A Glimpse at Traditional Games

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Many aspects conspired to make the interest in traditional games so special. Viswanathan Anand had become a Grandmaster; kabaddi had been introduced into the Asian games and closer to home my grandparents had moved to Chennai and lived barely a couple of 100 yards away from me.

These were my paternal grandparents and the most energetic and active couple I had ever seen. At that time, they were in the late 80s / early 90s and were happy to live alone with just a young girl to keep them company in the night. My granny was a fantastic cook and kept me constantly supplied with most delicious dishes. Poori potato was a special treat every Sunday morning. When she realised that I like to have a lie in on Sundays rather than get up and cook breakfast she would make a few dozen pooris and pack it a huge tiffin carrier with a large quantity of the traditional potato side dish and have my grandfather deliver it to me!

I loved the pampering, but beyond all else loved that they doted on my children – their great grandsons and were ready to babysit at any time. I must admit a twinge of guilt when I first left the kids with them.  Would two rambunctious boys be too much for them? Would my kids be bored as after all it was an 80-year age gap? Imagine my surprise though when the kids enjoyed going to their house. My grandmother spent hours playing with them and introducing them to several traditional games such as Paramapadam (the traditional Snakes and Ladders), Pallnguzhi and Dayakattam or Chaupad as it is called in the north. My grandfather tried to teach them how to spin a top or a bambaram and play with marbles.

It was fascinating to watch how easily these games bridged an 80-year age gap. My children looked forward to spending time with their great grandparents and build a close rapport with them. I must admit the special fried snacks my grandmother made every time they visited, and the ice cream treats my grandfather gave them from the shop just across the road definitely played a role too! Many years later, when my children were much older, they would still play with my grandmother. It was a special relationship that brought great joy to her life and gave my children a great experience in inter-generational relationships.

But at that time, something about traditional games fascinated me and I got talking about them with my grandmother. It spilled over into many of my conversations with other people and when they shared their experiences, I would tell my grandmother. Slowly, she started remembering more and more from her childhood.

So, when I did a special on games of India I decided to include a section on folk games. Little did I realise that I was embarking on a journey, that would take me to strange places and new adventures. I followed up the special by suggesting a series of articles on these games to Shalini Arun of the Young World supplement of The Hindu. She agreed and, in that minute, set the ball rolling on a project that would change the course of my life.

The response to the series was great. I had numerous people reach out and ask me to tell them the rules of the games, to tell them how to play and wondering where they could get the materials for playing. Mr M.CT.P. Chidambaram of the M.CT.M. Chidambaram Chettyar School in Chennai, was particularly fascinated by the subject and requested me to do a session for his teachers.

I remember using some leftover pieces of plywood and drawing out the games with crayons and colour pencils to help me do the session. For me that session was the catalyst. I believed that if people wanted to play the games, they should have the equipment and boards to play.

“Why not make them?” I thought to myself and there the idea of Kreeda was planted.  

“I will make about 50 sets of half a dozen games, sell a few and gift the others,” I thought to myself. It was an interesting idea and I parked it at the back of my mind because many other things were happening simultaneously.