Sports Education in Colonial Bengal: A Double-Edged Sword?

Abstract

Insufficient attention has been given to studies that relate sports, education and colonial policies in South Asia. Partly based on archival research, this article brings out different perspectives on the introduction of British sports into colonial Bengal as an educational device to produce obedient subjects. Several hegemonic and educational agenda intersected to formulate civilising ambitions. However, these turned out to be only partially successful, since the civilising aims of colonial sports education were constantly undercut by local acts of adaptation and modification. Dramatic evidence of Indians’ sports victories, in due course, severely challenged hegemonic agenda, so that strengthening and educating ‘the natives’ through sports turned out to be a double-edged sword. But this process also gave the Indian subcontinent a unique, exciting sports culture with nationalist colourings.