National Games of India
The National Games of India (ISO: Rāṣṭrīya Khēla) consist of various disciplines in
which athletes from the different states of India participate against each other. The
country's first few Olympic Games, now renamed as National Games, were held
in Lahore (now in Pakistan), Delhi, Allahabad, Patiala, Madras, Calcutta and Bombay.
History
Indian Olympic Games (early National Games)
In the early 1920s, the Indian chapter of the Olympic movement was born, and India
participated in the 1920 Antwerp Olympics.[1] As part of this movement, a
provisional Indian Olympic Association (IOA) came about by 1924, and the Indian
Olympic Games were held in Feb 1924 in Delhi to select Indian competitors for the 1924
Paris Olympics.[2] IOA Secretary Dr. Noehren wrote about these games as follows: "The
All India Athletic Carnival, the greatest and most representative gathering of its kind
ever to be held in India, was recently celebrated in Delhi...Seventy athletes,
representing practically every province and State in the Empire, comprising Hindus,
Muslims, Anglo-Indians and Sinhalese, ate their food around the same table and
mingled intimately in the cramped and uncomfortable quarters provided."[3]
The games were then held every two years, and were renamed as National Games
during the 9th Games in Bombay in 1940. Indian Olympic Association, the sports
organising body of the nation, mooted the concept of the National Games to promote
the development of sports and of the Olympic movement in India, and was responsible
for host city selection.
Each games was organised by the host city sports association, and each had its unique
challenges. For example, in late 1949, the Bengal Provincial Olympic Association,
whose turn it was to hold the next national games, could not do so, and the IOA
President Maharaja of Patiala then asked Bombay to host the games; it had just three
months to organise the event. Bombay government ministers and Bombay olympic
association officials then worked to hold the 1950 National Games in Bombay in early
February 1950.
While held at various cities, the organisation of each national games was roughly
similar, with an overarching 'Jury of Honour and Appeal' comprising the main officials for
the games; and other officials such as a General Manager and Managers; Referee;
Official Surveyor; Judges; Starters; Clerks of the Course; Recorders; Announcers;
Scorers; Marshals; and Photographers.
For example, at the 11th Games in Patiala, Feb 1944, the Jury of Honor and Appeal
comprised Moinul Haq (Chair), N. Ahmed, S. K. Mukherjee, S. de Noronha, Sohrab
Bhoot, J. N. Khosla, Raja Birindra Singh, A. C. Dass, M. S. Ahluwalia, BR Kagal, CR
Dhodapkar, Nawab Hussain, S. V. Lingras, Dr. Kailash Singh, N. N. Kunzru, and P. K.
Varghese. And the officials included 6 Managers for various sports, General Manager
Kirpa Narain, announcers Bashir Ali Sheikh and Prem Kumar, and several judges.
At the 13th Games in Lucknow, Feb. 1948, the Jury of Honour and Appeal comprised
Moinul Haq (Chair), M. Sultan, Sohrab Bhoot, D. N. Sharma, M. G. Nageshkar, Raja
Bhalinder Singh, B. C. Holanti, Rameshwar Dayal, S. de Noronha, P. K. Verghese, N.
Ahmed, A. C. Das, Kirpa Narain, P. C. Joshi, G. D. Sondhi, Janki Das, Harbail Singh,
Vasant Captain, and A. R. Khanna. And the officials included General Manager M.
Sultan and 8 Managers for various sports; Referee G. D. Sondhi; Official Surveyors G.
D. Sondhi, N. Ahmed, Sohrab Bhoot, and M. Sultan; announcer David Abraham; and
several judges and other officials.
At the 14th Games in Bombay, Feb 1950, the Jury of Honour and Appeal comprised G.
D. Sondhi (Chair), N. Ahmed, R. Narain, Sohrab Bhoot, M. Sultan, R. Dayal, F. C.
Aurora, S. S. Dhawan, Bhalinder Singh, M. G. Nageshkar, A. S. de Mello, S. K. Basu, B.
C. Mahante, and C. C. Abraham. And the officials included Referee Moinul Haq;
Manager in Chief Sohrab Bhoot; Managers Nariman Saugar and Y. A. Gole; announcer
David Abraham; and judges and other officials.
