Resurgence of Polo in Manipur and Manipur Horse Riding & Polo Association
- Part 1 -

Lourembam Ibetombi Devi *

A Polo game at 9th Manipur Polo International 2015 at Mapal Kangjeibung :: Photo - Daniel Chabungbam

Though Polo have been regarded as a sort of training game for the cavalry of the king in the past, it became more of a lifestyle sports, extremely popular in the rural Manipur in the mid nineteenth centuryit had already started its journey to England and other places all over the world. After British conquest of the state, there seem to have a slump though, but in the early twentieth century, it was revived with royal patronage during Churachand Maharaja's reign and the game prospered.

The royal patronage continued till the reign of Bodhchandra Maharaja. In the year 1947, when Manipur was about to become independent, Maharaja Bodhchandra set up Manipur State Polo Committee on 5th May, 1947, but game suffered lack of support after state support was withdrawn on its merger with Indian Union in 1949.As soon as Manipur came under Indian Dominion,there was a serious blow to Polo, under order No.7, dated 12th November, 1949, a notice was issued and by giving a 3 month notice, all the Polo players in the palace, all the ponies and even the pony tenders were removed from service.They were all handed over to the Commandant, 1st Bn. Manipur Rifles.

The historic Imphal Polo ground (Mapal Kangjeibung) was also made out of bounds for Polo players.This was a great disappointment for the players as even in the countryside Polo tournaments, the matches start at grounds in the countryside and in the later stage, it was played at Mapal Kangjeibung. Those lovers of this game held a convention on 28th December 1955 and set up an ad hoc committee with Shri P.C.Mathew, the then Chief Commissioner, as president and Shri Maibam Iboton as the Secretary, renamed then, later became the 'All Manipur Polo Club'. This organisation was registered in the year 1957. This club was affiliated with the Indian Polo Association later in the year 1959 (18th January).

Though some such efforts were seen now and then, there was a continuous decline in the game of Poloand the culture of pony all over the state though the game of polo was getting reformed elsewhere with setting up of Hurlingham Polo Association, the International Polo Association and developing the rules of the game (for what now we called IPA Style). The royal patronage has ended and the pony owners had to take care of their ponies with a lot of difficulties.

The pony requires a large ground for feeding as this an animal which lives in semiwild condition and the earlier pony feeding grounds have been gradually converted in to paddy fields. Secondly, the Polo grounds were also gradually converted in to other fields or encroached upon and number of polo grounds diminished which was not possible during the royal patronage. Various type of Polo such as Mera Kangjei (Autumn Polo), Pana Kangjei (Pana Polo), Chak Kangjei (Lunch Polo), Khun Kangjei (Village Polo), Pakchan Kangjei (Wide Goal Polo), Hafta Kangjei (Weekly Polo) which were earlier played in the remote villages had dwindled and started vanishing.

The Polo players were in a state of confusion. On the other hand, the Mapal Kangjeibung was being made out of bounds for Polo. The ground was fenced with barbed wire, a small portion was kept as a football ground and the sides were occupied by wooden galleries. This disturbed both the players and horses to a great extent and playing Polo was highly inconvenient.

There were attempts to debar the people from playing Polo in the Imphal Pologround, a ground that the king Khagemba had made for the purpose of playing Polo. This move saddened the people and was highly criticised. The government started the construction of a mini stadium-cum-shopping centre. The people of the state did not agree with the plan and there were strong protests and ultimately, the governmentwas forced to abandon the idea.

However, there was one factor or another which affected the game. But there were somepeople who fought their best to sustain this game. At such a critical juncture, to save the game of Polo, Padmashree N. Khelchandra and Shri Maibam Iboton started consultations with the experts in the field and the Poloenthusiasts. They discussed the dilemma that the Polo players of the state were facing and the phase through which they are passing.Manipur State Polo Committee (1947) and Manipur Polo Club (1955) tried hard to save the game and the Manipuri Pony.

As the government was indifferent towards this game and did not try to find out lasting solutions and wasted many opportunities, many Polo players were stranded and they were not patronized. During those days, Polo was played in Manipur in the name only, the seriousness we had during the days of the kings was gone. Under such circumstance, Shri Maibam Iboton, who was a renowned player and a Polo enthusiast, who had important roles in setting up both the organisations in the past, became restless and thought of getting an organisation which could be effectively dedicated to saving the game in Manipur.

A ray of hope emerged in December, 1977 in the form of a new organization at Uripok due to dedication of the man who knew both the formats of the game (Pana and IPA style) well, Shri Maibam Iboton Singh.This year, in a meeting of Polo players, SSD (Swadesh Sava Dal) volunteers, youths,veteran Poloplayers and pony lovers held at the residence of Padmashree N. Khelchandra Singh at Uripok Ningthoukhongjam Leikai, it was decided that a new organisation in the name and style of "Manipur Horse Riding & Polo Institute" (SamatonAyangbaNeinasang) would be set up. Thus, a milestone in the renaissance of the Polowas reached. Shri Khelchandra and Iboton were made the advisor and the president of the institute respectively and Shri Lourembam Sharatchandra Singh (Kungshelnaha) of Uripok Khaidem Leikai was made the Secretary of the Management Committee of the Institute.

The institute started its teaching sessions in the ground lying between RIMS (Northern Gate) and Uripok Boys Junior High School at Lamphelpat. Horses were brought from Leimapokpam, Thoubal, Thiyamonjil, Oinam, Oinam Sawombung and young boys and girls were taught horse riding. TheAll Manipur Polo Clubalso contributed horses. The teachers were among the most renowned horse riders and Polo players of the state.

I can recollect the names of quite a few teachers; Maibam Iboton of Uripok, Elangbam Chaoyaima of OinamSawombung, Thiyam Chaoyaima of Thiyam Konjil, Maibam Nongdachaoba of Leimapokpam, Kesho Sharma of Leimapokpam, Keirakpam Babu (Okram Babu) of Thoubal Okram, Okram Kesho Singh, Thoubal, ChongthamChaoba of Singjamei, Senjam Mani of Khwai Nagmapal, Akham Chaonusana of Lamdeng Khunou, Shri Tonsana of OinamSawombung etc. Among the girls, I learned riding on the Karu Arangba of Keirakpam Babu. The first participation in the march past on the Republic Day Parade under the banner of MHRPI was in the year 1978.

To be continued...