Game of Polo revives British era memories

SILCHAR, Nov 25: After the British filly left India; the game of polo which was very popular in Cachar became just a memory of the past. One of the aspects of mami Barak festival was to exhibit the game of polo before the enthusiastic sports lovers of this region. Many are not aware of the fact that it was here that the first polo club in the world was set up and the game organized and sponsored by the tea garden magements and magers as a past time, was played on the sprawling ground, now vivisected into many parts.

 Though the venue of the game, a part of the vast  ground, now earmarked for a higher secondary school, was not fit, yet the district administration of Cachar and the organizers left no stone unturned to give it a facelift. Despite all the difficulties, Manipur Polo Association did organize a lively game. Two teams were formed, one after the me of Sanghai river of Manipur and the other Barak, taking its me from the river of this valley. Spectators who gathered in large number evinced keen interest in the game. As expected, the game engaged their attention and they could also see for themselves how the game of Polo was played with sticks riding on horses.

 In fact, the Manipuris were the first exponents of the game and that the game always followed in their wake. In the small frontier district of Cachar in British territory, a considerable number of Manipuris settled down. These Manipuris took their game of polo (Kanjei) with them to Cachar and played it regularly there. It can be traced that they were joined in the game as far as 1853-54 by the tea planters of the district. The game that was played during the festival of mami Barak became a mix of history and emotion.

 According to the record, Captain Robert Stewart, the assistant deputy commissioner of the time, joined the tea planters and Manipuris whenever the game was played at Silchar. Stewart became the deputy commissioner in 1859 and Lt. Joe Sherer of the Indian Army, the assistant deputy commissioner, took enthusiastically to the game. Both with the local planters started a club to play in conjunction with the Manipuris. Thus came into being Silchar Polo Club which today is known as Cachar Club situated in the heart of the town.

 During the British time, each team consisted of 7 players and the side first scoring 7 goals was declared the winner. The game that was played during mami Barak had two teams with 4 players a side. All the players were from Manipur and were members of Manipur Polo Association based at Imphal. The game was won by Barak who defeated Sanghai by 6 – 4 goals. Besides reviving the memories of British period, the game of polo created lot of enthusiasm among the sports lovers.