Indian Club Swinging in Nineteenth and Twentieth-Century India and England
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INDIAN CLUB SWINGING IN NINETEENTH AND TWENTIETH-CENTURY INDIA AND ENGLAND A Thesis presented in fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of Master of Philosophy in Historical Studies at the University of Cambridge Conor Heffernan, Darwin College, June 2016. FACULTY OF HISTORY UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE MPHIL DISSERTATION SUBMISSION DECLARATION Student Full Name (in capital letters): CONOR HEFFERNAN MPhil: Historical Studies I hereby declare that: • This dissertation is the result of my own work and includes nothing which is the outcome of work done in collaboration except where specifically indicated in the text and bibliography. • My dissertation (or any significant part of my dissertation) is not substantially the same as any that I have submitted, or that is being concurrently submitted for a degree or diploma or other qualification at the University of Cambridge or any other University or similar institution.1 • I have read, and adhered to, the University’s policy on plagiarism, as detailed at: http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/univ/plagiarism/. The title of the submitted dissertation (corresponding exactly to that on the title page) is: Indian Club Swinging in Nineteenth and Twentieth-Century India and England • My dissertation does not exceed the limit of length prescribed in the Special Regulations of the MPhil examination for which I am a candidate.2 The length of my dissertation is: ………………(words) Signed: ………………………………………………………… Date …………………. Notes 1. If you are unable to subscribe to this sentence of this declaration you should, in the preface of the dissertation, say which parts have already been, or are being concurrently, submitted for a degree, diploma or other qualification at any other University. 2. You are reminded that there is no provision in the Regulations for exceeding the prescribed word limit Abstract Indian clubs are bottle-shaped weighted clubs swung in the hand for gymnastic exercise. Despite their obscure status in modern culture, the clubs were one of the most recognizable items of fitness equipment in nineteenth and early-twentieth century India and England. Originating in India, the clubs’ nineteenth and early twentieth-century history is one of remarkable complexity. Adopted by civil and military colonisers in India in the early nineteenth-century, club swinging became a means of maintaining England’s project in India, a means of subjugating Indian men as well as means of challenging negative colonial stereotypes. Likewise in England, Indian clubs were used to challenge, create and reinvigorate ideas about embodied gender identities. Indian clubs can thus be viewed as a historical vessel containing converging colonial, gender and political histories. Adopted by soldiers, nationalists, exercisers and even suffragists, the clubs’ continuity and varied use demonstrate the fluidity of gender identities in India and England during this period. Utilising the conceptual framework of French sociologist Pierre Bourdieu, the current study seeks to answer how English colonisers and the wider English public rationalised adopting an Indian form of exercise, especially that of a Hindu race often considered as effeminate. Similarly the work is interested in understanding how the adoption of Indian club swinging in Indian and English exercise regimens reinforced or challenged prevailing gender stereotypes. Finally, the work examines the extent to which Indian clubs became a politicised form of exercise with regards to the Hindu physical culture and English suffragist movements. In answering these questions, the thesis argues that Indian club swinging was a method of masculine and feminine identity formation for numerous exercisers in both India and England. Demonstrating how club swinging was used to negotiate masculine and feminine identities during this period, the dissertation thus presents an original contribution to the literature on Indian clubs as well as impacting upon histories of the Hindu physical culture movement, nineteenth-century English exercise and the English suffragist movement. Acknowledgements This dissertation would not have been possible without the kindness exhibited by the Sir John Plumb Charitable Trust and Darwin College for funding the present work. I would like to gratefully acknowledge the support and encouragement of my advisor, Professor Alison Bashford. Professor Bashford has consistently pushed me to elevate this work to a higher standard, allowing me to grow as a historian. Owing to Professor Bashford’s encouragement, I met Dr. Lucy Delap, who allowed me to attend her Sexuality and Gender in Modern British History course. Dr. Delap’s insights into the world of gender history provided several lines of enquiry for this dissertation and her classes always proved worthwhile. Thanks also to my classmates, whose varied opinions and research never failed to challenge and interest me. My gratitude extends to Dr. Jan Todd, of the University of Texas, for corresponding with me over several months. Dr. Todd’s writings into physical culture were the impetus for my own studies and over the past nine months she has graciously given her input to this project. Similarly Adam Culling of the Royal Army Physical Training Corps Museum displayed remarkable patience in his support. Trawling through hundreds of documents for any possible relation to Indian clubs, Adam’s help was representative of the numerous archivists who gave their time to this project. Thanks also to my fellow MPhil classmates, whose informal luncheons became a welcome distraction from the University Library. In a similar vein, credit to those brave souls who sat through my talks at the Modern British History, Historical Studies and Graduate Day Conferences. Finally and most importantly, I would like to thank Susan, Mary and Paul. Susan’s humour and kindness was invaluable over the past nine months. Some day I shall be able to repay her for the many ways in which she has ensured my continued happiness. For my mother, Mary, your daily Whatsapp messages ensured I was never too far from home, while your kind words and judicious eye were invaluable to the research. For my father, Paul, our intermittent golf matches were always a highlight of my trips home, regardless of my performances. Thank you once more for supporting me in all that I do. To paraphrase Abraham Lincoln, all that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my parents. Contents List of Figures ............................................................................................................................... 2 List of Abbreviations ................................................................................................................... 3 Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 4 Chapter One: Indian clubs in India .......................................................................................... 15 Gods, Generals and Grappling: Indian clubs’ pre-colonial history ............................... 15 Admiring, Adopting and Adapting: Englishmen and Indian clubs ................................... 22 Indian club swinging from 1857 to 1914 .......................................................................... 30 Chapter Two: Indian Club Swinging in Victorian England to 1870 ...................................... 45 The arrival of Indian clubs in England ............................................................................. 45 Indian Clubs and England’s Upper-Classes ..................................................................... 50 Students, Soldiers and Strongmen: Middle-Class Swingers ............................................ 60 Chapter Three: Indian Clubs in England, 1870-1914 ............................................................. 75 All-inclusive clubs: Club swinging from 1870 to 1900 ..................................................... 76 The Fall of Indian Club Swinging in England .................................................................. 87 “Charges Girls”: Suffragists and Indian Clubs ............................................................... 95 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................ 105 Bibliography ............................................................................................................................. 114 1 List of Figures Chapter One Figure 1.1 ‘Wrestlers exercising, c. 1670’ ................................................................................... 16 Figure 1.2 ‘Gandharan Gada’ ....................................................................................................... 18 Figure 1.3 ‘Chennakeshava Temple’ ........................................................................................... 19 Figure 1.4 ‘Different Exercises for the Various Parts of the Day, c. 1770 .................................. 21 Figure 1.5 ‘Daily Exercise, Mahratta Camp’ ............................................................................... 26 Figure 1.6 ‘Exercise 9 and 10 – Regulation Clubs’ ..................................................................... 33 Figure 1.7 ‘Club Swinging at Military Sports’ ............................................................................ 35 Figure 1.8 ‘Wrestlers in Baroda’ .................................................................................................. 38 Figure 1.9 ‘Gymnast at the India and Ceylon Exhibition