Empowering the Disabled

Where do we stand in Sports and physical education?.......contd.

Abid Gowhar
In the previous write-up over the issue, the magnitude and importance of sports and physical education as well as its lacuna in the state in ensuing circumstances was discussed in brief. The issue has raised discussion at various quarters that if the state has enough talent in sports and games, then where are its positive results. Secondly, although sports and physical education is not compulsory in our education or schooling system, it is also no-where restricted or less taken in any school or educational institute.
In a positive feedback over the issue, 95% of all parents think that regular, daily physical activity helps children do better academically and think that physical education should be part of a school curriculum for all students. For the 5% of parents that disagree or are not sure, home schooling is an option.
Talent is said to be what one possess and if one has talent, he/she can prove it at any level, in any field. Our players have lot of ability but lesser talent and that is the reason they are not able to prove much at state or national level. The state sports in fact is worst hit in many ways like lack of facilities, infrastructure, encouragement and weak coaching system and until all these things are not met at grass root level, our budding talent can not prove themselves at national or international level.
Remember, our present international footballer Mehraj-ud-din wadoo has not been groomed by any school or college.It is only his local club and support of J&K Football association that he find a space to play for Kolkatta based renowned club and there on he proved his talent to play for the country. Children develop their skills and stamina playing impromptu games in their schools and neighbourhoods. Once basic skills and style are developed, professional coaching and disciplined regimens produce national or world champions. It is amazing to know that Players like Zinedine Zidane were discovered while playing on the streets of Marseille, at schools — not in the grand stadiums of France! Agassi did not grow up playing at Wimbledon or Flushing Meadows; he has grown up his skills at his school. Tendulkar grooms himself at school to make a world record at the age of 16.
In reply to the question that what steps the state sports ministry is taking in rejuvenating the sports culture in all the all schools and colleges of the State, minister for youth services and sports Babhu Singh said, “I agree that we have no comprehensive sports policy so far in the State but we are seriously working on it. In the restructuring process, we are very soon going to make physical and moral education mandatory for all schools and colleges” The minister denies the fact that there is lack of a professional approach in organizing inter-school or inter-district sports competitions organized by department of youth services and sports . “We have allocation of only two crore rupees per annum whereas we need an annual nine crore budget to meet the requirements of sports portfolio” he stated. In reply to a question as why the services of physical education teachers (PET) are not utilized properly, he stated that as soon as the subject becomes compulsory in our schooling system, the PET’s will come under hawk-eye. “Presently we have more than two thousand vacancies of physical education teachers and to fill those posts, we are going to promote existing 1126 physical education teachers to master grade and fill up 840 posts of physical education teachers by direct recruitment through PSC. We are likely to recruit 386 PE lecturers also out of which 50% will be by departmental promotions and rest by direct recruitment through public service commission” the minister says. He further revealed that all District sports offices will now be revamped and held responsible to carry sports activities across their districts.
Suggestions, need of the hour
1. Physical education and sports activities to be compulsorily imparted at school, college and university levels.
2. Recruitment of a physical education teacher for each and every school (Govt. or private).
3. Optimum utilization of existing physical education teachers.
4. All schools compulsorily ensure health and recreation of the pupils and only such schools be deemed eligible to be ranked as recognized schools. New schools may be established/recognized only if playgrounds are available.
5. Schools to procure playgrounds within a stipulated time, failing, which recognition should be withdrawn.
6. High priority to be given to the provision of playgrounds in educational institutions and adequate funds provided for this purpose
7. The interest towards sports and games both on the part of the students and the teachers to be developed.
8. Conflict between examination and sports season to be minimized.
9. All teachers or at least those below the age of 40 should actively participate in many of the activities of physical education and thus make it a living part of the total school programme.
10. Incentive measures for both students and teachers to take up sports and physical education activities and special incentives to be given to students who perform well in sports and games
11. Measures for developing low cost sports and physical education infrastructure in all schools.
12. In deciding the curriculum load, the need to allocate sufficient time to sports and physical education should be kept in mind.
13. A comprehensive system of Inter-school tournaments and championships in selected disciplines should be introduced, which should culminate in a State School Championship.
14. Special cash awards to winning schools and a special system of incentives for winning athletes.
15. It should be made compulsory for all recognized sports associations to conduct tournaments and competitions at primary and secondary school level.

Sports and Physical Education;Where do we stand?

Please make a count! How many school going children nowadays are seen, carrying Cricket bat, Football kit, Hockey stick or Badminton racket in their hands. Yes, very few or hardly any! Most of us feel that the prevailing schooling system has left them with no time, no stamina and no permission. The version of a parent perhaps would be like this: “No, this is not their playing age because they (children) are having no time left to relax, they are facing stiff competition in examinations, they are having tough count in their studies in schools, they have to complete immense home-work and they have to go to the tuitions”.
Today, what-so-ever players or so called budding sports talent of the State, we see in the playing fields are mostly non-school going boys and if somewhere there is a school going boy or girl performing in a playing field, be sure that he is never a core product of his/her school. It is only personal craze which they develop by watching games on television that the children and youth get themselves involved in a playing filed to play the game. In the list of our interests towards sports and games, Football and Cricket are on the top. Our playing youth know the rules and regulations of these game, of course have the needed talent and want to perform like National and International stalwarts of the games, but unfortunately don’t have mental and physical education to be at-par with national or international standard of the games.
This is a very serious and debatable issue for the J&K State that how it lacks the real approach and professionalism towards sports and games?. One among other concerns in the state is the squint-eyed treatment towards physical education.
It is said that sports is all about physical, mental and educational development, it grooms with encourage and grims by discourage. It has also been internationally accepted that Sports and physical education are essential and very important in every educational system at all levels. There is a unanimous appreciation that a healthy mind dwells in a healthy body, therefore physical and mental developments go together. Participation in games and sports improves the health of the participant and improves his/her motor qualities and responses. Even more importantly, active participation in games and sports fosters the attitude of sportsmanship, fairness and team spirit. Physical education provides a well-rounded education and where man is one being and cannot be educated in artificial segments.
Keeping physically active is an essential part of a young child’s life and education. Through physical activity, children develop social and emotional skills especially in the younger part of the child’s life because movement is a critical means of communication, expression, and learning. It is imperative that children have as many opportunities as possible to be physically active and to learn through movement. It is through movement and physical activity that young children learn about their world. Children are considered to be the future of their nation and their physical health can in no case be in jeopardy. Physical education is an aspect of school which is more than just book learning. It is about educating the whole person rather than setting for a mere academic experience. Since physical activity develops not only physical but social and emotional skills and helps discover a child’s gifts outside of book learning as well as helps to build a good character. Hence if schools and colleges do not provide outlet for the youth in a constructive and healthy manner through sports and games, the youth get into the habit of idling.
Keeping in view the magnitude and importance of sports and physical education, the question arises that where we stand in J&K State in physical education and school sports. Now that parents are not only taking extra care in the schooling of their children, but are trying hard to engage them more and more in school books, who bothers to see that how mentally, morally and physically tough our children are to sustain the pressure of modern-day schooling.
There are enormous questions also for the concerned government authorities to answer like: where has gone the Drill teacher of those old days? What role a physical education teacher is playing in modern-day schooling, Why government schools at most of the places are set open without consideration of a play field over there?, how mushroom of private schools are running without having any play field within its vicinity, where goes the games fund of government and private schools, when the whole vessel of the subject is almost empty.
It is a matter of great concern that in J&K State there is no policy frame work of Sports and physical education in none of the concerned departments like, Youth services and sports, State sports council, Deptt. of Human resources or Deptt. of Education. These departments also lack professional approach and co-ordination with each other, which has paralyzed the whole system of school sports and physical education. There is a dire need to restructure the sports and education scenario of the State so as to hone our talent to play the games first for the sake of ourselves, secondly for the sake of the game and then for the whole nation.
To be concluded with the version of the authorities and an approved National Policy on physical education …………..
(Readers can mail their comments and feedback at…… agowhar6@gmail.com)

How’zat?……Kashmiri heritage games lost (Out) ……….

Abid Gowhar

Have we forgotten our past in the sports competitions like in other walks of life?. We see change, change and change everywhere but there may be some people who might have something in their remembrance before they feel the ensuing changes in the sports and games arena of the valley. Since the introduction of instant popular games like football and cricket in Kashmir, how many of us know that there were some other games being played in every nook and corner of the valley few decades ago. The games are now seen rarely played by anyone in Kashmir. But one can not erase the history of those games, which were more popular than any other game of the present times. They had their own way and style, they had their chaste and craze and those ancient games had their jubilant winners, cheers and the entertainment players.
Today when Kashmiri children are totally involved between the stumps and goal posts, the local games being played for centuries in the valley have been bowled out. The indigenous games once played in the valley have much common with those of rest of India. For example “ Suza-Loung” of Kashmir was familiar as “ Paandi” in south India and “ Lathkeeji-Loth” in Kashmir would mean Gilli-danda in rest of the country. The dragon-fly has figured in rural games and what adds to the interest is the game of “Trupas”, the pebble-game once upon a time being played by rural youth comprising both boys and girls. The interesting part of these games was that, they were being played without any decisions of a third person like not having any vigilance of an umpire or referee.
“Souza-Loung”: An outdoor game played with “Souza’ a small baked rounded earthen disc. A player has to “lounge” (hop) on one leg while driving out “Souza’ with the push of the front toe from various rectangular regions of the playing court. The court usually measures 3 meter x 2 meter consisting of six or eight equal regions made on hard level ground. It is a team as well as an individual game.
The team starts playing the “Souza-Loung” first makes “Tresh-Thaph” called toss in present day games. “Tresh” means disc wet on one side and “ Thaph” means the disc dry on the other side. The disc (Souza) is tossed up in the air. The team leader asks his/her opponent to choose the side Tresh (wet side) or Taaph (dry side). After winning the toss, a player of that team starts playing. A player throws Souza in the lower most “ Khana” and then hops inside the court and drives out Souza. If a player while hoping treads on the line of the rectangular “ Khana” or the Souza while being pushed comes to rest just on the line, or is driven out of “khana” of the court the player has to quite. If these misfortunes don’t come his way, he goes on gaining the territories of the playing court by the same process of “Souza” driving by hoping. Children get exercised and entertained by the hoping. They used to learn to be cautious while being active.
Lathkinj-Loth
It is a game called “Gilli-Danda” in other parts of India. “Lathkenj (Gilli)” is a small but a strong piece of wood, about 15 to 18 cms long with edges tapering on both sides. The diameter is usually 2-4 cms. Loth(Danda) is a strong piece of hard wood, 8-11 cms in diameter and about 50 cms long usually three times the size of Lathkenj.
The game can be played in pairs or individually by two or four players. If the players are in pairs, a pair of Lathkenj and Loth is used.
In order to decide which team has to play first, a team leader from each side starts “Barish” by turns. Barish means the number of times one is able to toss the Leathkej in the air with the help of Loth without letting it fall to the ground. The one who make the bigger count has to play first.
The game starts after hitting the Lathkenj with a Loth, close to a circle called Suta, which is made on the ground, having the radius normally equal to the length of the Loth.
The opponent runs up to the places where Lathkenj has fallen. He picks it and thrown it towards the Suta. The player again thrashes the Lathkenj away from the Suta while it is still in the air to any corner of the vast fields. The process goes on like this. If the lathkenj is caught by the opponent in the air or it if falls inside the circle while being thrown, the player is declared out. Again a player is out if he is not able to keep the Lathkenj away from Suta beyond a distance seven times length of Loth. In such a case, the opponent may succeed in throwing the Lathkenj inside the Suta and the player has to go giving the opponent his chance to play with Lathkenj.
There is much running in this game and carries much needed skills of hitting and throwing like in modern day cricket game. .
Trupas
Trupas played mostly by young girls in rural areas is an indoor game and has to do with five small rounded pebbles almost equal in dimension. The game is played (sitting on the ground) with one’s left or right hand.
Yes….. Any person (male or female) presently above or around forty years of age can describe the chaste of playing Trupas. Another part of playing with small pebbles was to play “ Panchas”, a game of five small pebbles.
The player takes the Trupas in her hand and scatters them on the floor in front of her. The game starts by picking one of them throwing it up n the air and picking the other pebbles from the floor first in singles and then in doubles without letting the pebble in the air to fall on the ground. The other girls sit around watching the feat and waiting for their turn.
The number of players is usually four and the game is played individually. Only a player who holds the maximum number of Trupas (pebbles) on the upper side of the hand while tossing the all simultaneously, play first and then the player on her right side takes her turn. If any pebble, while lifting other from the floor, falls or touches any other pebble, the player is declared out.
The game has once enlivened the lives of Kashmiris and it is now western songs and film music that holds the air.
Apart from above mentioned games, there are many other rural games played once in every season in valley but now the playing rules of such games have been wiped off from the memories after the introduction of limited over cricket. Children now know only about the dubious decisions of LBW and whether the benefit of doubt given by the umpire holds true or not. Alas! The Kashmir heritage games are lost in the fray of modern-day games and fashion-sports.
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