NCERT new textbooks for Class 7 introduce games, activities rooted in Indian culture

NCERT introduces traditional Indian games in Class 7 textbooks, promoting cultural roots and physical well-being for students.

Class 7 students will now learn traditional games and activities rooted in Indian culture from the new textbooks introduced by National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT).

In line with the requirements of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, indigenous games from various States have been incorporated in the Physical Education and Well-being textbook titled Khel Yatra.

Unit 1 of the book, titled Foundational basis of physical education and well-being, includes three traditional games from Maharashtra and Southern India.

Among them are ‘Ghorpadiche Shepoot’ or a Lizard’s Tail. The game is played between two teams, each with a line of players holding the person in front of them by the waist. One team’s head (the person leading) tries to tag the other team’s tail (person at the back) without getting caught.

The textbook includes a reference to Maratha warrior Tanaji Malusare using ‘ghorpad’ or a lizard to win the castles. Legend has it that Tanaji Malusare and his troops scaled Sinhagad fort at night with the help of a pet monitor lizard. They tied ropes to the lizard and crawled up the fort.

Another game from Maharashtra is titled ‘Gidhada Gudkavan’, or Hawk and Chickens — it replicates a chase between a hawk and chickens popular in rural areas. The content mentions that this encourages agility, teamwork work and strategy as the hawk tries to tag the chickens, while the mother hen leads the chickens to safety. “It is fast-paced and passed down through generations as a playful way to stay active,” the textbook mentions.

Another inclusion is ‘Nalugu Rallu Ata’ or Four Stones Game, which is a traditional game played in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. This involves strategic movement of players in the court to avoid being caught by the ‘denner’, while collecting stones.