio-economic backgrounds but share the determination and zeal to carry forward the legacy of their indigenous sport. The empowerment of these women through their involvement in sports is going hand in hand with the protection of the endangered breed of Manipuri ponies!