HE Governor of Punjab, VP Singh Badnore today asked the National Gatka Association of India to propagate martial art 'Gatka' as a sport in all educational institutions in Punjab and Chandigarh especially among the girls for self-defence and to inculcate traditional values among the youth.He expressed his views during release of book titled 'Gatka Rules & Regulations-2017' written by Harjeet Singh Grewal president National Gatka Association of India (NGAI) here at Punjab Raj Bhawan. Interacting with the office bearers of the NGAI about Gatka promotion activities Mr Badnore emphasized that the age old ancient art have its historic eminence in the country and it deserves proper promotion and preservation among the youth to imbibe traditional values among the generations.Commending the services being rendered by the NGAI for the promotion of Gatka, he expressed keen interest in the past history of Sikh martial art.
He asked the office bearers of NGAI and International Sikh Martial Art Academy (ISMAA) to reprint the oldest and rare Gatka rules book 'The Art of Gatka Fighting' written by Major Kartar Singh Akali in the year 1936 and even voluntarily offered his all help for the cause.On the occasion NGAI president Mr Grewal informed the Governor that the NGAI is the oldest registered national sports organization constituted in the year 2004 and proactive in taking major initiatives for promoting, popularizing and standardizing this great art. Gatka promoter Mr Grewal added that appropriate recognition, due status and development of Gatka as a sport at national and international level are few of the major objectives of NGAI. "This rules book will be implemented in all types of official tournaments in the educational institutions world over to play the Gatka as a competitive sport", he said.Among others present on the occasion included NGAI Senior vice presidents Raghbir Chand and Avtar Singh, joint secretary Chitmanjeet Singh Grewal, finance secretary Baljit Singh, press secretary Harjinder Kumar, joint secretaries of ISMAA Gurmeet Singh, Joginder Kumar and Harshveer Singh.