A New Dawn in Indian History: The Concept of 'Learning Through Play' Realized in 21 Languages Across India
In what is likely a first in Indian history, a unique and scientific concept of 'learning through play' has taken shape simultaneously
News Desk
Vijay Dixit
Senior Editor, Amrita Bazar Patrika Jugantar Group, Kolkata
In what is likely a first in Indian history, a unique and scientific concept of 'learning through play' has taken shape simultaneously in the local languages of 21 states. In a historic ceremony held at the India Habitat Centre in New Delhi, the 'Sports Alphabet' (Khel Varnamala), prepared in 21 languages, was launched under the aegis of the organization 'Sports A Way of Life'.
The event was chaired by Kalraj Mishra, former Governor of Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh. On this proud occasion, legendary hockey Olympian and Arjuna Awardee Shri Ashok Dhyanchand, along with Honorable Members of Parliament from various states, dedicated this multilingual 'Sports Alphabet' to the nation.
Not Just 'A' for Apple, but 'A' for Athlete
This Sports Alphabet is the result of a decade of continuous research by Dr. Kanishka Pandey, President of the organization and a renowned sports researcher. He struck at the orthodox mindset that considers sports and education as antagonistic. Dr. Pandey explained that just as alphabet knowledge lays the foundation for reading, teaching 'A for Athlete' alongside 'A for Apple', and 'K for Kabaddi' alongside 'K for Kabootar' (Pigeon), can connect children to sports from a tender age.
Citing top global universities like Oxford, Cambridge, and Stanford, he clarified that academics and sports are not competitors but complement each other. The aim of this alphabet is to create a joint nursery of education and sports right at the kindergarten level.
Four Far-reaching Goals of the 'Sports Alphabet':
To increase sports literacy in the country.
To establish education and sports as complementary rather than competitive.
To ensure the inclusion of 16 vital sports values, such as discipline, leadership, and decision-making, for the all-round development of children at the kindergarten level.
To distance today's generation from excessive mobile, computer, and online gaming habits and encourage them towards outdoor activities.
India's Linguistic Unity and Echoes in Neighboring Nepal
Congratulating Dr. Pandey, Shri Kalraj Mishra stated that this sports alphabet in every Indian language is a living example of the country's cultural uniqueness and unity. The booklet has been prepared in 21 languages, including Bengali, Hindi, English, Urdu, Sanskrit, Marathi, Khasi, Bhojpuri, Bundeli, Rajasthani, Kumaoni, Garhwali, Kashmiri, Punjabi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Odia, Malayalam, and Gujarati, as well as Arabic and Nepali.
Significantly, Abhishek Pratap Shah, a Member of Parliament from Nepal's Kapilvastu constituency, traveled specially from Kathmandu to release the Nepali edition. He highly praised this literacy campaign by 'Sports A Way of Life' and announced that he would recommend his government to make this 'Sports Alphabet' mandatory in primary schools in Nepal.
Veteran sportspersoni Ashok Dhyanchand also called it the first unique scientific effort he has witnessed in his long life to develop a sports culture. Hundreds of dignitaries, including MPs Sulata Deo (Rajya Sabha, Odisha), Seema Dwivedi (Rajya Sabha, Uttar Pradesh), Anurag Sharma (Lok Sabha, Uttar Pradesh), and Golla Babu Rao (Rajya Sabha, Andhra Pradesh), attended the event. In the end, the Vice President of the organization, Prof. Milind Pandey, proposed a vote of thanks to all the guests.
