Polo a game of Royals in Patiala since 1889
By: Jaswant Singh Puri
Late His Highness Shri Maharana Sahib ofย erstwhile princely state of Dholpur visited princely state of Patiala in the year 1889 and brought Ponies and Players pertaining to the game of Polo first time in erstwhile princely state of Patiala. There was no game of Polo before the visit ofย Late His Highness Shri Maharana Sahib of Dholpur state.
The Dholpur Polo team only practised the game of Polo during its brief stay at Patiala. At the time of departure from Patiala State ,Late His Highness Shri Maharana Sahib of Dholpurย left two Polo players such as Shri Umrao Singh and Shri Inderbir Singh in Patiala for the promotion of Polo in Patiala state.
It was Late His Highness Maharaj-Adhiraj Rajinder Singh Ji authorize Late Raja Gurdit Singh to arrange game of Polo first time in Patiala state. This was how the game of Polo started at Patiala with the following Polo lovers such as Late His Highness Raja Gurdit Singh,two above mentioned Polo players from Dholpur state, General Pritam Singh, General Hira Singh, General Saroop Singh ,Sardar Sham Sher Singh ,Sardar Sewa Singh & General Chanda Singh.
It was in the year 1894 that the first match of Polo was played in Lahore by Late His Highness Maharaja Sahib of Patiala.The Polo team which played the first Polo match at Lahore comprised of Late His Highness,Raja Gurdit Singhย and two aforementioned Polo players from the princely state of Dholpur.In the year 1895 the Polo match was repeated in Lahore by lucidย Patiala Polo team
The aforementioned two Dholpur players were replaced by General Hira Singh & Bakshi Pritam Singh .The bright Polo team which consisted of Patialvisย remained at its highest stateย till 1900.
It was in the year 1900 Late His Highness Raja Gurdit Singh was appointedย VAZIR (High Official Position In Erstwhile Princely State of Patiala).General Chanda Singh replaced Late Raja Gurdit Singh ย in Patiala Polo team till His Highness Maharaja Dhiraj Sir Rajinderย Singh Ji left for his heavenlyย abode .
The Patiala Polo team state of affairs deterioratedย after the walking out of Late His Highness Maharaja Dhiraj Sir Rajinder Singh from this globe. The onlyย two prominent Polo players like General Chanda Singh & Captain Thakara Singh were in Patiala Polo and the rest were old & outdated.
Fortunatelyย Patiala Polo team was joined by young & dynamicย Polo players named as General Joginder Singh & Colonel Jaswantย Singh .After the joining ofย an aforementioned young & dynamic Polo playersย ,the Patiala Polo team once again becomeย healthy & Powerful .The Patiala Polo team came out victorious ย for the first match in 1910 in Shimla which was a summer capital of British India. The Polo match in Shimla was won againstย an eminent K.D.G. with a promising demonstration .The Patiala Polo team in Shimla Polo match in 1910 composed of Colonel Jaswantย Singh ,General Joginder Singh ,Captain Thakara Singhย & General Chanda Singh .
It was in the year 1912 & 1913 Patiala Polo teamย at Calcutta tournamentย had a tough time because of chillyย atmospheric conditionsย and non availability of good and young ponies. In the semi finals it was till the FIFTH CHUKKAR Patiala Polo team was leadingย by two goals against good old Seventeenth Lancers.
On the auspicious occasion of DUKE of CONNAUGHT โs visit the same aforementioned members of Patiala Polo Team appearedย against the then princely state of Jodhpur.Itย was during Duke of Connaughtโs Cup Tournamentย .The Patiala Polo team was successful in this sporting competition very easily.
It was in 1921ย ,the aforementionedย four members of Patiala Polo team participated in His Royal Highness ,The Prince of Wales sporting event in Delhi.
All the members of Patiala Polo teamย were in good condition except one Patiala Polo Player who unfortunatelyย developed muscle pain in the right shoulder . This injury was caused to Patiala Polo Playerย just one week before theย Polo matchย in Delhi . In comparison to Jodhpur,Alwar & Ratlamย the Patiala poniesย were second rate andย an advanced in age .
The game of Polo commencedย in 1921ย at His Royal Highness,The Prince of Wales sporting fightย in Delhiย and it was from the throw of the ball till the last sound of the bugle.The best display of clear hittingย & correctย turningย was exhibited by Patiala Polo players.
The grandย exhibition ofย sticking man to man andย the speed was of utmostย pace,which was never recorded by the Indianย Polo before.
In the opinionย ofย the Polo expertsย till the Fifth Chukkarย there was nothing against Patiala Polo team.ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย It was when Patiala Polo players had finished their poniesย and had to play with veryย low category of Poniesย thus lost the game in the last half a minute of the Chukkar.
This was a high promisingย pointย for aggressive & progressiveย Polo team ofย erstwhile princely state of Jodhpur.
The writer is Patiala basedย Journalist
