POLO THE SPORT OF RICH MAN.

Introduction.

1. The sport of Gentleman, is what you are expected to say, when you are asked about Polo. To be precise, the real meaning of this fantastic game or how it needs to be termed is, “The sport of rich men”. Polo is all about horses and men and has been called the game of upper class refinement. For decades men and horses of impeccable pedigree have played it in lush surroundings. The players in the early days were Princes of the establishment. Whether it was a Maharaja from a Royal Indian principality, or Royalty from European households, polo has always been played by the high and mighty. Possibly because it was always the well-heeled gentleman who could afford the expenses of the game.

2. The history of polo involves three main eras: origins in ancient Asia, the British discovery, and then the trip across the oceans to the Americas. The beginnings of polo started in Asia. “Let other people play at other things. The king of games is still the game of kings.” This verse is inscribed on a stone tablet beside the polo grounds south of the fabled silk route in China. The game as is played in the modern world is a celebration of recklessness and which was modeled on the game as played by India’s daredevil Manipur horseman. It however started somewhere around 2,500 years ago in Persia. Darius the 1st King of Persia referred to his nation of Asia Minor as “Chaugan” or Mallet. From its beginning polo was considered a noble art of warriors and kings. Somewhere down the line it became today’s modern sport, but was always a part of the military prowess of light cavalry armies and empires that were spread through Asia Minor, China, and India. The game made an entry into India when Babar, the founder of the Mughal dynasty in the 15th century, firmly established its popularity, and in turn it became the sport of the ancient royalty of India, who passed on the game to royalty of England.

3. India is considered the cradle of modern polo. It is here that this game of kings was rediscovered and nurtured since medieval times. The period between the decline of the Mughal dynasty and the upsurgence of British Imperial rule, polo almost vanished from mainland India. The popularity of polo has waned and risen many times. However, it has never lost its regal status. It was the tea planters in Assam who founded the Cachar Club in 1859, the oldest polo club in the world and its rules provided the basis for modern polo. In the last few decades, the emergence of privately owned teams has ensured a renaissance in Indian polo. Today, polo is not just restricted to the royalty and the Indian Army, many companies and firms too patronize the sport.

Polo in India

4. Polo, as it is played today, owes its popularity to the British in India who discovered the game and took to it enthusiastically. During the days of the Raj, Gymkhana clubs were the main points of off-duty activities with emphasis on sport – polo in particular. Polo fits admirably with military regimental life. The army had the bandobast (facilities) of horses, syces, (the horse handlers) and a good budget to cater to the game. Most of this holds true even today – the army is responsible for keeping the game alive. The royalty in India took up Polo with vigor. They could afford to keep vast strings of polo ponies and had the time to devote to sports. Sawai Man Singh, the last Maharaja of Jaipur was one of the best polo players in India. He had over 200 polo ponies of his own.

Polo the game

5. But let us learn something about the game. What is Polo all about, that keeps men and women of society so enthralled. The sound of thudding hooves and cries of players on horses in hot pursuit of the balls is a familiar sight during a polo match. over a century. The game in those days was played with five to seven ponies a side. It is now played with four ponies to a side. Indian Polo is divided into four chukkars or quarters because of the lack of good ponies while Argentinean polo consists of seven chukkars. Each quarter lasts for seven and a half minutes. The players are in the order one and two forwards, there is the pivot and four is the back. After each chukkar the ponies are changed. This means fours horses for each of the four players. A fit horse can sometimes play in two and sometimes even three chukkars, but is very rare. The main requirement of a polo pony is that it should be swift, steady, intelligent and above all have endurance. Maximum speed and maneuverability is attained by small, compact country-bred or thoroughbred horses trained methodically for over two years. A prospective polo pony’s training begins at the age of five. In India most horses do not approach this ideal in type or degree of schooling due to the lack of trainers and money. A polo match has an atmosphere that is unique. Elegantly clad spectators wait for the game to begin. It is a glamour sport and everyone who is someone from society will often be found at a Polo match. The atmosphere is relaxed; the green grass on the polo ground is soothing to the eyes and the sunshine pleasantly warm on one’s back. The umpires trot out on their mounts; the chief guest throws the ball between the two teams that are lined up facing one another ready with polo-sticks. The ball is struck, the game begins and everyone is away and over the field!

Indian polo players

6. India has produced some of the best players in the world, and also some of the better-known players of the England learnt to play polo in India while they were in the army. Before 1914, some noteworthy players were the Maharajas of Ratlam, Kishengarh and Alwar, and Shah Mirza Beg of Golconda. General de Lisle, whose tactics and organization of the game have not been improved upon till today, also played during these days. Another legendary player was Hira Singh of Patiala. During the 1920’s and the 1930’s it was the states that dominated the polo scene with such players as Jaswant Singh and Prithi Singh of Jodhpur, the Nawab of Bhopal, Major Atkinson, and men of the Jaipur team who were champions from 1932 to 1938. Then there was Prithi Singh of Baria, Raj Rao Hanut Singh and the Maharaja of Jaipur, Sawai Man Singh.

Season of the Game.

7. The polo season begins in November and continues roughly up to March. Matches are held in Delhi, Calcutta and Bombay. The top players today are from the Army. Players are rated at a handicap of – 2 to +10. There are about six players all over the world that have been rated at a handicap of 10. Players are rated on horsemanship, hitting ability, knowledge of the game and quality of the horse.

Conclusion.

8. Nowhere else do the words ‘Game of Kings’, gain greater significance than in the Indian State of Rajasthan, the fabled land of the Kings. Nestled in the western corner of the Indian subcontinent, the desert kingdoms of Rajasthan have for centuries been the personification of valour and chivalry in India. As the embodiment of courage, sportsmanship and equestrian skill, polo has long been the traditional sport of the Indian nobility, since the medieval period. Foremost among the warrior princes who nurtured this game of kings, were the Rajputs of northern India. Renowned for their chivalry and valour, they cherished the sport as a proving ground for the horsemanship and ability of young men and soldiers. Such was their love of the sport and so strong it's allure that not only Rajput warriors but their ladies as well fell under the spell of the game. Fading miniature paintings on many an ancient manor and fortress wall, bear testimony to the widespread popularity of the sport in Rajputana, 'the fabled desert land of Kings'. The advent of the British and the 'Pax Britannica' gave a new lease of life to polo in India. 'Rediscovered' by a British subaltern from the eastern fringes of the Indian Empire, polo began to progress rapidly both in India and in Britain in the 1870's. At the forefront of the revival were the traditional exponents of the sport - the Indian Maharajas. Armed with their hereditary equestrian skills and with the enormous resources at their disposal, the Maharajas took the polo-playing world by storm. In an exceedingly short period of time, they achieved a standard of excellence in the game that has been unrivalled ever since. The romance of the Bengal Lancers and the pomp and pageantry of the Princely States combined to create a spectacle that became one of the legendary images of the British Empire. The legend still endures. Whereas in other parts of the world, polo has since been associated as a sport of the rich; in India, it has ever been, and always will be, the sport of Kings.

Lt Col Sukhwant Singh (Retd)