The battle of waterloo was won on the playground of Eton and
Harrow;
‘’All work and no play makes jack a dull boy’’.
It is recognized by all educationists that true education should
aim at the physical and intellectual development of a student. Physical and
mental education should go hand in hand. In the modern age the importance of
games has been fully realised. For this purpose separate sports collages and coaching
institutions have been opened. No educational set up can afford to ignore the
fitness and development of the human body.
Games and sports are necessary to keep the body fit. Physical
fitness and freedom from disease are the ambitions of every human being. In fact,
good health is a necessary condition for happiness in life. Both sophisticated
games like cricket, hockey and football and rustic games like kabaddi and kho-kho
provide exercise to the body keep it fit.
Recreation should refresh the human mind and body and
provide an opportunity to escape from the drudgery of our professional pursuits.
While playing games we forget the anxieties and worries of life. Games sharpen
us mentally also as they require skill. This skill comes into play when we are
playing games like cricket, hockey and football. They are not just a matter of
physical stamina.
Man is said to be a social animal. Education teaches man how
to live in society. Games which are a necessary part of education help man in
becoming a useful member of society. Every games is played according to certain
rules. Non-compliance with rules means foul play and every foul step means a
penalty. In other words games develop in players the habit of fair play. A sportsman,
because of his love of fair play, loves honesty and justice which are moral
qualities.
A true sportsman plays for the sake of playing. He does not
play for the sake of winning a color and distinction. He accepts defeat with a smiling
face. At the same time his defeat on the sports fields drives him to greater
effort in the future. Such a lesson can help a sportsman in the future life.
Victory and defeat in the field of sports make a man strong enough to face life
with courage. Games teach certain other qualities like the team spirit and
mutual co-operation. Obedience of the captain’s order on the playground makes a
sportsman disciplined. Games and sports bring us into contact with others,
especially stranger. They broaden our social sphere. International athletic
events like the Word Olympic bring players of different nationalities and
countries together. Players thus act as angels of goodwill, friendship and
culture.
Games enable us in living in healthy and happy
life. Time spent on games is a bad investment. Games enable us to make use of
the surplus energy of our youth in a good manner. It is a pity that some
elderly people look upon games as harmful and time-washing media. In certain
schools and collage games are completely ignored. They specialize in making
their students bookworms. In this matter we should follow the example of
countries like America, Russia and England which gives due place to games in
education. But too much emphasis on games is also not good. They should not be
played at the cost of studies. It has been very appropriately stated above that
physical and mental education should go hand in hand.
