Himachali Wrestlers Neglected

Himachal This Week Team (cover story)

Fairs and festivals are held across the state during this part of the year. Significantly, wrestling bouts are an integral part of these fairs besides being immensely popular among spectators. However, wrestlers from other states pocket top honours whereas Himachali wrestlers lag behind as compared to their counter parts from neighbouring states. All thanks to the neglect of wrestling sport in Himachal and neglect of Himachali wrestlers by organising committees of these fairs where chhinj bouts are held. The state government has also not taken any step to promote wrestling  in this hilly state even as there is no dearth of talent here. Himachali wrestlers too feel that they don’t get due recognition either from the local organisation and clubs holding chhinj bouts or the government. Himachali wrestlers are not getting recognition even as wrestling competitions are held across the state in rural melas, especially those held in mid and lower areas of this hilly state. On the contrary, famous wrestlers are invited from other states and given more preference thus neglecting the local talent. All such competitions are held through invitation to wrestlers.

divyahimachal.com Opinion Poll

Do Himachali Wrestlers Get Due Recognition In Local Fairs?

Yes   –   25% 

No   –   73%

Don’t Know   –   2%

Total Votes: 279

No Data With Sports Department

The State Sports Department doesn’t have any data with regard to participation of wrestlers in chhinj (wrestling) competitions held during different fairs in Himachal. All it has done to promote wrestling in the state is to provide wrestling mats in some of the districts apart from imparting training in Una hostel. The Education Department is yet to initiate a positive step for promotion of this rural sport.

Only Restricted to Melas

Nothing has been done to promote wrestling in Himachal. As a result, the wrestling sport has been restricted only to the rural sports melas where chhinj competitions are held every year. At places, even wrestling sport has started to vanish from rural melas thus leading to the diminishing interest of youth towards this fascinating rural sport.

-By Tek Chand Verma

Himachal’s Biggest Chhinj At Gangath

Prizes include a tractor, Alto car and Rs. 1 lakh in women category

Himachal’s biggest and North India’s most popular wrestling event (chhinj), ‘Shri Kialu Baba Maha Dangal’, is organised at Gangath. Some changes have been made this year to attract more wrestlers and spectators to this mega chhinj to be held from June 3 to June 5. This time, winner of the wrestling event will get a tractor, while the second prize in this row would be an Alto car. Winner in women’s category will be awarded Rs. 1 lakh cash prize. The organising committee has sent invitations to many national and international wrestlers besides local wrestlers to participate in this Maha Dangal to show their wrestling skills. During the three daylong event, 300 matches will be organised even as 30, 000 spectators are expected to witness this exciting competition.

-By Jagdev Dhadwal

What The Wrestlers Feel…

* Himachali wrestlers can bring laurels if the state government provides patronage to them. Wrestlers from other states get importance during chhinj competitions

-Purshotam Singh, A Wrestler from Kaler, Kangra

* Himachali wrestlers are not progressing due to a lack of proper training and equipment even as there is no dearth of talent in this hilly state

-Lucky, A Wrestler from Dehra

* There is no academy to groom young talented Himachali wrestlers. Wrestlers from other states win prizes in chhinj competitions held here

-Jonny Chaudhary, Sundernagar, Parshuram Award Winner

* I have played at national level but neither the government thinks about us nor do we get importance in rural fairs

-Rajat Kumar, A Wrestler from Kachiari

* Organisers of chhinj competitions in Himachal neglect us while according full honours to wrestlers from other states

-Karan Kumar, A Wrestler From Ghurkadi

From Editor-in-Chief’s Desk

Fairs and festivals depict Himachali traditions when they are held across the state every year. However, Himachalis only form the numbers whereas wrestling bouts organised during these events are won by wrestlers from other states.  Strangely, artists and wrestlers from other states dominate cultural fairs held in this hilly state. Fairs are in full swing these days but chhinj bouts always get a hero from other states as they pocket prize money and honours even as people turn in large numbers hoping to get a local wrestling hero. The administrative influence can be seen in fairs and melas played a big role in conserving trade, art, sports and culture. It is another matter that melas grew in stature and cultural programmes have progressed.  Earlier, everything in such fairs was Himachali but now the state’s role has been restricted only to host such affairs. We can consider its progress that such fairs witness trade activities worth hundreds of crores of rupees every year. It is difficult to identify the difference between the district, state and international fairs. No one ever thought of promoting wrestling and akhara culture in Himachal even as chhinj has become an integral and most fascinating event during every fair held in Himachal. We should encourage Akaharas of such melas rather than giving a new name to Himachali Dangal. Wrestlers like Jonny Chaudhary and Gaurav Rana practiced in akharas outside Himachal to bring laurels to the state. Importance should also be given to Chhinj bouts held during rural fairs. Himachal’s Rural Development Department should initiate steps to accord the status of sports field during every mela. The Sports Department should also strive to shift wrestlers from mud akhara to mat. Importance of chhinj competitions has not been understood from sports point of view. As a result, wrestlers from Punjab, Haryana and Jammu & Kashmir have been winning such competitions held in Himachal. Chhinj has also grown in stature in rural areas. We should also connect society’s contribution with Himachal’s sports talent as prize money in Gangath’s chhinj this year includes even a tractor and a car. The State Police Department can give a new direction to rural youth by identifying potential of Himachali wrestlers. Development of infrastructure on the pattern of Chehar chhinj can be developed in entire state. All this can be achieved by instituting an independent Mela Development Authority that can streamline fairs to promote Himachal and Himachali artists and wrestlers.

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