Kolkata: Ask any kid of the current generation about Kancha or Gilli danda, and it will be a matter of surrealism to him. But ask the same child about Candy Crush or Subway Surfers and he may fill you up with facts even unknown to you. So, in today’s world of emerging technologies and smart phones, do these age- old-games have any value? The answer to this would be a big yes!
Gone are those days when the kids got enjoyment by rolling the thin tyres with a stick. Gone are those days when the echoes of the famous Ikir Mikir could be heard in every locality. The game of gilli danda, hide and seek, Lattoo (spinning tops), Kumir danga, Kit-kit (hopscotch), Chor-sipahi (lock and key), Kancha (Marbles) and others barely exist and are slowly fading into the oblivion. But what one must know is that, like all other heritages, these games are heavily significant and are an integral part of the rich culture of India. Future Media School, a media college in Kolkata embarked on a mission of rescuing these games which have lost their values and significance. The team Chelebelar Khela organised a street exhibition on Friday where people came in to witness these different forms of games and take a trip down the memory lane. They put up various game stalls and displayed a theme based on these games. There was a good amount of footfall and the spectators took home some good and nostalgic memories.
We do preserve the beautiful Victoria Memorial, the Writers’ Building, the Shahid Minar, the Indian Museum and others. But why? Of what significance is the Victoria Memorial to a college going youth? The answer to this would be the term ‘History’. These monumental structures stand as a rich witness of our history. So just like these tangible heritages, the lost childhood games stand as an intangible heritage of ours and the initiative of FMS is worth lauding.