Several games that are played internationally in the present age are said to have originated in India, among them being chess and badminton. Polo is said to have originated in Manipur.

Polo had its origin in Manipur. This ancient game of stick and ball played on horsebacks was the national game of once independent kingdom of Manipur. Literally ‘Sagol’ means horse and ‘Kangjei’, a mallet or a long-handled woodenheaded hammer for striking a ball. According to Manipuri Puya, in the mythological age it was played by local gods like Marjing, Thangjing, etc. belonging to the Manipuri pantheon who guarded the eight directions.

According to ‘Kangjeirol’, an ancient script on ‘Sagol Kangjei’, the game originated during the reign of King Kangba of Manipur, a few centuries before the birth of Christ. It is also on the record that the game was played with seven players on one side during the reign of King Nongda Lairen Pakhangba (AD 33) of Manipur on the happy occasion of introducing his consort Laisana to his royal friends. It is commonly accepted that the game became more refined and popular with appropriate rules during the reign of King Khangemba (1597-1652). Cheitharol Kumbaba, the Royal Chronicle of Manipur, has many interesting accounts of the game. Apart from its being a game played by every Manipuri – young and old, rich and poor – throughout the kingdom, it was used as a subtle means in diplomacy, politics and palace intrigues. It was a very handy tool for making friendship or for exterminating a foe equally successfully. While King Pakhangba used the game of polo as a diplomatic instrument in AD 33 for sealing friendship, King Labanya Chandra, who was killed in 1781 during the progress of an exciting polo match, was the royal victim of polo as a means of palace intrigue.

According to the Guinness Book of Records (1992), “Polo can be traced to origins in Manipur state, India, C. 3100 BC when it was played as ‘Sagol Kangjei’.” The game was introduced to the British Officers at Chacar, Assam by the Maharaja of Manipur, Sir Chandrakirti Singh (1834-44). The earliest club was Cachar Club founded in 1859 in Assam, India. The oldest club still in existence is the Calcutta Polo Club (1862). The Game was taken to England from India in 1869 by the 10th Hussars at Aldershot, and the earliest match was played between the 9th Lancers and the 10th Hussars on Hounslow Heath, Great London in July 1871. The earliest international match between England and the USA was played in 1886. The governing body of the game is the Hurlingham Polo Association which drew up the first English rules in 1875.

Some claim polo to be of Persian origin where it was played as ‘pulu’ in 535 BC. Some of the western enthusiasts of the game hold the view that it was introduced into Manipur during the tumultuous period of medieval history when South-EastAsia was experiencing a mass movement due to pressure from Central China. J.N.P. Watson is of the view that “it (Polo) was picked up from the Chinese by the Tibetans, who named it ‘pulu’, their word for a ball; and it was most likely that from Tibet the people of Manipur....... adopted the game. The Manipuris called it ‘Kan-jai-bazeo’, but they knew it too, as ‘pulu’.....” The above view is contradicted by the fact that Manipuris never referred to the game ‘pulu’. They always called it ‘Sagol Kangjei’. ‘Bajee’, a Bengali word for betting, was, perhaps, used by the Manipuri fugitives living in Cachar where the Bengalis settled in large numbers, for communicating with non-Manipuris. Perhaps also the Bengali term ‘chakkar’, denoting the periods in polo match, came into use. The two words used in ‘Sagol Kangjei’ are the products of the historical encounters of the Manipuri kings and princes with the Bengalis and Assamese living in Cachar.

While prince Marjit was cooling his heels at Cachar when he had fled from Manipur, its last king, Govinda Chandra tried to take the favourite polopony of the Manipuri prince which cost Govinda Chandra dearly. Marjit vowed to avenge the insult. When he became the king of Manipur, he invaded Cachar and defeated Govinda Chandra. The principality of the Cachar king was turned into a fertile ground for Meitei (Manipuri) infiltration and intrigues. The present Manipur territory Jiribam may be cited as an indirect product of Marjit’s pony– war. Despite its wide contact with the vast regions stretching from Barrak Valley of Assam to the Trans-Chindwin Valley of Burma (now Myanmar), Manipuri ‘Sagol Kangjei’ still retains its major indigenous vigour, form and style.

There was no exact size of the polo field. However, when lord Curzon visited Manipur in 1901, he made a measurement of the Imphal polo ground, otherwise also known as the ‘Mapal Kanghjeibung’ (literally, field for playing ‘Kangjei’, short for ‘Sagol Kangjei’) situated on the outside of the royal palace compound and found it to be 225 yards in length and 110 yards in breadth. In the olden days there were no goal posts. Goals were scored when the ball crossed the end line of the width of the field.

Earlier the number of players in a team was variable, but during the reign of King Khagemba (1597-1652) the number was standardised to seven on one side.

The positions were

(i) ‘Panjenba’ (forward);

(ii) ‘Panjenchang’ ( forward no.2 );

(iii) ‘Pallak’ (mid fielder 1);

(iv) ‘Pallak chang’ (mid fielder 2);

(v) ‘Langjei’ (centre);

(vi) ‘Pan-ngakpa’ (full-back) and

(vii) ‘Pan ngakchang’ (half back).

 

During the reign of the king, ‘Pana Kangjei’ was introduced. Six ‘panas’ (social units) viz.

(i) Ahallup;

(ii) ‘Naharup’;

(iii) ‘Khabam’;

(iv) ‘Laipham’;

(v) ‘Hidakphanba’ and

(vi) ‘Potsangba’ were formed.

The first four were superior and matches were played amongst them. The last two ‘panas’ could play between themselves. When they played by a combinations of players from different teams it is called ‘Chere kare’.

The game starts with a team mounted on ponies whose height is normally about four and a half feet, lining up in the middle of the field facing each other, and the throwing up of the ball (called ‘Kangdrum’ in Manipuri) in the air with the cry ‘Hantre’ by an official known as ‘Hantre Hunba’ who retreats speedily outside the field after the throw. The procedure is repeated whenever a score is made.

 

The ball is made of seasoned bamboo root. Nowadays the size of the ball is four inch in diametre, twelve inch in circumference and generally painted white.

 

‘Kanghu’ or the long mallet, used for hitting the ball is four feet six inches long.After the ‘Hantre’ the player can either hit the ball with the stick in the air or on the ground or catch with hands in the air. In the latter case he can carry the ball with him towards the opposite goal line, and near the goal line he either drops the ball on the ground and hits it or tosses the ball up in the air and hits it in the mid air towards the goal line.

In early days, there was hardly any rule against infringements like crossing the way of the player on the mount and hooking the mallet but now in the modern version of the game, every player has the ‘right of way’ and crossing it is a
serious violation of rules. Crossing the ‘right of way’ is called ‘Sagol-Tuppa’ in Manipuri. Maharaja Churachand Singh (1892-1941) later forbade crossing the ‘right of way’and introduced ‘Hairou’ which is the Manipuri term for deliberate
hitting or hooking the stick of an opponent’s pony.

The players wear white ‘dhoti’ well tucked up above the knees.

A‘kokyet’ (Manipuri word for turban) held by a ‘khadangchet’ (chin-strap) is worn as head gear.

Normally a short-sleeved jacket having the same colour as the ‘khadangchet’ is worn.

‘Khongyom’ (leg-guard) protects the shins and calves.

‘Khuning Khang’ protects the heels and the ankle.

 

The traditional stirrup has a flat base and the foot-hold is quite narrow. A player places his naked toe, not the arch of his sole, in the stirrup.

 

A simple snaffle, known in Manipuri as ‘Chanam Maru’, is used as reins.

 

The Saddle has a deep seat and a grip. A distinctive feature of Manipuri saddle is the ‘Nakthang’, a huge curled leather hung on both sides of the saddle and so placed as to guard the legs of the player. The saddle is made of enamelled leather mounted on a wooden frame known as ‘Ukang Khe’. A product from ‘Khe-U’ tree is the enamel used for this purpose.

 

A whip made of raw hide is hung from the left wrist of a player. The stick is made of seasoned cane and the mallet is generally made of ‘U-yung’ (oak), a hard local wood.

 

Hitting the ball needs dexterous wrist work with additional kinetic force from the swing of the arm. Though the traditional saddle exerts a heavy burden on the pony as the seat is a little far away from the centre of gravity of the animal, a player, firmly placed on the deep seat of the saddle, can bend his body and swing the stick left and right without losing his grip and balance.

Manipuri horsemanship grew from the relationship of the people with the equine family. The Meiteis, the predominant community in Manipur Valley, have domesticated ponies from time immemorial. The Manipuri pony played an important part in the process of the development of the kingdom of Manipur. The expansion and consolidation of this kingdom depended on the use of the cavalry constituted by the Meitei people on horseback, one of the most fearsome forces in the North Eastern region of India and upper Burma.

 

Institutional recognition of the domestication, care and official use of pony was the duty of ‘Sagol Senba Hanjaba’, the supervisor for the upkeep of the horse in the administrative hierarchy. The horse or the pony became a weapon of war and an instrument for the expansion of the kingdom.

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3. Word Notes:

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mythological : myths of a people about their culture, gods, ancesters, heroes, supernatural beings and history.

consort : wife or husband of a ruler

exterminating : killing
 

diplomatic instrument : means of maintaining relationship between two countries or persons

fugitive : people running away from the law

cooling his heels : waiting

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infringements : fouls

snaffle : bridle-bit

enamelled : covered with some substance to form a hard glossy coating

dexterous : skilful

equine : connected with the horse

domestication : the process of taming an animal and keeping it as a pet or on a farm

upkeep : maintenance

hierarchy : organisation of persons in graded ranks

 

SOLUTIONS

EXERCISES
A. Complete the following sentences:-
i) According to ‘Kangjeirol’, the game originated during the reign of ‘King Kangba’ of Manipur.

ii) Apart from being a popular game, Sagol Kangjei was used as a subtle means of diplomacy, politics and palace intrigues.

iii) The two Bengali words used in the Sagol Kangjei are the products of the historical encounters of the Manipuri Kings and princes with the Bengalis and Assamese living in Cachar.

iv) Govinda Chandra, the Cachar king tried to take the favourite Polo-Pony of the Manipuri Prince Marjit which cost him dearly. Marjit vowed to avenge the insult.

v) The present Manipuri territory of Jiribam may be cited as an indirect product of Marjit’s pony war.

vi) In the olden days, there were no posts and goals were scored when the ball crossed the end line of the width of the field.

vii) In modern days, crossing the way of player is a serious violation of the rules.

B. Answer the following questions in one sentence each:-

1) How did King Nongda Lairen Pakhangba use Sagol Kangjei?
Ans: King Nongda Lairen Pakhangba used Sagol Kangjei on the happy occasion of introducing his consort Laisana to his royal friends.

2) Who was the royal victim of polo as a means of palace intrigue?
Ans: ‘King Labanya Chandra’ was the royal victim of polo as a means of palace intrigue.

3) Who introduced Polo to England in 1869?
Ans: Sir Chandrakirti Singh introduced Polo to England in 1869.

4) Who took Polo to England in 1869?
Ans: The 10th Hussars at Aldershot took Polo to England in 1869.

5) Between which two countries was the first international Polo match played?
Ans: It was played between England and the USA in 1886.

6) Who standardized the number of Polo players to seven in a team?
Ans: ‘King Khagemba’ standardized the number of Polo players to seven in a team.

7) Who is “Hantre hunba”?
Ans: ‘Hantre hunba’ is an official who throws up the ball in the air with the cry “Hantre” in order to start the game and retreats speedily outside the field after the throw.

8) What is “Sagol tuppa”?
Ans: Crossing the ‘right of way’ is called ‘Sagol tuppa’.

9) Which part of the body of a Polo player is protected by ‘Khongyom’?
Ans: ‘Khongyom’ is the leg-guard which protects the shins and calves.

10) What was the duty of ‘Sagol Senba hanjaba’?
Ans: The supervision for the upkeep of the horse in the administrative hierarchy was the duty of ‘Sagol Senba hanjaba’.

C. Answer the following questions in about 30 words each:-

1) What does the Manipuri Puya say about Sagol Kangjei?
Ans: According to the Manipuri Puya, in the mythological age it was played by local gods like Marjing, Thangjing etc. belonging to the Manipuri pantheon who guarded the eight directions.

2) What are King Khagemba’s contribution to the development of Sagol Kangjei?
Ans: During the reign of ‘King Khagemba’, the number of player was standardized to seven on one side. The first four were superiors and matches were played amongst them. The last two ‘panas’ could play between themselves.

3) Apart from being a popular game, how was Sagol Kangjei used by the royalty?
Ans: It was used as a subtle means in diplomacy, politics and palace intrigues. It was a very handy tool for making friendship. King Pakhangba used the game of Polo as a diplomatic instrument in 33AD for sealing friendship. King Labanya Chandra, who was killed in 1781 during the progress of an exciting polo match, was the royal victim of polo as a means of palace intrigue.

4) What does the Guinness book of record say about Polo?
Ans: It says that Polo can be traced to origins in Manipur state, India, C .`3100 BC when it was played as “Sagol Kangjei”.

5) How is J.N.P Watson’s view contradicted?
Ans: J.N.P Watson’s view is contradicted by the fact that Manipuris never referred to the game ‘pulu’. They always called it ‘Sagol Kangjei’.

6) How did the Principality of the Cachar king become a fertile ground for Meitei infiltration and intrigue?
Ans: While Prince Marjit was cooling his heels at Cachar, Govinda Chandra tried to take the favourite Polo-pony of the Manipuri Prince which cost him dearly. When Marjit became the king of Manipur, he invaded Cachar and defeated Govinda Chandra. Thus, the Principality of the Cachar king became a fertile ground for Meitei infiltration and intrigues.

7) What did Lord Curzon do regarding the Imphal Pologround?
Ans: He made a measurement of the Imphal polo ground (also known as the ‘Mapal Kanghjeibung’), and found it to be 225 yards in length and 110 yards in breadth. 

8) Describe “Pana Kangjei”?
Ans: “Pana Kangjei” is the traditional form of Polo. There were six ‘panas’. The first four were superior and matches were played amongst them. The last two “Panas” could play between themselves. When they were played by a combination of players from different teams it is called ‘Chere Kare’.

9) What are the functions of a ‘Hantre Hunba’?
Ans: He throws up the ball (Kangdrum)in the air with the cry ‘Hantre’ and retreats speedily outside the field after the throw.

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10) How did Manipuri horsemanship play a very important role in the expansion and consolidation of the Kingdom of Manipur?
Ans: The expansion and consolidation of the Kingdom of Manipur depended on the use of the cavalry constituted by the Meitei people on horseback.