When's the last time you flew a kite?
Flying a kite is more than just a pastime or a hobby - it's a cultural experience. When a man’s kite takes to the skies, high above the trees, he's participating in a cultural heritage that's more than 2,000 years old. And then there are the ‘veterans’, like 81-years-old Ashar Mohammad, flying his home-made swallow kite. Mohammad has just one passion – nay, obsesion - Kite Flying. He is the grand old man of Kite Flying. Kite Ballet is his art. In the narrow lanes of Sadar Bazaar, Gurgaon, no professional Kite Flying competition is complete without the presence of this bearded man. A strong proponent of the Indian ‘fighter kites’, he is an active member of the Manjha Association of India, and helps organise several tournaments to help keep this art alive amongst the younger generation.
Mohammad’s upbringing was very unlike other kids of his age. Being the descendent of a holy man, he was required to undergo rigorous training in religion and was forbidden from indulging in any sort of ‘wasteful entertainment’ or participating in anything even remotely pleasurable. Confined to the four walls of his house, the only leisure activity permitted for the then young boy was the sport of Kite Flying - from the rooftop of his sprawling mansion in Lahore (in the pre-Independence days). “Since this was my only diversion, or source of ‘entertainment’, it was but natural that I fell in love with Kite Flying and kites," he says proudly. “The kite symbolises the human body, the string attached to it is the soul, and the person holding the string is the Almighty. It was in this manner that even the most complex religious doctrines were imparted to me." Since then it’s has been seven decades of Kite Flying. Even today, as the sun sets and kites start dotting the skyline, Ashar Mohammad and his friends are out with their patangs (kites), manjhas (strings) and chakris (wooden rolls). As soon as a fellow player bring down an opponent’s kite, this 80 plus-year-old jumps with childike joy amidst his colourful kites. He says the sport is now well in his blood. “When I was very young I would come back after a long day of studies and start flying kites till sunset. That was and still is my best ‘technique’ of unwinding. Further, we are traditionally a family of fakirs - religious teachers - and for us Kite Flying is a passion that is intertwined with religious imagery. That’s why we also take it so seriously," he says. He doesn’t trust the manjha (string) available in the market and prefers to make his own at home. He says that the secret of successful Kite Flying is in the string. And Mohammad has access to some of the best-kept secrets on how to make razor-sharp strings – though he will never share with anyone else.
“India developed a rich tradition of Kite Flying due to the patronage of the kings and nawabs, who found the sport both entertaining as well as a means of displaying their prowess. Trained fliers were employed to fly kites for the kings. Slowly this art started getting popular amongst the masses. “Our kites are lighter and do not necessarily have a tail. They are ‘fighter kites’, and the focus is more on developing the technique of ‘cutting’ the opponent’s kite than on anything else. Kite Flying has traditionally been an all-family sport in many parts of India, wherein people of all age groups gather on their rooftops, generally on and around Basant Panchami, to fly kites. Mohammad is convinced that Kite Flying has numerous benefits, apart from providing clean and safe entertainment. He says, “It provides good exercise and a spirit of competition, and the need for keen observation keeps a person alert. However, just displaying or flying decorative kites in festivals won’t help promote the sport or our speciality - ‘fighter kites’. Our tradition can be kept alive only by holding tournaments in small towns and villages. A lot of government assistance is required." Unavailability of grounds, paucity of funds and lack of training facilities are the main reason why this unique art form is dying in our country, laments Mohammad. “It is one of India’s richest traditions, but sadly the interest in this ancient sport is dwindling. Today’s young people are spending their time sitting in front of TV sets or computers – and then going to a gym to ‘keep fit’. They are missing out on the good workout opportunities that Kite Flying provides, as also the sheer entertainment of this team sport." He plans to help change this, by starting a countrywide movement. Till then this grand old man is happy soaring the skies solo!
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