Kila Raipur games origin and the Grewal clan- By S S Grewal

Kila Raipur (Ludhiana): “Rural Olymics” at Kila Raipur owe their origin to hockey tournament in Jalandhar district. In 1933, Kila Raipur sent its team to Jalandhar where it won a silver cup. Though there was nothing significant about the cup or win in the tournament, it turned a new chapter in the history of rural sports. Grewals, the dominating Jats of the area, decided to introduce an inter-village competition in volleyball, kabaddi and a few track events. The main attraction was

the cup won at Jalandhar. In 1933, a “devan” (religious congregation) was organised to collect funds for expanding the base of the annual rural sports meet. The same year the Grewal Sports Association came into being. Initially, membership fee of the association was a rupee which by 1943 had been raised to rupees 15 per member. Ever since its inception, the villagers had been organising community kitchen not only for exponents of traditional and regular sports but also for the spectators. More than half a million people turn up for to watch this biggest rural sports meet of the world, rightly acknowledged as “Rural Olympics”.

The popularity of Rural Olympics has traveled across all five continents. Tug of war and kabaddi teams, not only from within Punjab, but also from Canada, USA, England make it a point to be at Kilaraipur for the games.

ATHLETICS AND BULLOCK CART

Within a couple of years the organisers introduced some of the novel events. In 1940 a 440- yard track was laid to introduce athletics.1944, Baba Bakshi was instrumental in getting the most popular event of the games- the Rath race- introduced, initially it was a rath race but gradually yielded to present day cart race, subsequently in 1946 camel and suhaga races were also introduced.

WOMEN IN RURAL SPORTS

Realising the importance of women folk in the success of games, the Grewal Sports Association took a revolutionary decision in 1950 to introduce events for women. A hockey match between eves of Ludhiana and Sidhwan was organised. The association braved opposition and resistance in 1953 and formally inducted women sports event in the “Rural Olympics”

KABADDI & BHAGWANT MEMORIAL GOLD CUP

In 1956 a Kabaddi team from Pakistan became the first foreign team to participate at Kila Raipur, in 19S Prahlad Singh Grewal of Narangwal donated a gold cup weighing 100 tolas in pure gold, in memory of his son Bhagwant Singh and the hockey tournament since then is known as Bhagwant gold cup hockey tournament and in the same year the association got registered

EDUCATION SOCIETY

Their attention towards education is well recognised by their contribution in starting a school in Kilaraipur. On April1, 1932, a building committee was set up under the Chairmanship of Mastan Singh. On August 19, 1933 in the subsequent year construction work got underway. The pioneer was Inder Singh Grewal and Grewal Education Society came into being.  The school was formally inaugurated by S Nanak Singh, Deputy Commissioner of Ludhiana on November 1, 1934. It is the same school where the Bhagwant Gold Cup Hockey Tournament is being played. The Grewal Sports Association also runs a hockey academy.

DIGNITARIES

The first Akali Chief Minister of Punjab in 1967, Justice Gurnam Singh, was a Grewal. The Grewals from Kilaraipur constituency elected Parkash Singh Badal, who became the chief minister of Punjab in 1997. The other dignitaries who have graced the Kilaraipur sports festival are Partap Singh Kairon Chief Minister Punjab, Gen.Mohan Singh chief of INA, G S Dhillon speaker Lok Sabha, Rao Birinder Singh Union Agriculture Minister, B D Pande, K T Satarawala, D C Pavate, S S Ray all Governors of Punjab, Darbara Singh Chief Minister Punjab, Giani Zail Singh President of India, Beant Singh, Gian Singh Rarewala, Raja Amarinder Singh all Chief Ministers of Punjab, Ashvani Kumar DG Border Securty Force, K P S G ill DG Punjab Police and Inderjit S Bindra President BCCI to name a few.

CULTURAL PROGRAMME

Besides the games, it is the cultural programme on each of the three days of the festival that keeps the stadium overflowing. The popularity is so much that weddings in nearby villages are adjusted so as not to coincide with the games. Eminent singers, including Yamla Jat, Surinder Kaur, Asa Singh Mastana, Parkash Kaur and Karamjit Dhuri have all performed at Kilaraipur. Bhangra, Gidha and other folk dances are also an    integral part of this festival.

PARTICIPANTS

Sports greats like Hockey wizard Dada Dhayan Chand, Shankar laxman, Balkishan Singh Grewal, Prithipal Singh, M. Kindo, Harmik Singh, Harcharan Singh, Joginder Singh, Saini Sisters, Balbir Singh, Surjit Singh and Pargat Singh – all hockey players; Parveen Kumar, Mohinder Gill, Lakhvir Singh, Pritam Singh, Manjit Walia, Lehamber Singh and Baba Gurdip Singh – all athletics; Devi Dayal, Santokh Singh, Balvinder Phidu, Zaildar Gujjarwalia, Gurdev Atta and Harjit Bajekhana – all kabaddi players have performed before sports enthusiasts of Kila Raipur and surrounding villages.

The year 1997 was historic for Kila Raipur Sports it had the privilege of figuring in the Republic Day parade. The tableau of Punjab in the union capital on January 26 represented Kila Raipur Sports Festival, a great tribute to the rural folk and sports of Punjab in general and Kila Raipur in particular

GREWAL SPORTS ASSOCIATION

At present, besides a team of young and dedicated organisers, the key figures are S S Saini Chairman, Surjit singh President, Paramjit Singh Secretary.

GREWALS

But who are these Grewals who have been organising this event since 1933. As a legend has it the Grewals are descendants of Rajputs. Part of 36 princely descendants of Rajputs. They came to Bilaspur from Madhya Pardesh in the 12th or 13th century. Bersi son of Raja Rikh or Rikhpal married a Jatti while on tour along the River Sutlej, his son born from this marriage was named Grih and his descendants were named Grihwallas and hence the name Grewal originated. Gujjar one of the descendent of Grih, settled at a place in 1469, which was named after him as Gujjarwal. When Shah Jahan took over in 1627, Guru Hargobind had clashes with the imperial troops in 1628 and 1630 after which Guru Sahib retired to Bhatinda, where the wild and uncharted nature of the country made pursuit difficult. After a year in the wilderness, Guru Hargobind returned to Kartarpur and again fought a battle with the Moghuls who came to capture him. In the period between 1628 and 1634 when he was fighting the Mughals he

stayed near Gujjarwal in 1631.

Guru Hargobind travelled Punjab, UP and Kashmir and got a lot of Temples built and appointed missionaries who could initiate the converts into the pacifist faith of Guru Nanak and the martial mission of Guru Hargobind, it is believed that the people of Gujjarwal and surrounding places became his followers then.

Rai Lalla S/O Rai  Fatta S/O Gujjar with his five sons from  the second marriage settled at a open space and his five sons Ranga, Mallah, Samiria, Karam Parkash and Suhavia constructed Kilas (Forts) and named it Raipur, because of the Kilas of Raipur became popular and

hence the name  Kilaraipur.

Ganga S/O Rai Lalla from his first marriage settled at place with his followers and named it Narangwal. Similarily the other descendants of Grih settled at various places in a radious of about 10 KM and at present there are thirty two villages of Grewals.

WE SALUTE THEM

These stalwarts of yester years who saw these games mature into a world event. They not only made some of their presence at each and every edition of the games as a participant but also as a patron of the games, without their help these games would not have achieved as much as they have today. Inder Singh, Brig. Zail Singh, Harchand Singh, Joginder Singh PT, Karnail Singh Manager, Capt Karam Singh, Mehar Singh PCS, Atma Singh Former Secretary, Bakhshish Singh, Baba Tara Singh, Baba Bakshi, Jarnail Singh, Ajaib Singh, Kaur Singh, Ajmer Singh Kanthe Wala,(Gurbaksh Singh, Dalip Singh, Shivdit Singh, Karnail Singh all Calcutta), (Parlahd Singh, Dr Abchal Singh, both Narangwal) Jagdev Jassowal, Babu Kishan Singh, Babu Mehtab Singh, Dangal Singh, Padma Shree Sohan Singh, Karnail Singh (President Awardee), Babu Singh SP, Ran Singh, Ajaib Singh, Wariam Singh, Nirmal Singh, Harbhajan Singh, Principal Gurbachan Singh Lohgarh, Rajinder Singh,(Harmail Singh, Rachpal Singh, Bhan Singh, Mota Singh, Dara Singh, Talvinder Singh, Gobind Singh, Malvinder Singh, Gursharan Singh, Guddu, all Canada) Surinder Singh, Jasbir Singh.

EVENTS

1.      Athletics

Sub-Junior, Junior, Women, Men & Veterans

100 M, 200 M, 400 M, 800 M, 1500 M High Jump, Long Jump, Shot Put,

Javelin Throw, Discus Throw

2.      Cycle Races

3.      Hockey  Junior & Senior

4.      Kabaddi         Sub-Junior, 62 Kg. Weight Category, Women, Men & Veterans

5.      Wrestling

6.      Tug of War      Men & Veterans

7.      Mule Cart Race

8.      Horse Race

9.      Tractor Race

10.     Dog Race

11.     Off-Loading & Loading a Tractor Trailer

Archery, Events for Disabled, Events for Deaf & Dumb, Clay Pigeon Shooting, Aero Modeling Show, Para Gliding Show, Lifting of Sack (in pairs), Tent Pegging, Gatka (Martial Arts), Nihangs Riding Skills, Camels & Elephants, Feats of Strength by Ruralites, Gidha, Bhangra &

Folk Dances, Dhadis, Bazigars Feats. 

SCHEDULE

29th January, 2015

1.      Horse Race Time Trial

30th January, 2015

1.      Hockey Matches                  (0900 to 1130 Hours)

2.      Kabaddi                                 (1130 to 1400 Hours )

3.      Athletics Sub-Junior, Under-19  (1130 to 1400 Hours )

4.      Cycle Races                             (1130 to 1400 Hours )

5.      Dog Race                                (1130 to 1400 Hours )

6.      Formal Opening

7.      Horse Races                     (1500 Hours )

31st January, 2015

1.      Hockey Match                            (0900 Hours)

2.      Athletics                               (1100 to 1230 Hours)

3.       Horse Races                            -do-

4.      Tug of War                                      -do-

5.      Tractor Race                                    -do-

6.      Un-Loading & Loading            (1230 to 1430 Hours

7.      Kabaddi                                 -do-

8.      Dog Race                                        -do-

9.      Wrestling                               (1430 to 1700 Hours)

10.     Horse Races                             (1700 Hours)

11.     MRF Tractor tyre race                       3 30 pm

1st February, 2015

1.      Kabaddi                         (1000 to 1230 Hours)

2.      Athletics                                (1000 to 1230 Hours)

3.      Horse Race                      (1230 to 1400 Hours)

4.      Horse Race                                      -do-

5.      Tractor Race                                    -do-

6.      Tent Pegging                                    -do-

7.      Kabaddi                                 (1400 to 1700 Hours)

8.      Wrestling                                       -do-

9.      Athletics                                       -do-

10.     Events for Handicapped                  -do-

11.     Un-Loading & Loading                    -do-

12.     Horse Race                      (1700 Hours)

13.     MRF Tractor tyre race                       3 30 pm

In between the Events their will be Cultural Program Feats of Strengths by Ruralites, Gatka Bazigars Feats etc.

(The Author is Chief Organiser)