CM entrusts pony saving task to cops
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, November 18 2022:
Chief minister N Biren Singh has announced that every police station in the state will be given the task of rearing at least 10 horses (pony) and the budget for the same will be added in the upcoming revised state budget as part of preservation and promotion of pony, which played an important role in safeguarding sovereignty of Manipur.
The chief minister made the announcement at the opening ceremony of 1st Chief Minister's Sagol Kangjei championship, which kicked off on Friday at Manung Kangjeibung located inside Kangla.
The championship is being organised by All Manipur Polo Association (AMPA) under the slogan 'Save Manipuri pony, save grazing field and revive Sagol Kangjei' as part of Manipur Sangai Festival-2022 and it will continue till November 27.During the opening ceremony, CM Biren also launched Sagol Tongba Police (Manipur Mounted Police), which will be deployed for maintaining law and order in and around Imphal city and will be tourist attraction during the Sangai festival.
Biren continued that modern polo was born out of Sagol Kangjei played by forefathers of Manipur since early period and this is clearly mentioned in the book of British writer Lord Curzon.
He said that Manipuri ponies along with indigenous 'Sarit Sarat' and 'Aram-bai' took important role in safeguarding sovereignty of Manipur from invasion by neighbouring countries from time to time.
The words like 'Sagol Lanmee' and 'Arambai' were not borrowed from others but they are indigenous to Manipur and it is a fact that modem polo was born out of Manipur's 'Sagol Kangjei', Biren said, adding that the British officials got inspiration from the expertise on horse of forefathers of Manipur.
According to CM Biren, the Sagol Kangjei championship being organised by AMPA will be a memorable one in the history of Manipur as this beautiful game originated from the land.
However, people of Manipur do not have the habit of bringing up or feeling proud of their own belongings, he observed and maintained that Sagol Kangjei is not a just a game but also symbolises the role of Manipuri pony and warfare techniques possessed by Manipuri soldiers in defending sovereignty of Manipur.
He also said that Manipuri ponies had always been a part of state's civilization and culture.
Rajya Sabha MP Maharaja Leishemba Sanajaoba, who also attended the opening ceremony, said that Sagol Kangjei seemed to have lost its relevance for a long time but organising the championship every year would help in preserving Manipuri pony apart from promoting Sagol Kangjei.
He also said that Manipur is the birthplace of modern polo and this fact will be reinforced with organising Sagol Kangjei championship.
Cabinet ministers, MLAs, senior civil and police officials, academicians, members of AMPA and veteran players of Sagol Kangjei attended the programme among others.
During the programme, the chief minister honoured veteran Sagol Kangjei players with citation and cash rewards in honour of their contribution towards promoting the game.