There was talk of such a science of archery and stick fighting only a few years ago in the Punjab that hearing about it, the English-educated young (Sikh) men will consider it astonishing… In sincerity, I believe that the young men of today might just consider these skills and Shastr Bidiya generally an impossibility because they have not even seen those bows, never mind having strung them.
Similarly, many sciences and skills have declined after attaining their heights. Before 1857, many quivers full of arrows, matchlocks, flintlock guns, swords, lances, spears, sang (long metal lance), katars (punch daggers), peshkabj (armour-piercing dagger), pistols, shields and other weapons, armour and many types of chain mail were found in every house. All the people in their homes both learnt and taught Shastr Bidiya and became complete soldiers.
Now no one even speaks of these skills and the sons of brave warriors are becoming engrossed in making money. Even those of us who have employed Shastr Bidiya, it is becoming as if it were a dream. In another fifty years or so this Bidiya will have dried up and people will say it was but all lies.
SHARE GYAAN WITH THE SANGAT
This is a truly panthic effort, we would be honoured to add your findings here. Please provide the exact reference and content in either Gurmukhi or English. Puraatan ithihaas, puraatan rehit or Gurbaani is foundational. But if you have any other useful and relevant references we will certainly consider it.