Is the value of sports dwindling in Manipur's educational space ?

Sanasam Yaiphaba Singh *

7 days Children Adventure Sports Camp in January 2020 :: Pix - Department of Physical Education and Sports Science, Manipur University

Manipur is rightly regarded as the sports powerhouse of the country and this is the right time to study whether the formal education as one sees it encourages sports.

Under the present education system sports appears to have been kept separately from the general education. The main reason behind the situation is the culture of going to private tuition just when the new session of the school starts or when students start attending their class. Parents escort their children to many of the popular tuition centres or residence of teachers in the morning before going to school and also in the evening after returning from school.

This is a new found tradition visible in almost all localities of Imphal and greater Imphal. When we look back thirty years or so, private tuition was reserved for a privileged few who were academically not so bright. Even then, private tuition was largely confined to one or two subject (s). Over the years, private tuition or coaching has become an integral part of the formal (school) education system in Manipur. With students going for private tuition for each and every subject, private tuition or coaching is fast acquiring the status of a parallel schooling system.

But when we look carefully it is found that because of this new tradition students are fully exhausted, need rest and many of them are playing with mobile phones instead of playing for a while. The parents also feel the need for their rest and permit their wards to play mobile phone during the time of rest. The students have no spare time to play freely in open ground involving their physical activities which would secrete sweat. To our Manipuri culture sweating from physical activities is being treated as taking out of poison (Hoo+ manghanba) from the body in the form of sweat.

It is all known that the sports culture abundantly flourished in Manipur while our forefathers evolved the culture of different types of the games for every stage of body development and age groups both for male and female. There have been games for baby on lap, children, youths, even for old age groups etc. which are called as Indigenous games. During the time every able person has either played one or the other game suitable to them in the open local ground which was abundantly available in the urban and rural areas.

As people involved in physical activities in sports with certain rules and regulations they were physically fit, mentally alert and well disciplined in society for living peacefully. Though the rules of the game during the time were not so much minutely framed the games were played under rules with a sense of discipline, propriety and proper respect of the games, players and people.

At present, it is observed that prevalence of playing outdoor games in locally available grounds are hardly seen as done before. The present day style of playing and practice of games in some grounds are that kind of games that they started from direct modern games with costly dresses and equipments. Every potential player is not in position to participate in such modern games.

If students understand the value of sports at grassroots level it automatically brings the sports sprit which in turn would encourage them to play and look out for the game. This idea can easily be ascertained from the life history of many veteran players of the State. They said that they started running and playing in local ground from their childhood and hence they know well what sports are and the idea of sports automatically comes up in their mind. But, at present the impact of the sports among the students at grassroots level is very less.

Their minds are fully concentrated towards the study of lessons mainly for scoring higher marks. It is seen that at the level of higher classes the engagement of the students in their general education as well as in sports activities simultaneously may not be possible for all the students. However, we should keep in mind that it is important for children to play games for a while in the morning or evening which would produce sweat and refresh them, keep them active and sharp brained.

Physically active students can smoothly concentrate in their studies more effectively. The intention of playing of game at this stage is not of the national and international levels with hard training or coaching, but just to give them the knowledge of the step of sports and dance to maintain the physical stamina and learn the habit of obedience, discipline and willpower for strength and achievement.

A student who understands the sports and possesses sports sprit can somehow find spare time for playing in morning or evening, and also during winter and summer vacations. The student will get venue in sports if they like and at the same time if they are not willing to play anymore game still they would understand how to keep physical fitness.

For those students who are fully engaged in their study with a strong determination to score very high marks and position in their examination results may not find spare time for sports. Through sports they can not only know the message of love, devotion and dedication but also understand peace, tolerance, fate and friendship. Besides, the drug abuses which are destroying our society can be kept far away because there is no room of drug abuse in sports.

The importance of sports is increasing not only because of becoming professional players but also to play and understand any games so as to enable them to face any social issue or circumstance. For instances, the human life expectancy being in danger as eating of less organic foods and more of junk food, adverse changing scenario of ecology, environment and climate, increase number sick people with the increase of hospitals and health care facilities, also emergence of new diseases, use of harsh medicine resulting weak immune system etc. which all call for physical exercise at least for extraction of unwanted sweat from the human body.

Here, it is worth to mention that to involve in the game would be able to keep proper physical and mental health with understanding of the spirit of the sports. Children could learn and obey the rules of the games and respect their elders and superiors. They have also to learn to face any eventuality with sense of smile which is always a way of recreation without any mental disturbance.

Therefore, the promotion of sports among the students right from the grassroots level for making them physically fit with a good sense of discipline and positive approach would be able to be a responsible citizen to make a good society.

It is also essential to keep in mind that only those players who are both physically and mentally matured could have the capacity to compete in the international sport events. A well educated person may easily become mentally matured in the field of sports.

Let's promote sports and give a hope to student.