PANCHAYATI SWARAJ

Second Freedom; when my village becomes self-responsible

SixFreedoms...4Health...4.1Sports
4.1 Sports
The village must take up sports initiatives by becoming sponsors and supporters (for sports, sportsmen and sports Gurus) and also by organizing sporting events. Important village occasions like local temple festivals, anniversaries or common festivals must have sports competitions/displays as part of the proceedings/celebrations. Local facilities must be made available for training and coaching. Time and resources must be specifically diverted so that there will be reasons for the children and youth to practice and excel in some sport or the other all-round the year. Awards and trophies must truly bring honor to those who excel. Those found outstanding must be pushed to represent the village at higher levels of sports and games.
Relevance:         Sports activities sit on the borderline between health and culture. Besides the physical ... and social dimensions, there is a spiritual dimension to it too. The totality of it ensures a ready personality in a sportsman and dynamism in a society. It is also one of the best ways in which a community builds and exhibits its capacity for teamwork. Good sportsmanship is an index of the quality of the people of a village.

When an excellent sporting culture becomes a hallmark of a village, it is proof in itself that the village has raised itself into prosperity and that it is not a dung heap any more. It is proof that its orientation is sound and that it has gained a thirst for higher things in life.
Detailed Rationale:         The indigenous system that existed before the advent of the European influence used ... several institutions that existed in the field of sports as pillars for sustaining civilization. For example, let us imagine that there is one particular coach of a particular game—say, kho kho—who has spent his life pursuing it. Having been with the sport long enough and especially if he were a person who gave focused thought to its multifarious dimensions, there is no doubt that he would have gathered a wealth of knowledge on proper nutrition, attitude and health. He could use the same to give primary advice to his wards and to the members of his village. And if he were part of the tradition of transferring knowledge to the next generation in the village, then he would radiate the learning that happened in the many generations before him. This coach would then be a small walking encyclopedia of health and nutrition—especially with reference to that particular region to which he belongs. Thus, in all such rural games that are taken seriously in a village community, a great amount of knowledge regarding health and nutrition is preserved and transferred down the line through sportspersons and sports Gurus. They automatically become sources of help for the villagers on matters of health, nutrition, hygiene, etc.

This is just one of the examples. Developing a better attitude, better team work, improved team spirit, a culture of fine health, a greater appreciation for work and wisdom are some of the other benefits that accrue. It also remains one of the best tools to bridge gaps between diverse sections of society.
Success Stories and Action:
(Share examples of villages that have succeeded with this freedom. Click here for feedback.)
There are many outstanding villages in India who have had success in sports like boxing, wrestling, kho kho and kabaddi. The list is long. These are very good examples to emulate.

The village sports committee must understand the spiritual dimension of sports besides the health and social dimensions as well. This will ensure that patronage will be taken up with unflinching commitment. The outer expression is that sports is a showpiece of the village; the inner dimension is that the village has achieved surplus and freedom, and as a result of this, it has allocated time and effort for higher pursuits.

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