During the Gaekwad reign, Baroda emerged as a major sports hub, akin to the Olympics. Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III was renowned for championing Indian and local sports.
Sportsmen from across India and abroad flocked to Baroda to participate in over 150 sports, including athletics, kabaddi, long jump, hockey, wrestling, malkhambh, bodybuilding, and kho-kho. This sporting extravaganza was dubbed the ‘Royal Baroda Gaekwad Olympics’ (RBGO), akin to Baroda’s own Olympics.
In 1918, the first edition of the Baroda Olympics was held at Hind Vijay Gymkhana. Maharaja attended the International Olympics in 1896 and several subsequent editions. The grand celebration of sports and its organization at the international level impressed him, and he decided to replicate the model in Baroda.
The games were held in Amreli, Mehsana, Dwarka, Navsari, and other districts of the Baroda State. The finals took place at Hind Vijay Gymkhana near Kirti Stambh, with Sayajirao himself presiding over the awards ceremony.
RBGO became very popular among sportspersons and continued to be held even after Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad’s death. The state sports meet was stopped in 1951 after India became a republic.
Maharaja Sayajirao wanted youngsters to participate in games and stay physically fit and active. He instilled this habit in his own sons as well.
Sportspersons from England, Austria, African countries, the US, Iran, Afghanistan, Russia, and many other countries participated in these meets. Sayajirao was known for picking the best talent in various fields from across the country. He would offer jobs to medal winners and top sportspersons so they could settle in the state.
After the Marathas took over, they stopped sports involving carnivorous animals but continued those involving elephants, bulls, rhinos, wild boars, roosters, pigeons, and fights between horsemen. The animals or birds participating in these fights were given liquor or opium. While men fought with these intoxicated animals, birds were made to fight with blades tied to their legs.
Fighting elephants (saathmaari) was one of the most dangerous games, as the risk of being trampled was high. The game was called saathmaari because the combatant had to fight the elephant for 60 minutes. The aggad was spread over three acres with different sections for elephant fights, boar fights, bird fights, and wrestling.
Historically, Aggad near Pani Gate hosted intense blood sports like rhino and elephant fights, alongside traditional games such as saathmaari.
The Medal:
Winners were awarded gold, silver, and bronze medals engraved with two elephants holding five interlocking rings of the Olympics above the Mandvi Gate.
The medals also had lettering of HIND VIJAYA GYMKHANA along with OLYMPIC SPORTS & BARODA.
On the other side medal, an Sanskrit line ‘शारिरमाद्यं खालु शर्वसाधानम्’ [SHARIRAMADYAM KHALU SHARVASADHANM] (Healthy body is the means to perform Duties) was written around the borders. The center has category of game & year of event (Wrestling in the image).
In celebration of Hind Vijay Gymkhana’s 100 years, Chandrashekhar Patil curated a photo exhibition showcasing athletes in action across various sports.
This Post is written in collaboration with Chandrashekhar Patil.
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