Raja Man Singh Ji of Amber, in
the course of his stay in the courts of Emperor Akbar, had taken
a very keen interest in Chougan. In Ain-e-Akbari, an extremely
interesting account has been given of the game, especially in
its form of night play with luminiscent balls. Abul Fazal Allami,
the famous writer who was one of the 'Nine Gems' of Akbar's court,
has portrayed Akbar as an accomplished player. "The Emperor",
he elaborates, "Maintained polo sticks with knobs of gold
and silver, and was capable of hitting equally well, both on an
ordinarily rolling ball or on a difficult airborne one. There
was music to be heard throughout the game. 'Nagaras' (a kind of
drums) were played each time the ball was driven through the 'hal'
(goal post). Whether this was done to announce the score, or to
wake up those in the 'Zenana' (Ladies chamber) is another question
!!! "
The
rulers of Amber were known for their love of watching
'Tamashas' (games in which a variety of animals fought
one another) and equestrian games. Many a Moghul miniature
painting of the 'Surat Khana' of Amber-Jaipur
actually shows men and women playing Chaugan on both
horses and elephants. It may be surmised that the
'Maidan' ( playground ) or Chaugan of Amber has been
much trodden upon under the hooves of the horses of
Raja Man Singh-I, Raja Ram Singh-I, Raja Bishan Singh,
Raja Jai Singh to name some of the illustrious sports
enthusiasts. The astronomer prince, Maharaja Sawai
Jai Singh-I, who founded the Pink City (Present day
Jaipur), is also known to have played Chaugan while
visiting his father-in-law at Udaipur. He also built
an elaborate Chaugan field right next to his majestic
palace. All around, the field has lovely pavilions,
galleries, a two-tier 'surang' (covered passages)
and two floored 'Burj' (kiosks). One 'Burj' was built
with blue pottery tiles, and is called the 'Cheenee
Ki Burj'(Chinese Kiosk). The ' Zenana Burj' (for ladies)
is covered with fantastic masonry 'Jalies' (lattices).
The entire two-tier passage connecting these Burjs'
has peep holes(for ladies)all along to view the games.
The route to the "Gangori Darwaza" (entrance
to the chaugan) and the parapet were other vantage
points for the spectators/tourists. The 'maidan' can
be seen in full glory and filled to capacity in some
of the paintings which can be dated to around 1750.
With the advent of
the Britishers, many rules were adopted. Maharaja Sawai Ram Singh-II
(1835-1880) adopted all these new changes. He was enamoured of
outdoor and indoor games, horse riding and polo included. Maharaja
Sawai Ram Singhji's interest in horses can be judged when we look
at his personal riding dresses displayed at the Maharaja Sawai
Man Singh-II Museum at The City Palace. Recently, two manuscripts
on horses, written for him and profusely illustrated with miniature
paintings by the scribes of his Pothi Khana and artists of his
Surat Khana, have been discovered. They are 'Aswa Ratnakar' and
' Shalihotra'. Each of these manuscripts has over describes, in
detail, the various types of horses, their training , their care,
their common diseases and the remedies etc.
During the reign of Maharaja Sawai
Madho Signh-II (1880-1922), Swinton Jacob, (The State Engineer,
1896) built a polo field measuring, 900 yards by 500 yards. Two
maunds and twelve seers (about one hundred kilograms) of grass
seeds were sown. The cost, at the turn of the century, was a mere
Rs. 6,000. The field was inaugurated the following year with great
pomp and show. It was on this field, and the polo grounds of the
Mayo College Ajmer that the Late Maharaja Sawai Man Singh ji -
II learnt the game. He found the grounds small, and not up to
the mark. So, in 1930, he had another polo ground constructed.
The new grounds had the reputation
of being as smooth as a billiard table. On this field, he trained
the famous Jaipur polo team in the summer of 1933 for its victorious
visit to England. And what a team! What a fearsome foursome! Here
is an excerpt from ' The Tatler' of June 12,1933: " This
team won the British Polo Championships at Hurligham, and all
being well, the Maharaja intends to go for the open Championship
in America. This Jaipur team is a very fast one indeed; a very
hard hitting one with a string of both ends and, above all, a
very fine shooting team with a predilection for bringing off 60
yarders from angles that often look impossible. In England, nothing
has been able to stand up to it, and the best team America will
produce will not be good enough."
His late Highness, Maharaja Sawai
Man Singh built another polo ground in his own palace, Rambagh,
Maharaja Sawai Man Singhji wanted to create a sport complex for
his city around the polo grounds. With this in mind, he gave a
large piece of land to this city to build a stadium. Today, we
know it as the Sawai Man Singh stadium,Jaipur.It includes a Youth
Hostel, tracks for athletics, playing fields,floodlit international
cricket ground and large open spaces for future expansion.
His Highness Maharaja
Brig.Sawai Bhawani Singh Ji's association started
with his birth in the royal family in 1931.He started
his career with the Indian army and was rated as one
of the finest players of polo even at IMA,dehradun.He
was known to be the most prominent of promoters of
modern day polo in India.His love and passion for
the game had unparalleled and he also had the credit
of organising some of the most renowned polo events
and tournaments across the country.Due to his efforts
and interest a number of foreign teams and internationally
famous polo players have played here. His Royal Highness,
the prince of Wales played in Jaipur in 1980 as well
as in February,1992. Many foreign dignatories and
head of the states including Miss Jacqueline Kennedy,
The Presidents and Prime ministers of U.S.S.R. &
India, Princes Diana have also witnessed various polo
matches at Jaipur.
Today, Maharaj Narendra
Singh Ji (FIP Ambassador from India), officers of
the Indian Army and players from across the country,
play polo on the ground of Rambagh Polo ground. As
a spectator sport, this game is very popular with
the public of Jaipur, who flock to the Rambagh Polo
Ground's during the polo season.