Physical Training

THEY have included various games etc. in physical training. But, in this sphere, too, nobody seems to have realized their true meaning and purpose, and our indigenous games have been left out. Tennis, cricket and foot-ball have gained in popularity. Admittedly, these three games are enjoyable. But if we had not been carried away by enthusiasm for these Western forms of sport, we would not have given up our inexpensive but equally interesting indigenous games like gend-balla, gilli-danda, kho-kho, sat-tali, kabaddi etc. The old akhadas, which provided training in wrestling and various Indian forms of bodily exercise, have nearly gone out of existence for want of use. I think that the only Western item in this field we may well copy is 'drill'. A friend once remarked that we do not know how to walk—particularly when there are more than one, and we have to walk in step. We totally lack the ability to walk quietly and regularly, to the accompaniment of tal, in formation of twos and fours, when there are hundreds or thousands of us. It is not that such drilling is useful only in actual battle. It may prove quite useful in many acts of service also. For example, in extinguishing fire, in rescuing people from drowning, in carrying the sick and disabled in doli etc., previous practice in drill is a valuable aid. Thus, it is necessary to introduce in our schools indigenous games, exercises and the Western type of drill.

Old Indian System

In my opinion, the physical training for our students should follow the old Indian system—that of pranayam, asanas etc. I believe that the system of physical education developed by Muller and others in the West, who have written on this subject and also demonstrated the efficacy of their system through practical results, has its roots in the old Indian system. What these writers have done is to set it out in modern scientific language and, perhaps, to improve it in places. I am conscious that we have done very little work in this direction. Having gone through a course of training according to this old system, those who further want to learn the present-day wrestling etc., may be given the facilities to do so. But training in lathi and sword etc. should not be considered necessary. I do not think that it is necessary to give lathi-training etc. to the boys. Lathi does not seem to have much to do with the toning up of the body or with the development of its different parts. It is not, therefore, a part of the physical training but a part of the training useful in one's defense or similar purposes.

— True Education : pp. 30, 107