Born in darkness, fortuitously spotted by civilization, Polo became a World Sport by proxy. Even though this majestic game had always been an integral part of the Manipuri ideology, it was the Britishers who gave the game a place under the sun.
The dawn of the eighteenth century saw a cultural relationship between the ever-expanding British Empire and the Mongolian race of Manipur and the Surma Valley became the meeting ground of the two cultures. The devastating war with the Burmese forced the Manipuri Princess, Chourjit, Marjit, Nar Singh and Gambhir Singh to settle at Cachar. In the lush green plains of Cachar, the frontier territory of the colonel British India, the Britishers saw the Manipuri Princess practising the battle exercises on horseback with swinging dart of Arambais, or at other times playing a strange game of hockey on horseback, swinging a mallet with equal verve. Strange was the habit of the Manipuris who never left their little ponies either in war or peace. The Britishers, seeing an intimidating ally in the Manipuris, signed the treaty of alliance with Gambhir Singh and formed the famous Manipur Levy.
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Introduced in England from India in 1869 by the 10th Hussars, Polo witnessed the early match between the 9th Lancers and the 10th Hussars at Hounslow Heath, Greater London in July 1871. The earliest international match between England and the USA in 1886 was governed by Hurlingham Polo Association, which drew up the first English rules in 1875. Ancient Manipuri Literature gives an account of the role of Ponies in the myths and history of Manipur. The writings in the book 'Ougri’ tell, “After completion of creating the Earth by Ashiba, his father, the Almighty God, Atiya Shidaba asked his brother Apanba to create human beings to own the Earth. Apanba who was also known as Konglouton Louthiba, in consultation with his wife Leinung Chakha Khongjombi, started a plantation of beans on Earth. Ashiba became jealous and created Shamaton Ayangba (the first Pony) to destroy Apanba's creation of human being and their agricultural works. Apanba then fought with Shamaton Ayangba and his wife Leinung Chakha Khongjombi helped him in his conquest. Later, they cut off the wings, mane and fur of Shamaton Ayangba and tamed the pony to be used by the humans".
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