No better way to reconnect with past

Its common to see  children and youngsters spending hours together with a device in hand playing games like PUBG, Clash of Clans, SimCity and many others. The games that our forefathers played have been forgotten entirely due to advancement in technology. To re-introduce and promote the games that our grandparents played, GoUNESCO came up with their Make Heritage Fun event where you will get to go back in time to days when games were less complicated.
The day long event is slated to happen in Bengaluru, on September 30, as well as in various other cities like Delhi, Lucknow, Ahmedabad, Cameroon and Italy. Talking to people participating in this event, we find out games that they are looking forward to.

Prasen Moudgal a writer, feels such events will bring people together and break barriers. He says, “Off late technology has led to people being less social. This event not only brings down barriers between people, it also gives them a platform to explore Indian games. It  gives them a feel of the games that out parents and grandparents played. This event will help me meet like-minded people. I googled quite a few ancient games which seemed interesting. I’m most excited to play Chaturanga which is a chess game played by four people.”

Chowka 5x5 scroll

Kaumudhi, a student who will be part of this event, says that these games will help her to bond and form great memories with her grandmother. She says, “I have always been inclined to things related to our culture and heritage. 

Everywhere we go now, every thing has become so westernised. That’s why this event that takes us back to our roots sounded very interesting. I don’t think children these days play the kind of games our grandparents played. With these games, age is no bar. I really look forward to playing  Chaturanga, Pagade and also Ali Guli Mane which I used to play with my grandmother."

Prasen

Archana Bhambhani, a marketing manager feels that such events take children as well as adults back to simpler times. She says, “With the kind of modern living we have, not many kids interact with each other. This event will give my daughter the chance to get away from gadgets. I am looking forward to playing Chowka Bara, Pallanguli and Navakankari. It’s a pity that we have to take out time to go and play these games which were initially part of every household. These are also games that are played with things found at home.”

Ajay Reddy, the founder of GoUNESCO says, “The idea of the Make Heritage Fun campaign is to get people involved. This campaign is also intended to make people think of heritage in their own terms. We have also tried to convey the message that heritages is not just about monuments but involves all aspects. This event will have traditional games that most people tend to forget, games like Chaturanga, Pagade Ali Guli Mane and many others. Evolution is natural and therefore people move on to other things. However its good to know about games that existed in the distant past and why they were so popular. These games tend to bring the community together and builds relationships.”

BT21