WHERE IT ALL STARTED
HISTORY OF POLO
There is no denial of the fact that Argentina is the world leader of modern polo. Similarly, when it comes to the invention of the game, India's claim to be the Jerusalem of the game of kings is quite irrefutable. This is where the history of polo begins.
ORIGIN OF THE WORD POLO
As per Britannica Encyclopedia while elaborating on history of polo the word 'polo' is derived from Tibetan word Pulu, which means Ball. Game of ball & stick on a horse back was played in Persia during the time of King Derius (486-522BC). From Tibet it spread to North and to East. They called it "Chaughan" in Persia. Along with Britannica Encyclopedia mention of words like Choughan and Pulu is also found in work of travelers like Marco Polo and Anthony Shirley.
POLO IN THE MUGAL ERA
In India, first mention of the word Polo involves Emperor Kutub Uddin Aibak's death while playing the game. Emperor Akbar, an accomplished player himself, is credited as the one "who gave first set of rules " to the sport. During those times Polo was a logical way of celebrating success. Any thing on foot would have been too common and hunting would have been too isolated. Polo on the other hand was enjoyed by players and spectators alike and was also considered best form of training when it comes to battle on horse back. Thus it didn't come as surprise when on 3rd March 1566 Akbar celebrated suppression of Khan Azam's revolt by playing a polo match. Alex Rutherford, in his series "Raiders from the North" mentions Mughals playing polo to dissolve time, as they lay siege and wait for the enemy's patience to run thin. The fact that Polo was an integral part of life in the era also gets reinforced by numerous paintings based on the game.
MANIPUR - THE BIRTH PLACE OF POLO
Journey of this game from India to the rest of the world started in a hilly state of India called Manipur. Here polo is Known as Sagol Kangjei and it is believed that it started in the time of King Kangba , who ruled Manipur before Christ. In Manipur British tea planters got bitten by the polo bug during a game in Silchar in the year 1859. These tea planters had enough ponies , were used to club culture and were living in isolation that comes as baggage of being a tea planter. These were the ideal conditions for a new sport like polo to get recognized and restructured for global fans.
Calcutta (now known as Kolkata), being British headquarters then, soon saw a polo match being played by manipur polo players in 1860. With in no time most of the British businessmen, who were also a part of Calcutta Light Horse (An irregular cavalry raise by Robert Clive) along with other Army Officers stationed in an around Calcutta started playing this game regularly. Polo ground inside Royal Calcutta Turf Club (RCTC) which became functional during this time, boasts of being the oldest functional polo ground in the world. It still hosts polo season every year in the month of December.
Having reached Calcutta, it was only a matter of time for Polo to claim its admirers in England. It was a match between 10 Hussar & 9 Lancer in the year 1871 which became the first ever polo match that took place in England. Rest, as they say, is history.
News & Views
Josepha On A Life Mission
Dressage in Hand When we train horses for better performance under saddle, we usually don’t think any different than training them from the saddle, no matter what kind of sport […]
MOTHERHOOD AND POLO
They say that you can force a person out of polo, but you can’t force polo out of a person. Something similar happened with Susanna Håkansson, a Swedish citizen, who […]
LEGENDARY HORSES OF ACHILLES
Art of the day Achilles’s Legendary Horses – Xanthos and Balios – painting by Henri Regnault Achilles’s Legendary Horses – Xanthos and Balios – Painting by Henri Regnault This painting […]
ESTELLE WAGNER
Discovering Polo Until Estelle was 14 years old she had no clue that within 6 years or so she will be galloping down various polo fields of Europe, making that […]
VISIONARY BEHIND INDIA’S INDIVIDUAL EVENTING SILVER
Every achiever knows what legendary boxer Mohammad Ali said once,” Fight is won or lost far away from witness. Long before I dance under those lights.” For every glamorous 45 […]
BUCEPHALUS – THE HORSE WHO DECLARED ALEXANDER’S ARRIVAL
Alexander’s Dramatic Meeting with Bucephalus Bucephalus was Alexander the Great’s horse and is arguably the most famous horse in history. It was this horse who declare Alexanders arrival. Alexander and […]
MEMO GRACIDA BREAKS HIS SILENCE
Also see – Whose Line is It Any Way , Polo Rules, Polo has never been an easy game. Played by life sitting on another life is in itself complicated enough to […]
MARENGO – THE LEGENDARY HORSE
When it comes to legendary horses, it is difficult not to start the series with Marengo. The famous War Mount of Napoleon, whom French painter & politician Jacques Louis David […]
LOGICAL TRAIL TO PENALTIES
Penalties in the Game of Polo No , it is not mandatory for players to know what is the correct nomenclature of a 60 yard Penalty . YES . It […]
Pío Roviralta sobre la música y la vida
La Columna de Aníbal Di Gennaro de Olloqui. Damas y Caballeros nuevamente tengo el placer de reencontrarme con ustedes de la mano de “ASHVA SPORTS”, prestigioso magazine que confluye en […]
“Estilos de cabecera Francés e Inglés” Estimados amigos y amigas, honrado estoy de reencontrarme con cada uno de ustedes a través de este lujoso magazine “Ashva Sports” desde […]
4 thoughts on “HISTORY OF POLO – MANIPUR , THE JERUSALEM OF POLO”
What about
When was FIP formed