Punjab Governor and UT Administrator, VP Singh Badnore on Thursday 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.
Releasing a book 'Gatka Rules & Regulations-2017' written by Harjeet Singh Grewal president National Gatka Association of India (NGAI) here at Punjab Raj Bhawan, Badnore emphasized that the age old ancient art has its historic importance 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.
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.