Khela Jakhan Itihas

Sports are not merely a form of physical exercise or entertainment; they are a testament to a nation’s identity. Through games, the multiple currents flowing through society—colonialism, nationalism, communalism, diplomacy, and various social tensions—find reflection. The rivalries of club football spill beyond the boundaries of the field and enter our private lives A foreign game becomes another name for indigenous pride. Society is stirred. Even when emotion turns into mass hysteria, it leaves behind some invaluable markers in the ledger of history. Controversies surrounding the election of a cricket board extend beyond the clubhouse to unsettle political parties and individuals alike. But why? This collection of essays by Kaushik Bandyopadhyay brings to light these unique dimensions of the history of sports. His lucid language, skillful presentation of facts, the inclusion of photographs, and the bibliography at the end of the book together provoke thought among students, researchers, and enthusiastic readers alike.