Down Memory Lane

Down Memory Lane

In earlier times, horses were integral to various activities, ranging from transportation and recreation to cultural exhibitions and competitive sports. Cavalry units, comprising mounted soldiers, were crucial in medieval warfare, often turning the tide in close-quarter battles. During the Mughal era, a person’s status and nobility, particularly among the Mansabdars, were often measured by the number of riders and horses they possessed. Horses were adept at traversing rugged, mountainous terrain, and horse racing has long been celebrated as a sport. The present-day Suhrawardy Uddan once served as a ground for such races, and even today, horse racing remains a prevalent sport, especially in the Western world. I recently came across a YouTube video of a horse race in a barren paddy field in Noagaon, where a young girl remarkably claimed victory. Additionally, horses are still employed by mounted police forces to manage unruly crowds, and police academies frequently utilise them for specific training purposes.

Many of us have both fond and fearsome memories of horse riding at Sardha. Horses, as we know, are loyal and domesticated creatures, yet at the Academy, they often seemed to take on a more menacing persona, earning reputations akin to malevolent spirits. This, despite the fact that they were given endearing names like Cleopatra, Margaret, Camellia, and Duronto. The instructors would occasionally point to a few graves near the riding school, suggesting that these were the final resting places of trainees who had perished after falling from their horses. Though no one could definitively disprove these claims, only one incident of death due to a fall has ever been officially recorded, recounted by colonial officer P.E.S. Finney in his memoirs, Just My Luck: Memoirs of a Police Officer of the Raj, where he describes the tragic death of a colleague during a polo match.

Despite the academy horses being well-trained, their behaviour can be unpredictable. They seem to understand human conduct, even responding to vocal commands from the instructors with astonishing swiftness. It is remarkable how quickly they obey commands, often within the blink of an eye. However, they can also be discerning; they appear to sense the skill level of their rider. For novice riders unfamiliar with the principles of equestrianism, multiple falls are almost a certainty.

Some may question the relevance of horse riding in contemporary policing. Nonetheless, the tradition of horse riding persists at the Bangladesh Police Academy, Sardha, as well as at other police training institutions. Interestingly, Indian police officers undergo even more rigorous equestrian training, including polo, at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy in Hyderabad. There is an enduring belief that if an officer can master riding and controlling such a wilful animal, they will be better equipped to manage a district and deal with violent criminals. This notion may not sit well with modern police managers, who increasingly rely on intelligence-led policing to detect and solve crimes. However, horse riding undeniably builds strength, resilience, and a certain boldness. There’s a sense of invincibility that comes when galloping at full speed, as if you are truly the ‘monarch of all you survey’.

Amusingly, most trainees at Sardha tend to dislike the horse training while they are undergoing it, eagerly wishing to be rid of it. Yet, once they leave, they speak fondly of the experience and often recommend its retention for future generations of trainees. Today, it seems the horses at the Academy have mellowed—they are gentler and far more accommodating to modern trainees.