Physical Education in India: Tradition, Development, and Contemporary Perspectives

This book takes a close look at the history, policy, and practice of physical education in India. Exploring this topic in unprecedented breadth and depth, the book provides an important case study of the significance of physical education in wider society, in education more broadly, and in the context of a rapidly developing economy.

The book introduces the history of physical education in India and examines the contemporary landscape, including physical education in schools and in higher education as well as physical education teacher education programs. It takes a close look at the role of government in developing physical education, at the infrastructure and policy architecture that underpins the Indian system, and pays close attention to the challenges facing women and girls in physical education today. The book also considers the Indian experience in the wider international context and takes a deep dive into the particular circumstances, policies, and practices within each Indian state.

Shining new light on the education and development of one of the world’s most important and diverse emerging nations, this book is essential reading for anybody with an interest in physical education, teacher education, education policy, the history of sport and physical activity, South Asian studies, or development studies.

Usha Sujit Nair is the Former Officiating Vice Chancellor of the National Sports University, Imphal, India, and an Emeritus Resource Faculty at Rashtriya Raksha University, India. She also holds leadership roles with the International Society for Comparative Physical Education and Sport (ISCPES), the International Association of Physical Education and Sport for Girls and Women (IAPESGW), and the International Council of Sport Science and Physical Education (ICSSPE).