ABSTRACT
Western sports slowly caught the fancy of Bengali society and attracted the rich and middle class sections. Sports began to acquire relevance in the middle class cultural world of Bengal at the close of the nineteenth century as a leisure and health option, moulded by ideas imported from Europe. This chapter argues that the early part of the twentieth century sporting culture in Bengal began to feature as an aspect of mass culture. It explores the history of institutionalization of traditional sporting akharas of colonial Bengal from its marginality as a counterpart to European sporting clubs. Western sports actually penetrated the psyche of the Bengalis who had a profound interest in the activities of indigenous physical culture. The importance of physical culture was well realized by the patrons of Hindu Mela and it was included in its regular proceedings. Wrestling created a distinct meaning as a part of the physical culture that flourished during the height of the swadeshi movement.
