Fazl-e-Umar — Page 64
Fazle Umar 64 Hadhrat Sahibzada Sahib’s interest in games was such that he never singled out and favoured a particular sport or pastime for it to become a permanent habit over and above the others. Huzur’s games alternated and became his centre of interest with the changing seasons. Qadian is situated in such a geographical location near a moun- tain range, which means it is well watered and green. In the summer it is extremely hot and in the winter, extremely cold. It also rains quite heavily and sometimes there is a continuous downpour for a week at a time. In this area the simple games of the Punjab are very popular. These include games like gulli-danda, kabbadi and meyro- dabba; games exported from the regions of Europe such as football, hockey, cricket and badminton are also enthusiastically played in Qadian. Some of these are heavily favoured in very cold climes; some are played in the spring and autumn; some in the rainy season while others are played in the searing heat of the summer. Hadhrat Sahibzada Sahib did not favour any single sport and try to become truly proficient in it. He was by nature a very inquisitive person. Upon seeing something new, his heart craved to gain first hand experience of it. Hence, when the weather and his mood favoured football, he could be seen on the football field, when there was a Kabbadi tour, he would be out on the Kabbadi ground. When gulli-danda and meyro- dabba became the new craze among the children, he could be seen in the gulli-danda or meyro-dabba teams. When the constant downpours filled to the brim the pools all round Qadian sometimes to overflowing thereby flooding the surrounding areas to give Qadian the appearance of an island amid this water, the pleasures of swimming and sailing boats would dominate every other pastime. When Autumn and Spring brought mild and moderate weather for hunting, this sport aroused his interest. In the early years of childhood, Hadhrat Sahibzada Sahib could be seen out hunting with a catapult in hand and a troop of boys for company. Thereafter, when