Polo
Rajputs have been keen equestrian and they take to the horses like a fish to
water. Their taking to polo in big way was only natural. Their association with
polo dates back to the Mughal period and miniature paintings at the Mehrangarh
Fort bear testimony to this early introduction to the game. However, Polo did
not become a passion until the British period when it became a natural and a
marvelous peacetime pursuit.
It was in 1889, when the colourful Prime Minister of Jodhpur Sir Partap Singh
invited the Bengal Lancers to raise the Jodhpur Lancers; Polo was introduced
to Jodhpur in its current modern form. Three years later Jodhpur raised its
Polo Team, which won many accolades home and abroad. In 1897, when Sir Pratap
travelled to London for Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee, he took his polo team
along, amongst the very first Indian teams to travel abroad, and, for that matter,
foreign teams to invade England and create history.
They won many matches there, at Hurlingham and Ranelagh, and returned with their
reputation enhanced; the finest Indian team during those years. Rajasthan produced
many great Polo players, which include Sir Partap Singh, Rao Raja Hanut Singh,
Thakur Hari Singh and the colourful Maharaja Man Singh II of Jaipur, who took
over the pride of jodhpur as an inevitable gift by being the suave son in law
of Jodhpur. Thus the best of the players and the finest of the polo ponies were
shifted to the royal house of Jaipur, the rest is history.
This super premium category sport still thrives in Rajasthan and has seen a
quantum jump in its popularity as a life style sport. It has attracted attention
from corporate houses for sponsorship. It has also attracted interest of the
Prime Minister of India, many celebrities and the army. Today, polo is not just
restricted to the royalty and the Indian Army, many companies and firms too
patronise the sport. Polo facilities are on the rise and polo holidays in India
too are in vogue. Especially in Rajasthan.
The superb synchronization between man and his horse, the amazing speed, the
brute power, with the backdrop of green arena makes for most exclusive and glorious
sport of all. Rajasthan also gave the game its Royal Tradition with patronage
of the Maharajas, which earns it the nicknames The Game of Kings-The King of
Games. Rajasthan still stages exciting Polo games and is treat for the tourist
to watch this game that demands extreme physical and mental condition.
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