July 2nd 2023.
Bhopal has seen a wonderful display of camaraderie and inclusivity among the youth of the Pardhi community. Boys and girls from the city and its adjoining areas have come together to learn and play Ultimate Frisbee, a fast-growing international game.
What makes Ultimate unique is that it is co-ed, and players are required to call their own fouls, making it a sport that promotes gender equality and develops a sense of fair play. On Sunday, a tournament was held at Neelbad. Abhishek Pawar, one of the organisers, said that it can be difficult to find a ground that's affordable and available for rent.
Jiya Pawar, who is 16 and studying in the 3rd grade, was one of the 14 members of the Travellers team that came in third in the tournament. Jiya found the game to be immensely enjoyable, especially since boys and girls could play together. She comes from a family of rag-pickers and labourers, and has only recently started her education.
The tournament was organised by Muzzle, an organisation of Pardhi youth aged 19-28. Most of its members are waiters, diarists, and bag-makers. Despite the stigma that surrounds the Pardhi community, Abhishek has been playing Ultimate for 3 years and has even competed in a tournament in Gujarat.
To play the game, all one needs is a disc and an open field. Points are scored by passing the disc to a teammate in the opposite team's zone. The game was invented in the 1960s by an American, and has since become a popular game worldwide. For the Pardhi youth, Ultimate Frisbee serves as a great way to come together and have fun, while working on building a more equitable society.
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