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CHENNAI, INDIA, May 18, 2004: Today, the word “game” might mean either cricket or computer play station, but Chennai-based Vinita Siddharth’s organization, Kreeda, reintroduces children to centuries-old pastimes, such as Param Pada Sopnam and Ashtaa Chemmaa (better known as Indian snakes and ladders and ludo). Chess, for example, originated in India over a thousand years ago and then travelled to the West. Kreeda aims to revive the forgotten traditional games of India, for much ground has been conceded to the world of 3-D computer graphics, with their heavily armed animated characters. Vinita’s games are brightly colored and played on screen-printed canvas sheets. The idea germinated when Vinita’s editorial agency wrote an article about these neglected pastimes which proved very popular. It took root with Siddharth when she watched fascinated as her grandmother effortlessly bridged an 80-year gap with her 12-year-old son over Pallanguzhi, a game that requires counting and strategy skills. “It is not just about fun and games, but also family relationships that can be built by playing together,” says Vinita. Amid a chaotic pile of bright beads, shells and wooden coins, Kreeda’s workers carefully assemble the games and pack them in cardboard boxes for distribution in India and abroad. The 22 games sell for between US$1 to $10, use recycled paper and avoid plastic. The beautifully crafted games are decorative, but Siddharth is happiest when she sees children playing with them. She discovered during her researches that traditional pastimes are linked. For example, Pallanguzhi has a near-identical counterpart throughout Africa called Mancala. She has created new games, and several others have been inspired by information from customers about their own regional, traditional pastimes.

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