Advocate Kishan Sanmukhdas Bhawnani
On June 11, 2025, the world will unite to celebrate International Sports Day, a global initiative championed by the United Nations to underscore the transformative power of play in children’s lives. This day is more than a celebration—it’s a clarion call to preserve, promote, and prioritize sports, particularly for children, to foster their physical, mental, and social development. In India, where ancient traditions and cultural heritage run deep, this occasion presents a unique opportunity to revive traditional games like Gilli-Danda, Kho-Kho, Langdi, and Kanche, which are fading into obscurity in the digital age. As Advocate Kishan Sanmukhdas Bhawnani from Gondia, Maharashtra, passionately advocates, these games are not mere pastimes but vital tools for nurturing well-rounded individuals and preserving India’s rich civilization.
India’s cultural tapestry, woven over millennia, includes a vibrant array of traditional games that have shaped generations. Games like Gilli-Danda, a rustic precursor to cricket played with a stick and a small wooden peg, teach precision, focus, and teamwork. Kho-Kho, a fast-paced tag game, hones agility, strategy, and collaboration. Langdi, a one-legged hopping chase, builds balance and resilience, while Kanche, the game of marbles, sharpens hand-eye coordination and patience. These games, deeply rooted in India’s rural and urban landscapes, are more than nostalgic relics—they are pedagogical tools that foster life skills. Yet, as technology tightens its grip and academic pressures mount, these games are vanishing, threatening a vital link to India’s heritage.
The theme for International Sports Day 2025, “Choose Sport – Every Day”, is a powerful reminder for governments, schools, families, and communities to prioritize play. For children, sports transcend entertainment. They are a universal language that bridges cultural, social, and economic divides, fostering community, resilience, and creativity. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, under Article 31, enshrines play as a fundamental right, recognizing its role in cognitive, emotional, and physical development. In India, where the digital age risks alienating children from physical activity, reviving traditional games aligns perfectly with this global mandate.
Consider the story of Ravi, a 12-year-old from a small village in Rajasthan. With no access to modern sports facilities, Ravi learned Gilli-Danda from his grandfather. The game not only kept him active but also taught him leadership as he organized matches with friends. Today, Ravi credits Gilli-Danda for his confidence and problem-solving skills, which helped him excel in school. Similarly, in urban slums of Mumbai, Kho-Kho leagues have empowered girls like Ayesha, who found in the game a safe space to build self-esteem and teamwork, breaking gender stereotypes. These stories illustrate how traditional games, accessible and inclusive, can transform lives.
Scientific research backs the anecdotal evidence. Play-based learning, as endorsed by educational psychologists, enhances cognitive development, boosts memory retention, and reduces stress. A 2023 study by the National Institute of Play found that children engaged in regular physical play exhibit 20% higher emotional resilience and better social skills than those glued to screens. For India’s 400 million children, traditional games offer a cost-effective, culturally resonant way to achieve these benefits. Unlike expensive sports infrastructure, games like Kanche or Langdi require minimal resources, making them ideal for a diverse nation.
India’s mythological epics, like the Mahabharata, further underscore the antiquity of sports. Wrestling, as practiced by Bhima, built strength and discipline. Archery, mastered by Arjuna, demanded focus and precision. Chariot racing among princes fostered strategic thinking. Even the lesser-known Bamboo Stick Game, a test of agility, echoes modern sports’ emphasis on reflexes. These ancient practices highlight that sports have always been integral to India’s ethos, shaping not just bodies but minds and morals.
Yet, the extinction of traditional games is a pressing concern. Advocate Bhawnani rightly points to the government’s push for mother-tongue education, spearheaded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, as a model for cultural preservation. On June 9, 2025, Shah emphasized in Tamil Nadu the importance of safeguarding linguistic heritage. A similar approach could revive traditional games. A **National Traditional Games Registry**, coupled with school curricula integrating games like Kho-Kho and Gilli-Danda, could ensure their survival. Grassroots initiatives, like the Kho-Kho Federation of India, which has revived the sport through national leagues, offer a blueprint. Expanding such efforts to include Langdi or Kanche could spark a renaissance.
International Sports Day also highlights play’s role in crisis settings. For children displaced by conflict or natural disasters, games provide a psychological shield, helping them process trauma. In 2024, UNICEF’s play-based programs in war-torn regions showed that children engaging in group games exhibited 30% lower anxiety levels. In India, where millions face socio-economic challenges, traditional games can serve as inclusive, therapeutic tools, requiring no expensive equipment or facilities.
To make this vision a reality, a multi-stakeholder approach is essential. Schools must integrate traditional games into physical education, training teachers to impart their rules and cultural significance. Community centers can host Gilli-Danda or Kho-Kho tournaments, fostering local pride. Media campaigns, leveraging India’s vibrant digital platforms, can rebrand these games as “cool” for Gen Z. Government funding, as Bhawnani suggests, could establish a platform to document and promote these games, akin to the Khelo India initiative, which has boosted indigenous sports like Kabaddi.
As the world celebrates International Sports Day on June 11, 2025, India stands at a crossroads. Reviving traditional games is not just about nostalgia—it’s about equipping children with the skills to thrive in a rapidly changing world. By choosing sport every day, as the 2025 theme urges, India can preserve its cultural heritage while nurturing healthier, happier, and more resilient generations. Let’s bring Gilli-Danda, Kho-Kho, Langdi, and Kanche back to playgrounds, ensuring that every child, from Gondia to Gujarat, reaps the boundless benefits of play.
(Note:Advocate Kishan Sanmukhdas Bhawnani, Tax Expert, Columnist, and Cultural Advocate, Gondia, Maharashtra)
