The evening is drawing to dusk, and dedicated walkers are slowly ambling off Shivaji Park towards home. But at one corner of the famed park, in a slightly rundown building titled Samarth Vyayam Mandir, several young children and some older ones are prancing about on the ground, and more are still pouring in.
It looks like its about to rain, but oblivious to the darkening skies, the motley crew of youngsters and a sprinkling of a few adults go about its business, shimmying up two poles erected in the ground, or climbing ropes suspended from the ceiling in a trice.
The Mandir is home to the citys Mallkhamb enthusiasts, and has been since 1929, while also teaching other disciplines such as Kho- kho and Kabaddi. Several children and even a few middle- aged people train in Mallkhamb diligently, never mind the fact that in its obvious simplicity lies its degree of difficulty – it looks as easy as climbing a pole and balancing on it, but it takes every ounce of physical strength and concentration to perform T
REVIVAL Acts top lining the traditional gymnastic sport on TV are drawing interested and increased participation says VRUSHALI LAD.
About Mallkhamb
The sport is said to have originated in Maharashtra in the 19th century, during the reign of the Peshwas.
A Mallkhamb contingent had represented India in the 1936 Olympics at Berlin. Adolf Hitler was highly impressed with the demonstration.
The sport is growing at a fast pace world- wide. Last year, the Oxford dictionary added just two new foreign words in its lexicon – Sushi and Mallkhamb.
It helps increase concentration and appetite, and is excellent for visually challenged persons who may not be able to take up other sports.
29 Indian states participate in Mallkhamb competitions at the national level.
perform the simplest trick.
So many youngsters engaged in the pursuit of such a difficult sport? Sounds amazing, but Uday Deshpande, the chief Mallkhamb coach at the Mandir and the honorary general secretary of
the Mallkhamb Federation of India, offers a simple explanation. ‘Though people were aware of the sport, these days Mallkhamb has gained attention because it has been featuring on several talent reality shows on TV. Several of the short listed acts feature Mallkhamb, and when people watch it on TV, they seek information on where it is taught.’He adds that the sport is slowly gaining ground among the citys youth, and watching it being performed on Shivaji Park also engaged those who visit the park daily. ‘We had never imagined it before, but Mallkhamb has slowly become entertaining for people.’
The sport is certainly a visual spectacle, what with practitioners scaling a 55- feet pole with relative ease, then performing the most extraordinary contortions while being up in the air. ‘The thing that ups its difficulty level is that
while other sports are played on the ground, this is an aerial sport. A persons fear complex increases the higher up he goes from the ground, and this is excellent for increasing concentration.
It takes a special ability to climb the pole against gravity or hold ones body in a rope,’Deshpande explains.
He has personally trained scores of people, apart from several foreigners who by for learning every year.
This year, Italian aerial rope gymnast and yoga teacher Barbara Vitangeli ( 37) dropped in for a weeks training before going to Pune. ‘It ( using the rope) is not easy, though I use the rope in my work daily,’she told FPJ. ‘My feet have swollen up but I am giving it my best shot. I will return soon for a longer training schedule.’She sought out information about Mallkhamb on the Internet. ‘Not many people know about Mallkhamb in Italy, may be only the yoga teachers know about it. But may be the awareness will grow slowly,’she smiles.
Amongst those that come seeking Deshpandes expertise in the sport are Spanish human pyramid specialists and trapeze and circus artists. ‘Mallkhamb really helps them strengthen their limbs and maintain constant balance,’Deshpande explains. ‘However, Germany is most receptive to Mallkhamb of all the foreign countries, in my experience, because Germans look at the sport as a necessary extension to yoga.’Outside his tiny office, the din is reaching astonishing levels. Several sprightly youngsters are rigorously practising on the pole and the rope under the watchful eyes of instructors.
Before they begin, the teakwood pole is oiled with castor oil to reduce friction, and safety mats are placed on the ground.
‘It is better to begin the sport young, but even middle- aged people can take it up. There is an 81- year- old man who trains with us. The sport has tremendous curative properties for the physically disabled, since it gives a full workout to all the muscles and systems of the body.’He goes on to explain how the sport is the mother of all disciplines, besides being very cost effective. ‘You can erect the pole anywhere, and take it anywhere because it comes with a stand. Also, you can attach a rope to a ceiling hook and get started,’he says.
( picture courtesy: Samarth Vyayam Mandir)
