Analysis of the First Year of Inter-University Competitions Organized by the Inter-University Board of India

Inter-University Board of India was formed for the reciprocal interactions among the Indian universities. Mutual recognition of Degrees, Diploma, migration between universities etc. was the main issues behind the establishment of Inter-University Board of India in 1925. In 1928 the ―Inter-University Athletic Board‖ was formed with the approval of Inter-University Board. The board organized some isolated tournaments in different games with different universities, but it was not in regular basis. After a long journey the Inter-University Board of India started Inter-University Tournaments in different games in the year 1940-41. At first, the researcher wants to present the list of the universities for the understanding the area of work of the Board. The researcher also present only the universities were established before the Board was formed, except University of Ceylon. The membership of the Inter-University Board was open to the universities in the neighboring countries. When the Inter-University Board was formed, Burma at that time was administratively a part of India. So, naturally the University of Rangoon was one of the founding members of the Board. Even in 1948, when Burma broken herself free from the British Commonwealth; the University of Rangoon decided to continue to be a member of Inter-University Board, though, at that time was national enthusiasm, excitement and pride. The University of Ceylon was joined in the Board in 1943. And in this situation the Inter-University Board was spread in Undivided India (at present India, Pakistan and Bangladesh), Burma (present name is Myanmar), and Ceylon (present name is Sri Lanka).

The objective of the paper is to discuss about the first year of Inter-University Tournaments organized by Inter-University Board of India.

METHODOLOGY:

Since the study is historical type, the researcher was mostly depended upon primary and secondary data available. As primary source, the researcher went through the Reports, minutes, Proceedings of AIU. As secondary source, the scholar was of the view to go through various books, journals, periodicals, newspapers and magazines and collect relevant information and try his best to make judicious interpretations on them.

After organizing different games separately by enthusiastic universities, the Inter-University Board of India tried to organize Inter-University tournaments in 1940-41. This was the last year of 3rd decade of the 20th century, so the only year of the decade. The Board tried to organize Athletics, Hockey, Tennis, Cricket, Football and Swimming for men. In female section, only tennis was tried to organize.

women tournament could not organized in this decade.

Athletics: In the first year, in 1940-41 athletics was organized for men only. The Punjab University of undivided India, located in Lahore, and now in Pakistan was the first organizer of the tournament. A total of 16 athletics events are contested. 46 participants from 4 universities participated in the tournament. The organizer, Punjab University was the champion and Aligarh Muslim University was the runners up in the first Inter-University Athletics Tournament.

In the first Inter-University Tennis Tournament Patna University was the champion and Lucknow University was runners up. Hockey:

In the first year of Inter-University Tournaments very few universities are showed interested towards sports. The Board tried to organize Athletics, Hockey, Tennis, Cricket, Football and Swimming for men. In female section, only tennis was tried to organize. However, it was not possible to organize any event except athletics, hockey and tennis (male) due to various obstacles and problems. It is unfortunate that women tournament could not organized in this decade.

Inter-University Board, India. (1927, March). Annual Meeting.

Inter-University Board, India. (1927, March). Agenda for the third Second Annual Meeting of the Inter-University Board.

Report of The Principals of Arts Colleges, Poona, on the Working of the Compulsory Physical Training Scheme in Poona Syndicate to Inspect the Working of the Compulsory Physical Training Scheme in The Arts Colleges in Poona Report on the present facilities for Physical Education in the Calcutta University The final report of the Committee on Physical Training as adopted by the Academic Council, Lucknow University Buck, H.C. Report on Physical Training in College

Inter-University Board, India. (1939, March). Fourth Conference of Indian Universities, Bombay, Issued by The Secretary, Inter-University Board, India, Lucknow, The Bangalore Press

Biswas, A., & Chatterjee, S. (2017). Role of Inter-University Board of India in the Field of Physical Education, Games and Sports before Independence- The Initial Period (1924-29). In D.P. Sahu (Ed.), International Congress on Global Innovation and Research in Education, Sports Sciences and Yoga (pp. 327-331). Delhi, India: Akinik Publication.

Assistant Professor, Faculty of Physical Education and Yoga, ICFAI University Tripura, Agartala, Tripura, India apurba.biswas.127@gmail.com