Competence is core to Assam Rifles's appeal. But there is always more to do.
On March 7th, 2024, the country's prestigious para military force Assam Rifles launched its Mahila Polo team comprising six women soldiers in the presence of state Governor Anusuiya Uikey - incidentally also a woman.
This is the only Polo team of the armed forces in the world. In a state where traditions and cultural identity are deeply revered, the move would serve as a vital step towards preserving the rich legacy of Manipuri Polo while empowering the women to take the lead in its revival.
Known locally as Sagol Kangjei, Polo certainly has deep cultural roots in Manipuri society. Many say it was not only a sport but a real symbol of Marital prowess but at the same time also synonym with Nobility and Community Bonding.
It is also understood that the 'indigenous form of Polo' evolved centuries ago in this land and is believed to have been played by the Manipuri king Nongda Lairen Pakhangba in 33 AD.
This also recorded in the Cheitharol Kambaba, a royal chronicle of the Meiteis.
The game of modern Polo is said to have originated in Manipur, according to the Guinness Book of World Records. Significantly, Mapal Kangjeibung in Imphal city is the oldest living Polo ground in the world.
According to media reports, Riflewomen Victoria Oinam, H Pitu Devi, Thangjam Bindi Chanu, Veronica Oinam, Mangangcha Mutum Enourembi and M Laxmi Devi were selected as part of the Assam Rifles Women Polo team in March 2024.
Of course it is said that the game of Polo was initially floated as a form of recreation for the kings and their courtiers. But it gradually became an integral aspect of Manipuri festivals like Lai Haraoba.
According to analysts and northeast watchers, the formation of 'all women polo team' by Assam Rifles would serve a dual role. It will provide a platform for local women to showcase their skills and break gender barriers; it will also contribute significantly to the preservation of promotion of Polo as a Cultural Heritage in the state of Manipur.
"Recognizing the cultural significance and the need to revive and sustain the tradition, the Assam Rifles took a remarkable initiative by forming an all-women's polo team," says a source.
In terms of tracing the history, one can say during earlier days, the Polo as a game served as a crucial training activity for warriors. Manipuri kings encouraged the sport as a means to enhance horsemanship and combat skills. Polo was then a game of the elite.
But it is also true there was a 'community' sense in the sports and the villagers would come together to witness matches played in open fields. Local experts say the matches were in fact a display of physical strength and stamina but also of strategic brilliance reflecting the marital and hierarchical traditions.
It goes without stating that the Mahila Polo team's success has not only reignited interested in Polo but has also drawn attention to the rich traditions of Manipur's equestrian heritage.
*** Pointers:
On a hill around Heingang village, on the outskirts of Imphal, there is a pony shrine to Lord Marjing, the god of polo, where the Meitei (the majority ethnic group of Manipur) come to worship, and where the local polo players go to light candles before a game.
There is mystical energy at the shrine as prayers are offered to Sanamahi, the patron god of every Meitei household, who created the Samadon Ayangba—a fast and fierce pony with wings.
The legendary Manipuri Pony is symbolic of a culture that has struggled in many ways to ride forward. (media reports in 2019)
* The All Manipur Polo Association (AMPA) was established in 1955 by Ningthou Bodhachandra, the then King of Manipur.
* The Maharaja of Manipur, Sir Chandrakirti Singh (1834-44 CE), introduced the game of polo to the British Officers at Cachar in Assam.
ends
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