Some carry it for support while walking and some carry it for style or to wield authority or even for defensive reasons. Around the 17th or 18th century, a stout rigid stick took over from the sword as an essential part of the European gentleman’s wardrobe, used primarily as a walking stick. In addition to its value as a decorative accessory, it also continues to fulfil some of the functions of the sword as a weapon. The walking stick has also historically been known to be used as a defensive or offensive weapon, and may conceal a knife or sword as in a swordstick.

In our part of the world too stick or what is locally known as lathi have been in use since ancient times. The Urdu saying “Jis ki lathi us ki Bhains” meaning “who wields the lathi carries the buffalo” shows the power of the stick (lathi). The local police force not only in Pakistan but also elsewhere in the world lathi-charge or baton charge the rioting mobs feared to subvert peace and tranquillity of an area.

Walking sticks vary in the material they are made of. Most are made from ash wood, branches of birch or hazel tree as well as Malacca canes and bamboos in the forest areas. Their hilts are like the inverted hockey sticks. Those made of aluminium have holes in the shaft to adjust the stick to the user’s convenience, while some are made in such a way that they can be folded when not in use.

It’s a handy tool to help the weak and feeble, though is used for other purposes as well

Walking sticks come in different colours and shapes with handles capped with plastic clips; in some there is no handle at all, it is just a staff with a bulbous head of the size of a pear to hold. Others have handles that are fancy, curved, ornate, bent inside and bent outside with strong straps. Modern walking sticks have rubber covers on handles and at the ends. Some have a square shaped frame at the lower end with four small legs to enable a user to balance his weight. For those who need further support, there is the four-legged aluminium walkers, capped with rubber.

The walking stick is normally held in the hand opposite to the affected leg. To walk, place the stick on the ground at the same time as the affected leg.

For seating yourself in a chair, turn around so that your back is facing the chair with the stick in your hands. When you can feel the chair behind your legs, place your hands on the chair arms, bend forward and lower yourself gently into the chair resting the sticks close by.

While you are seated place the stick near the arm of the chair, so that to get up, you should lean forward and with the hands on the arm of the chair, push forward and stand up using the stick for support.

What we call walking stick is a walking cane in America. The US presidents have often carried canes that they mostly received as gifts. The Smithsonian has a cane given to George Washington by Benjamin Franklin, which features a gold handle in the shape of “Phrygian Cap”.

The commanders of the armed forces of a country and high ranking police officers also carry a small staff under their arms as a symbol of authority.

A collector of walking sticks is called a “rabologist”. Renowned educationist and Vice Chancellor of University of Sindh (late) Prof. Ghulam Mustafa Shah, was an avid collector of walking sticks, collected from various countries he visited during his service; he also managed to get walking sticks from many countries that he could not visit through his friends.

However sticks are not used only as a walking aid. Lathi can be used to shoo away stray dogs that follow strangers. In the past, hockey was played by forked sticks cut from the trees; these have now refined to modern hockey sticks. A stick used by umpire in cricket is called umpire stick and is made of wood. Polo is played from the horseback with mallets made of wood. Billiards is played with a long-handled stick known as cue to strike balls. Conductors of an orchestra use a slight stick to control the orchestra; the stick is known as baton.

Then we have the stilts or a pair of long poles on which a person is raised from the ground for amusement and fun.

And then there is the proverbial stick or the proverb carrot and sticks meaning policy of threat and bribes.

Walking sticks used by trekkers are called trekking poles or pilgrim’s staff or hiking poles and are used by hikers / trekkers for a variety of purposes, such as to part thick bushes or grass obscuring the path, detect harmful creatures hibernating in the bushes, to fathom the depth of water when crossing streams or swamps; and as a defence against wild animals.

Published in Dawn, Sunday Magazine, December 6th, 2015