AN ADDRESS

Hokitika Guardian, 7 June 1935, Page 8

AN ADDRESS

BY VISITING INDIAN

TRAINING OF BODY

CHIIISTCHL’ItCH, June 5. A striking mastery over the English language, sliown in the very pleasing style and the wide vocabulary usol, marked the address by Mr Havbai Singh, a member of the Indian hockey team, to pupils of the Christchurch Technical College yesterday afternoon. Mr Singh, a picturesque figure in his distinctive head-dress, emphasised, in outlining the history of physical training in India, the importance of that training in a sound general scheme oi education. As a professor ol English and of physical training at the University of Lahore, in the Punjab, the speaker possessed peculiar qualification! for an address in English on his chosei subject to an English audience. Mr Singh spoke fisrt of the importance placed on physical strength hy the Hindus of the early period of India e history, and th e evidence of this from the records of marriage and other cere monies. There were athletic sports, in honour of gods and heroes, a religious significance always being present in such exercises.

The object of physical training was to develop the muscles and to make thy? tenure of life more secure. India the speaker described as the country from which the rest of Asia and the world had derived its knowledge—it was the giver of I ' light. Mr Singh traced through the,- -various periodsfrom the so-ended Vcdic, which began 'in 3000 8.C., the various forms— (lane ing, games, athletic contests, militar exercises, and religious ceremonies of physical training employed, and its value in the prevention of disease. A 1 these activities had as well a consider able part in the moulding of the national character.

Ti e speaker then dealt with changes that had come in the Christian era and the advent of the British to India He spoke of the emphasis that ha f ’ been laid on th e literary side of edu cation and on the acquisition of in formation. “The aim of education,” he said, “is to evoke all the beauty am perfection of which the individual i.s capable. But it is not possible to hav< a sound mind in an unsound body and the physical development of tin body was forgotten in the formulation of Indian educational policy. “The universities became plane.? merely for examinations, teaching students to be nothing better tliar clerks, all brain and no body. The stu dents were filled with second-hand goods. No opportunity was given fo’ the us<- of their creative faculties. They ground the whole lot of under graduates through the common mill o* examinations, taking no account of personality.” Mr Singh spoke of the present turning to manual training and voeationn' guidance, and appealed for the proper use of leisure. He' emphasised strongly in conclusion the importance of train mg for leadership.