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A link between present & past

ABDULLAH AL MAHMUD, Ctg
With the traditional fervour and enthusiasm the 'Jabbarer Boli Khela' (Jabber's wrestling), locally known as 'Jabboijyer Boli Khela' and a 2-day fair full of pomp and grandeur known as 'Baishakhi Mela" were duly held here at the historic Laldighi maidan on the 11th and 12th Baishakh (April 24 - 25).
To sway the Chittagong people with a characteristic sports events and remind them of a rich cultural heritage once again there came the century-old traditional wrestling competition cum Baishakhi Mela (fair) in the port city.
With the spontaneous participation of wrestlers (bolies) and thousands of sellers and buyers from different corners of the greater Chittagong Division, the wrestling competition and the fair turned the Laldighi and adjoining areas into a place of traditional merriment.
Since its introduction 93 years ago the wrestling is being held on the 12th Baishakh (the first month of
Bengali year) of every year and centring which a 2-day fair is held starting from the previous day (11th Baishakh) drawing people from far flung areas of the greater Chittagong Division.
A prominent local merchant Abdul Jabber Sawdagor of Andorkilla Badorpati Road of the city introduced this competition of wrestling as a part of tradition of Chittagong people, back in 1909 AD (Bengali year 1316).
The aim was to inspire and organise the youths for anti-British movement.
Like other occasions this time also the pompous fair sat on a place stretching some two kms surrounding the wrestling venue up to the Badarpati and Andorkilla Bakshirhut intersection to the Loyal Road and KC Dey Road.
The officially 2-day fair continued for four days as the sellers and vendors from different parts of the region started thronging at the fair premises opening up makeshift shops since Tuesday (April 23) -one day before the formal opening
of the fair -- to wind up on the Friday next (April 26), a day after the tournament.
The makeshift shops were arrayed with a great variety of household items, handicrafts, nice toys and showpieces and wide collection of pottery. Homemade traditional sweetmeats and seasonal fruits were also there in plenty for sale. There were also arrangements for amusement with 'Nagordola' (merry-go-round), 'Putul Nach' (puppet show), circus and many other things.
As per tradition the wrestling competition, the main component of the occasion, was held on the second day on Baishakh 12 (April 25).
This year the defending hat-trick champion Siddique Boli shared the title in his fourth championshipbattle and stubborn newcomer Didarul Alam stood joint-champion with him in the 94th occasion of the traditional competition.
The two wrestlers, Siddique Boli, 38, from Ukhyia and Didarul Alam,
23, from Omkhali of Ramu -- both from Cox's Bazar, became jointchampions presenting a breathtaking thirty-six-minute grappling at the historic Laldighi Maidan.
A comparatively old and defending runner-up Malek Boli of Banshkhali of Chittagong was declared runner-up for decency and fairness.
Apart from the joint-champions and runner-up 27 other bolies, winners of the final rounds of different categories, were also awarded in the competition.
Minister for Food Abdullah Al Noman gave away the prizes among the winners as the chief guest while Chittagong Metropolitan Police Commissioner Shahidullah Khan was the special guest.
The history of the popular wrestling (Boli Khela) of Chittagong people dates back to the Muslim and Arakani rulers when the aristocratic and rich families, particularly the zamindars (landlords) here used to employ healthy and strong wrestlers to counter their rivals.
The physical power and strength
of these wrestlers were immensely lauded and appreciated by the people while it brought pride for their masters.
Historian Abdul Haq Chowdhury says there was as many as 22 famous families of wrestlers in Chittagong region. All these families were the inhabitants of 20 villages in an area encircled by the river Karnaphuli and Shankha in the middle of Chittagong.
Long before the partition of the sub-continent some of around two lakh people of Chittagong who expatriated to Burma (now Myanmar), used to return home with handsome savings to arrange wrestling competitions in the months of Chaitra and Baishakh. Beating drums or tins, publicity of these 'Boli Khela' was made to reach even the remote corners of the neighbouring locality. People of different villages came in groups with band parties taking their respective wrestlers and gathered in the wrestling venues.
The competitions were held in
two phases. In the first rounds the 'Sahabs" (Juniors) took part while the seniors or the 'Bolies' fought in the second or final rounds.
After the finals the defeated crowned the winners with the medals. Then started the exotic and rhythmic dance of the winners with the beat of drums when their supporters as well as the people started scrambling for them.
But excepting the Jabberer Boli Khela, all other wrestling competitions have gone into oblivion in course of time.
However, at the initial stage of Jabberer Boli Khela, before the wrestling competition there used to held ox-fights and these oxen were slaughtered to offer a grand feast to the wrestlers and the visiting people.
Now 'Bolies' from different areas of the district, particularly those from the far-flung coastal areas of Ukhiya, Teknaf, Chakoria and offshore islands of Moheskhali, Kutubdia in Cox's Bazar and the coastal areas of Banshkhali, Anowara and Satkania in
Chittagong, participate in the "Boli Khela" in a large number every year.
As the "Boli Khela" nears, festivity grips these coastal and off-shore areas when the young people start preparing for the wrestling with great enthusiasm. This preparation and festive mood bring in some pleasure and relax among the poor, hardworking people here.
Besides, wrestlers from other areas of the adjoining three hill districts and other neighbouring districts of Feni, Noakhali, Comilla and Chandpur also arrive in Chittagong for the competition.
The descendants of Abdul Jabber with the support of the inhabitants of Badorpati and Bakshirhut areas have successfully kept their efforts continued to carry on this traditional wrestling and fair festival. Under the banner of Abdul Jabber Memorial Wrestling Competition and Baishakhi Mela Committee they organise this festival every year without fail.
Local administration extends allout support to this traditional event. Chittagong City Corporation sees to providing the sellers and vendors with space and drinking water. Though failed this year, Chittagong City Mayor ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury introduced Mayor's gold medals for the winners last year.
This year the Minister for Food Abdullah Al Noman announced Tk. 50 thousand from his own fund for the competition every year as long as he is alive.
Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) also extended necessary cooperation in this regard ensuring law and order in and around the fair premises and wrestling venue area.
In this year's Boli Khela, 54 wrestlers out of the enlisted 65 turned up in the final rounds amid enthusiasm and excitement of the local people.
After the final rounds of different categories, three wrestlers including two former runners-up and one newcomer expressed their intention to face defending hat -trick champion in the challenge bout.
With the four wrestlers the challenge bouts were fought as the first and second semi-finals.
In the first semi-final the defending champion Siddique Boli faced the challenger Nazrul Islam alias 'Nazu boli', the runner-up of 2000 of Sitakunda in Chittagong. The skillful wrestler Siddique Boli showed no mercy to give his opponent any scope for resistance and pinned him on the ground to knock out within less then two minutes of the very first round.
But the second semi-final between defending runner-up Abdul Malek alias 'Malek Boli' of Banshkhali and Didarul Alam of Cox's Bazar lasted for some time with both the wrestlers unwilling to give in. But after four minutes in the second round an aging Malek Boli felt pain in the chest and offered a walk-over to the youthful wrestler Didarul Alam.
After that the final bout of the day began between Siddique Boli and Didar Boli at around 5pm. To the astonishment of Chittagong people these two wrestlers fought an unprecedented and ever most exciting wrestling of the traditional Jabbarer Boli Khela amid beats of drums and loud cheers.
With Siddique boli being a symbol of technique and calmness and rising Didar Boli appearing as a symbol of rich vein and strength the final bout seemed a never-ending one.
To see two determined and uncompromising wrestlers in an even and laudable fight the judges of the bout were also at a loss and at the request of thousands of spectators went for an exception to the traditional style of proceedings allowing a single and unlimited bout to decide the result.
The two wrestlers fought 36 minutes at a stretch in and sometimes rolling outside the ring of 'sand mat'.
Later the judges had to declare both the participants jointchampions to put an end to the final bout.
The joint-champions got Champions crests when the crests being different the wrestler who got the smaller one was given an additional 1000 taka from the organisers.
Chittagong Metropolitan Police also awarded them with crests.
Food Minister Abdullah Al Noman awarded the jointchampions with two gold medals inscribed with the symbol of sheaf of paddy and the runner-up with a reward money of Tk. 1000.
The minister also gave reward money of Tk. 100 to each of the winners of the second rounds.
The minister in his speech appreciated the organisers for continuing the traditional wrestling competition despite many limitations and adversity and gave assurance of the government's cooperation towards the competition.