To deal with the drug problem in the area, Tulsidas Purohit, CO - Ganganagar city, came up with a novel idea to revive pehelwani to attract youth.
There was a time when a village akhara used to serve as a gym for local lads to develop good physic and showcase their masculinity. Pehelwani or kushti was the easiest way to fame for village folks. However, with changing times, this ancient Indian wrestling style was pushed into oblivion.
There was a time when Pehelwano ki dhani now called Miyon Ki Dhani, a small hamlet in Sriganganagar, used to boast of numerous wrestlers who brought fame to the village. Tragically as the people’s interest in the kushti waned, they fell prey to drugs and other substance.
To deal with the drug problem in the area, Tulsidas Purohit, CO - Ganganagar city, came up with a novel idea to revive pehelwani to attract youth. “We initiated a program to give a better life to the youth of Sriganganagar town. Several initiatives have been taken however this has created most interest,” says Purohit.
Last year ,the city police decided to contact noted wrestlers of yore who would be willing to share and impart their knowledge with youth. “There is a huge problem of narcotics and drugs here and we realised that since wrestling has deep interest in people, why not develop that. We contacted a local wrestler, Noora Pehelwan, as he is one of the most accomplished and noted wrestlers having won several national competitions. When we asked him he agreed immediately as he also was disturbed by the drug abuse here. We have identified a piece of land here which is being donated by a local for the purpose,” the CO said.
However it is not an easy walk for the police to the akhara. “There is some legal battle going on between the owner of the land and the bank which is being sorted. We are sure it will be with us in less than a month’s time as most of the issues have been sorted. Interestingly enough when local youth heard about the akhara initiative, we started receiving calls asking when it would start. Moreover even youths have taken to cleaning the land which had been used for dumping garbage till now. We will start the akhara within a month,” Purohit said.
The novel idea
To deal with the drug problem in the area, Tulsidas Purohit, CO - Ganganagar city, came up with a novel idea to revive pehelwani to attract youth.
Last year, city police decided to contact noted wrestlers of yore who would be willing to share and impart their knowledge with youth.
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