USHA Silai School Teachers Head 'Satoliya' Teams For Sport Event In Heerapura, Rajasthan

USHA has been breaking gender barriers with its Silai schools, by empowering women to become self-sufficient entrepreneurs. The organisation is also breaking gender barriers by promoting indigenous sports in the deepest pockets of India. From Malkhamb in Villupuram, to an altogether different sport in Heerapura, Rajasthan - Satoliya, USHA has been reviving old sports. Rural or urban, Satoliya is a game that has been played at least once by everyone.

The game with seven stones is known by different names in different states, such as, Lingochya in Maharashtra, Pitthu in Haryana, Satodiya in Gujarat, and Dabba Kali in Kerala. But while the names are endless, the rules are the same.

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Satoliya was always played in the villages, and the game also found its way to cities. However, as smartphones took over and young people spent more time playing virtual games and sports, traditional sports began to fade. On the outskirts of Jaipur, USHA Silai school master trainer Suman Devi Kumawat finishes all the chores before she leaves for her shop, which is also her Silai school.

Like several other women, Ms. Kumawat is dedicated to achieving her goals of being financially independent, helping more women learn the skills that will make them financially independent. She is the coach for one of the Satoliya teams participating in the event.

Ms. Kumawat wears multiple hats, such as homemaker in the morning, entrepreneur in the afternoon, and coach in the evening. She is one of the four Silai school teachers actively dedicated to keeping the traditional sport alive in this remote village of Hirapura.

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Ms. Kumawat is coaching a team of 11 girls in the game of Satoliya. It is the first time that a sporting event like this is being held in this village, and the girls are excited and hopeful of winning. But it took some effort for Ms. Kumawat and other Silai school teachers to turn an idea into reality. Ms. Kumawat said,

We had a meeting with USHA and Unnayan Samiti. We spoke with the village head. We went to the schools to talk to them. We assembled the girls in the village, and spoke with them as well. We are now teaching them the sport. They have been practising for the past 8-10 days.

Hirapura Sarpanch, Gopal Lal Meena, said that the USHA Silai school people had contacted him to organise the event in order to promote the game.

I liked the idea, so we started planning. I assured them that I would speak to the children, teachers, and parents. During that conversation, we made plans for how to connect with people, train the girls, and communicate with the school teachers. We talked about how we will divide the responsibilities amongst ourselves and how I will support them as a Panchayat member. We planned everything, he added.

The girls have had good practice sessions, and are ready to give it all at the competition. The day of the competition has arrived; the morale is high; the teams are busy strategising, the villagers have gathered, and the field is set for a game of Satoliya. Ms. Kumawat said that four women from different villages who run their respective USHA Silai schools were heading the teams as coaches.

We have formed four teams, and we are the coaches for those teams. We each take care of our teams, we train them and teach them to aim for victory. The girls are happy that they are getting an opportunity to play.

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The first competition was between the red team and the yellow team, and the referee explained the rules to both teams. The yellow team won the toss and chose to hit the Satoliya first. What follows is an intense and nail biting round of Satoliya between the two teams. More villagers joined the event as the game progressed, to cheer for the girls. The second round was held between the blue and green teams. The girls of the green team were quick to break the Satoliya and went on to win the round.

They further played against the yellow team for the prize. The credit for organising such an event goes to the USHA and the women of the Silai school. Such was the impact of this initiative, that a change was seen in other villages too. Sarpanch Meena said,

Even before the planning for the event started, every time I would walk through the village, I used to see children playing. So, I would wonder how people were suddenly inclined toward Satoliya. The girls from my village were playing, as were the girls in neighbouring villages. So, I have noticed that since we started this conversation, enthusiasm for Satoliya has increased among boys and girls.

Rajasthan's Unnayan Samiti Secretary, Vijay Parashar, stressed the importance of promoting rural sports as it develops a sense of community among children. He further said,

We can see how isolated and alone children have become these days. They keep to themselves and are constantly on their mobile phones, all of which makes them lonely. In a remote village like this, where girls were restricted to their houses, and tied to the chores they had to perform at home, the Satoliya competition is helping break gender stereotypes and also encouraging a healthy lifestyle.

Rural sports provide physical and mental exercise while also developing bonds of affection with others. Therefore, it is important to organise such events. If such games are organised, then children will remain connected to their family, society, and village. USHA International, Regional Manager (North), Mohal Lal, said, 

These games are no longer played by children. They prefer to be indoors, especially girls. The girls for whom we have organised this event don't even have the option of going out to play such games. This isn't just for their physical and mental development. It is also combating gender inequality.

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When girls come out of their houses to participate in such games, and become physically and mentally strong, they will be able to create a distinct identity in society. The whistle for the final round was blown. It was a fight to the finish between the yellow and green teams. The competition was won by the yellow team. There was no sense of disappointment among the other players. Rather, they expressed their happiness at being able to participate in the traditional sports event.

Participant Kiran Meena said,

I am happy that I played. I have played Satoliya for the first time in my life. I had never played in the village before.

Another participant, Neetu Gurjar, said,

I am glad that I played because I have gotten this opportunity for the first time. Earlier, girls were not permitted to go out. But today they are respected. They are eager to play and are getting the opportunity to do so. So, I want to thank USHA for this.

Ms. Suman Devi Kumawat's team did not win the competition, but it taught the girls to work harder and has motivated them to keep the sport alive in the village.

We want to take this forward. USHA is with us at every step, and we would like to name this game USHA Satoliya. We would like to encourage this to grow further. I built my own shop with my earnings, and I now manage the centre all by myself. A lot has changed after joining Usha. I am living freely. I have an identity now. I have a name of my own. People know me as Suman from Silai school. People would know me as someone's wife or someone's daughter-in-law, but today they know me by my own name. I have an identity now because of USHA International, Ms. Kumawat said.

USHA has given new hope to girls, and for Ms. Kumawat, there is independence, confidence, and an identity.

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