Gymkhana
Encyclopedia
Gymkhana is a typical Anglo-Indian
expression, which is derived from the Hindi-Urdu
word for "racket court," is an India
n term which originally referred to a place where sporting events take place. The meaning then altered to denote a place where skill-based contests were held. Most gymkhanas have a Gymkhana Club
associated with it, a term coined during British Raj
for gentlemen's club
.
In India, the term gymkhana is commonly used to refer to a gymnasium. More generally, gymkhana referred (and still refers) to a social and sporting club in the Indian subcontinent
, and in other Asian countries including Malaysia, Thailand, Burma and Singapore, as well as in East Africa.
In English-speaking countries, a gymkhana
refers to a multi-game equestrian event performed to display the training and talents of horses and their riders. The plot of the children's story "The Mystery of the Invisible Thief
" by Enid Blyton
begins at a gymkhana held at an English village, testifying to its being a common institution in English society at the time of writing (the 1940s).
The term is also used as the name of a timed automotive obstacle course, see Gymkhana (motorsport)
.
The first element of gymkhana comes from gend meaning ball in Hindi
/Hindustani
/Khariboli
. This element is distinct from English word gym, short for gymnasium and gymnastics which has Greek and Latin roots. The second element, khānā is Indo-Aryan
(ख़ाना) for place or compartment and Persian
(خانه) term for dwelling, house.
The main events of equestrian gymkhana include barrel racing
, pole bending
, flag race, key hole, and stake race. Some organizations even include ride and run, musical mats, egg stomp, $5 bill race, and sack race. All of these events challenge the horses and riders ability to work together, and demonstrate many skills such as speed, flying lead changes,sliding stops and more. It is suitable for all ages of people including the very young and very old.
Anglo-Indian
Anglo-Indians are people who have mixed Indian and British ancestry, or people of British descent born or living in India, now mainly historical in the latter sense. British residents in India used the term "Eurasians" for people of mixed European and Indian descent...
expression, which is derived from the Hindi-Urdu
Hindustani language
Hindi-Urdu is an Indo-Aryan language and the lingua franca of North India and Pakistan. It is also known as Hindustani , and historically, as Hindavi or Rekhta...
word for "racket court," is an India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n term which originally referred to a place where sporting events take place. The meaning then altered to denote a place where skill-based contests were held. Most gymkhanas have a Gymkhana Club
Gymkhana Club
The Gymkhana Club is one of the two 18-hole golf courses in Chennai, India. It was established in the late 19th century.-History:...
associated with it, a term coined during British Raj
British Raj
British Raj was the British rule in the Indian subcontinent between 1858 and 1947; The term can also refer to the period of dominion...
for gentlemen's club
Gentlemen's club
A gentlemen's club is a members-only private club of a type originally set up by and for British upper class men in the eighteenth century, and popularised by English upper-middle class men and women in the late nineteenth century. Today, some are more open about the gender and social status of...
.
In India, the term gymkhana is commonly used to refer to a gymnasium. More generally, gymkhana referred (and still refers) to a social and sporting club in the Indian subcontinent
Indian subcontinent
The Indian subcontinent, also Indian Subcontinent, Indo-Pak Subcontinent or South Asian Subcontinent is a region of the Asian continent on the Indian tectonic plate from the Hindu Kush or Hindu Koh, Himalayas and including the Kuen Lun and Karakoram ranges, forming a land mass which extends...
, and in other Asian countries including Malaysia, Thailand, Burma and Singapore, as well as in East Africa.
In English-speaking countries, a gymkhana
Gymkhana (equestrian)
Gymkhana is a term used in the United Kingdom, east coast of the United States, and other English-speaking nations to describe an equestrian event consisting of speed pattern racing and timed games for riders on horses...
refers to a multi-game equestrian event performed to display the training and talents of horses and their riders. The plot of the children's story "The Mystery of the Invisible Thief
The Mystery of the Invisible Thief
The Mystery of the Invisible Thief is a novel written by Enid Blyton. It is the 8th in the popular Mystery series also known as the Five Find-Outers and Dog.-Plot summary:...
" by Enid Blyton
Enid Blyton
Enid Blyton was an English children's writer also known as Mary Pollock.Noted for numerous series of books based on recurring characters and designed for different age groups,her books have enjoyed huge success in many parts of the world, and have sold over 600 million copies.One of Blyton's most...
begins at a gymkhana held at an English village, testifying to its being a common institution in English society at the time of writing (the 1940s).
The term is also used as the name of a timed automotive obstacle course, see Gymkhana (motorsport)
Gymkhana (motorsport)
Gymkhana is a type of motorsport practiced in an increasing number of countries. Similar to autocross, gymkhana courses are often very complex and memorizing the course is a significant part of achieving a fast time....
.
Etymology
Hindustani language
Hindi-Urdu is an Indo-Aryan language and the lingua franca of North India and Pakistan. It is also known as Hindustani , and historically, as Hindavi or Rekhta...
/Hindustani
Hindustani language
Hindi-Urdu is an Indo-Aryan language and the lingua franca of North India and Pakistan. It is also known as Hindustani , and historically, as Hindavi or Rekhta...
/Khariboli
Khariboli
Khariboli , also Khari Boli, Khadiboli, Khadi Boli or simply Khari, is a Western Hindi dialect spoken mainly in the rural surroundings of Delhi, the northern areas of Western Uttar Pradesh and the southern areas of Uttarakhand in India...
. This element is distinct from English word gym, short for gymnasium and gymnastics which has Greek and Latin roots. The second element, khānā is Indo-Aryan
Indo-Aryan languages
The Indo-Aryan languages constitutes a branch of the Indo-Iranian languages, itself a branch of the Indo-European language family...
(ख़ाना) for place or compartment and Persian
Persian language
Persian is an Iranian language within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. It is primarily spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and countries which historically came under Persian influence...
(خانه) term for dwelling, house.
The main events of equestrian gymkhana include barrel racing
Barrel racing
Barrel racing is a rodeo event in which a horse and rider attempt to complete a clover-leaf pattern around preset barrels in the fastest time. Though both boys and girls compete at the youth level and men compete in some amateur venues, in collegiate and professional ranks, it is primarily a rodeo...
, pole bending
Pole bending
Pole bending is timed event that features a horse and one mounted rider, running a weaving or serpentine path around six poles arranged in a line...
, flag race, key hole, and stake race. Some organizations even include ride and run, musical mats, egg stomp, $5 bill race, and sack race. All of these events challenge the horses and riders ability to work together, and demonstrate many skills such as speed, flying lead changes,sliding stops and more. It is suitable for all ages of people including the very young and very old.
See also
- GymGymThe word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, that mean a locality for both physical and intellectual education of young men...
- Bombay GymkhanaBombay GymkhanaBombay Gymkhana ,, established in 1875, is one of the premiere gymkhanas in the city of Mumbai, India. It is located in the South Mumbai area and was originally built as a British-only club, designed by English architect, Claude Batley. The Gymkhana Grounds lie in the southern end of the Azad Maidan...
- Delhi GymkhanaDelhi GymkhanaThe Delhi Gymkhana Club or Delhi Gymkhana is a premier Gymkhana in New Delhi, the capital of India...
- Hindu GymkhanaHindu GymkhanaThe Hindu Gymkhana was the first public building in Karachi to boldly adopt the Mughal-Revival style. The building established in 1925, Its located at Sarwar Shaheed Road in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan....
- Jamalpur GymkhanaJamalpur GymkhanaThe Jamalpur Gymkhana , often referred to as Gymkhana by its members, is a hostel for young apprentice officers of the Indian Railways. It is also a club like any other Gymkhana. The difference is that membership to this club is restricted only to those who spend their formative years in its...
- Karachi Gymkhana ClubKarachi Gymkhana ClubThe Karachi Gymkhana is a premier gymkhana in the city of Karachi. It is located on Club Road in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan.-Membership:Over 9000 members are enrolled in the club...
- Chennai Gymkhana Club
- Nairobi Gymkhana ClubNairobi Gymkhana ClubNairobi Gymkhana Club is a cricket ground and team in Nairobi, Kenya. It hosted two matches during the 2003 Cricket World Cup. The ground has a capacity of 7,000 people. It is located north of the central business district, but not far from it....
- List of India's gentlemen's clubs