7. Sports and History

• ✓ (a) Olympia, Greece
• (b) Rome
• (c) India
• (d) China

Answer: The ancient event of Olympic competitions used to be held at Olympia, Greece.

• ✓ (a) Thaki
• (b) Kalichandika
• (c) Gangavati
• (d) Champavati

Answer: The wooden dolls made in Maharashtra are known as Thaki.

Wrong pair: (4) Chess — Outdoor game

• Toys and festivals have a very close relationship in Indian culture, as toys are used for entertainment and are often an integral part of festive celebrations.
• In Maharashtra, during the traditional Diwali celebrations, model forts are made. Clay images of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, his soldiers, and animals are placed on these forts. This tradition uses toys to keep the memory alive of the important role of forts in the history of Maharashtra.
• Dolls and toys have been mentioned in ancient Indian literature (e.g., Kathasaritsagara mentions flying and dancing dolls) and there are regional traditions of making dolls, like the wooden dolls known as ‘Thaki’ in Maharashtra.

• Publishing books and making movies on sports and biographies of players is a newly developing enterprise.
• Recently, several successful movies on sports have been released in various languages. For instance, the film Mary Kom is based on the first Indian female boxer to participate in the Olympics and win a bronze medal. Dangal is based on the life story of the Phogat sisters, who were the first Indian female wrestlers to win gold medals in international competitions.
• The process of making such movies requires deep study of the particular period, language, dressing style, and social life of that era, making it an excellent professional opportunity for students of history.

• The field of sports in the 20th and 21st centuries was naturally influenced by the process of globalisation.
• International matches of various sports like cricket, football, and lawn tennis are broadcast live and can be watched on television in any corner of the world. Thus, citizens of non-participant countries can also enjoy these matches.
• Fans scattered all over the world watch these matches for entertainment, which has prompted industrial and commercial companies to look at these events as a great opportunity to advertise their products.
• Furthermore, retired sportsmen also find opportunities to participate as commentators. This massive global engagement has significantly affected the entire structure of the sports economy.

• Toys can throw light on history, technological development, and provide a glimpse of religious and cultural traditions of a specific era.
• For example, making model forts with clay images of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj during Diwali keeps the memory of Maharashtra's history alive.
• Toys also reveal trade and cultural contacts between ancient nations. An ivory doll made by Indian craftsmen found in the excavation of Pompeii (Italy), dating to the 1st century C.E., throws light on Indo-Roman trade relations.
• Hence, toys found in archaeological excavations act as vital historical sources that tell us about the cultural history of ancient times.

The history of sports equipment and toys in ancient India spans back to the earliest civilizations:

• Toys in excavations: Clay toys have been discovered in archaeological excavations of the Harappan civilization. These toys were fashioned either by hand or by using moulds.
• Literary evidence: Dolls are mentioned frequently in ancient Indian literature. A famous Sanskrit play written by Shudraka is named Mrichchhakatika, which translates to 'a clay cart'.
• Mechanical toys: The text Kathasaritsagara provides very interesting descriptions of games and toys, mentioning flying dolls and dolls that would dance or make sounds when a key was pressed.
• Regional traditions: In India, there have been regional traditions of making dolls, such as the wooden dolls made in Maharashtra which were known as 'Thaki'.
• Sports equipment: Ancient Indian literature and epics also mention equipment and setups for various games like games of dice (dyut), wrestling, horse and chariot races, and chess.

Although sports and history appear to be distant subjects, there is a very close tie between them:

• Sports Journalism: To write articles, reviews, or columns about sports events like the Olympics, Asiad, or national matches, writers must resort to the history of the game.
• Commentary: Expert commentators during live matches need to have a deep knowledge of the game's history, previous statistics, established records, eminent players, and historical anecdotes to make the broadcast entertaining (e.g., the historical details shared by Bal J. Pandit).
• Literature and Cinema: Making biographical movies on sportspersons (like Mary Kom or Dangal) requires an in-depth study of the historical period of the story, the language, dressing style, and social life of that time.
• Preservation of Origins: The history of how games originated, how their rules were standardised (such as by the ancient Greeks), and how they evolved is preserved entirely through historical research.

Indoor Games:

• Indoor games are played within a closed environment, often by sitting at one place.
• They do not require large open fields or immense physical stamina.
• Examples include chess, card games, carom, Indian Ludo (Kachkavadya/Chaukabara), Sagargote, and Bhatukali (playing house).

Outdoor Games:

• Outdoor games require large open spaces, playgrounds, and involve significant physical activity, stamina, and skills.
• They can be categorised into 'Indian sports' (like Langadi, Kabaddi, Kho-kho, Atyapatya) and 'International sports' (like Cricket, Football, Hockey, Lawn Tennis).
• Outdoor sports also encompass running races (sprints, marathons), field events (shot put, discus throw), water sports (swimming, water polo), and adventurous games (ice skating, rock-climbing, gliding).