Mysore/Mysuru: Ramsons Kreedaa Kaushalya, the 11th Edition biennale of traditional Indian Boardgames, with the introduction of a new race game, Patra Gattam, will be inaugurated by actor Vinay Rajkumar at Ramsons Bombe Mane in Nazarbad today at 5 pm.
Author Ganesh V. Shivaswamy will unveil the new boardgames. Mysuru Book Clubs Charitable Trust Founder-Chairperson Shubha Sanjay Urs will release the revised edition of the book ‘Indian Traditional Boardgames.’
Ramsons Kreedaa Kaushalya will be open to public between 10 am and 7 pm till May 31.
The simple single track game is played by two persons with seven counters for each player, is a typical race game.
The well-known Lambani embroidery craft form has been used to create the cloth game boards with wooden counters from Channapatna.
The revised edition of ‘Indian Traditional Boardgames – A Guide to the Art of Play’ is being released in an enlarged version with three new articles from important games researchers.
Dr. Souvik Mukherji, Associate Professor in Cultural Studies, Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, Kolkata, writes about ‘Reviving Ancient Indian Boardgames.’
Scholar, polyglot, passionate gamer and contributing editor of Prekshaa Publications, Bengaluru, Arjun Bharadwaj takes us onto an interesting journey through the notable written records attesting the popularity of the gaming tradition across India over several centuries.
Dr. Jacob Schmidt-Madsen, Ph.D Scholar, Max Planck Institute for the History of Science, Germany, throws light on ancient Indian game of Gyan Chaupar — Gyan Bazi and its origins and how it has spread across the globe as Snakes and Ladders.
In the past, many Indian cities associated with Princely States produced fine chess sets and boards made of rare materials like ivory, ebony, sandalwood, rosewood, gold and silver. Notable places associated with such products were Vizianagaram, Surat, Murshidabad, Mysuru, Travancore, etc. However, post Independence, these cities are no longer centres of production.
The focus has shifted to smaller cities like Saharanpur, Aligarh, Amritsar and the popular tourist centres of Jaipur, Jodhpur, Agra and Varanasi where thirty-two pieces chess sets are manufactured in a variety of materials like silver-teakwood, mahogany, brass, copper and enamelled brass.
The entire range of boardgames in a variety of craft forms like silk weaving, silk embroidery, hand-woven cotton wall hangings, batik, kalamkari, inlay, chowkies, etc., feature games such as Chaukabara, Adu Huli, Aligulimane, Chaduranga, Navakankari, Hasu Chiratay, Anay Kattu, Paramapada, Nau Keti Keta, Panchi, Pretwa, Pancha Keliya, Vimana, Daadu, Patra Gattam, Singam, Basavana Ata, Sixteen Sepoys, Dash Guti, Egara Guti, Shara Vyooha, Ashtapada and many more.
Unique crochet knot: Dr. Manik A.V. Bengeri, a retired banker, author and musician from Mysuru, has multifaceted interests. She has developed a unique knot in crochet which makes her work seem almost machine made. She has made some gameboards in this craft which will be on display.
This post was published on April 3, 2026 6:39 pm