Naval & Military Games In British Era Bombay, 1895 Print
An 1895 print that shows naval and military games during the British Era in Bombay (now Mumbai). This is a page from The Illustrated London News of Feb 2, 1895. The naval and military games were held in Colaba in the south of Bombay. Sports and games literally played a key role in molding men into rugged soldiers. The armed forces had their usual regular field game activities in the evening hours.
Essentially to relieve the soldier from the tough routine of rigorous training and drills. The games gradually evolved into competitive sports between regiments and units. It would by and by develop into a sort of international military games. This print shows a national Military games that was held at Colaba in Mumbai in the 1890s.
See post Military Games Poona – Old Photo 1900.
The bottom picture shows the arcing Backbay waters. This was before it was developed by reclamation into the Marine Drive and Promenade in the 1920s. So also Churchgate Station and many other buildings that came up only after the reclamation. The major business district of Nariman Point, located south of Marine Drive, came up only in the 1960s or 70s. Which today is one of the most expensive commercial properties in the world.
Read more Nariman Point.
Did you know- football is the most popular sport in the world, partly thanks to the British Army who introduced it across the Empire. Football was played at most military bases and cantonments.
From the collection- Drawing Hiding The Taj Mahal WW2., Newly Completed Crawford Market Mumbai- Old Photo 1870., Kochin or Kochi In 1730 – Antique Hand Colored Plan., St George’s Cathedral Madras – Old Postcard 1915
