Traditional Indian games and modern sports: Development in pre- and post-independence India

The journey of traditional Indian games and modern sports in India during the pre-independent and post-independent period is studied and compared in this study in terms of their different journeys of development and socio-cultural values and significance attached to the games. The traditional Indian sports like kabaddi, kho-kho and wrestling have played the role of holistic development historically in terms of physical fitness, mind and togetherness. Nevertheless, the importation of Western sports by the colonisers saw the institution of the modern systems of sports at the expense of indigenous ways. The modern sport in India has enjoyed tremendous strides in the post-independence age due to the government policies, development of sports infrastructure, and expansion of sports federations. Meanwhile, programs like Khelo India and the National Education Policy (2020) have focused on restoring and incorporating the traditional games into the mainstream models. The work takes a comparative and analytical methodology to discuss socio-cultural, economic, and health aspects of the two systems. The results indicate that there has always been an unequal distribution of resources and institutional provision in favour of modern sporting activities as compared to traditional games. The research demonstrates the necessity of a unified scheme that would integrate the cultural diversity of the native sporting activities and the organisational power of contemporary mechanisms. This is a strategy that can contribute to participation, sustainable growth, and maintenance of the sporting heritage in India.