What’s your favorite game (card, board, video, etc.)? Why?
Games have been an essential part of human civilisation, evolving from ancient mind and physical games in societies like the Indus Valley and Greece to modern sports like cricket and computer gaming. Historical aspects illustrate their significance, from the Olympics honouring Zeus to the Mahabharata’s “Chausar,” reflecting political undertones. Today, cricket has gained immense popularity through commercialisation and global enthusiasm, overshadowing traditional games. Both outdoor and indoor games offer benefits in physical fitness and mental stimulation. As technology progresses, gaming adapts, transforming into a lucrative industry. Overall, games remain a vital source of amusement, fitness, and social interaction across generations.
Games are a means of amusement. They are played using both mind and body. The mind games are more powerful than those played with the body appendages, like legs and hands. Games requiring physical strength, like moving legs and hands, involve stressful muscular movement and increased blood flow. It enhances oxygen supply, thereby making the body strong and enduring.
Games are as old as civilisation. We are still in the penumbra about the games played during the Indus Valley civilisation. The findings from the excavation, nevertheless, suggest that children may have been using terracotta toys for gaming purposes. The people were organised, and this gives ample scope to think that games must have been an important aspect of their lives. Findings like dice and pieces of clay boards show that board games were popular among them.
In Greek civilisation, games were at their pinnacle. Physically fit and chiselled bodies with strong muscles were considered necessary, therefore, field games were considered essential. In ancient Greece, it was a quadrennial occurrence which was a blend of religious and sports jamboree. Games were organised in honour of the god Zeus. in Olympia. The winners were honoured with the crown made up of olive branches.
In the famous book Ben-Hur by Lew Wallace, a vivid description of a chariot race competition is provided. It was an impressive scene in the film of the same name. This shows that the track and field events were very popular in those days. Discus throw, Javelin throw, sprinting, boxing, et cetera were widely played.
Later, in the nineteenth century, the Olympic Games were revived. Pierre de Coubertin, a French historian and educator, started the modern Olympic Games. The first modern Olympic Games were held in Athens in 1896. In sports world, this is the most coveted and prestigious quadrennial event.
As has been stated above, Games and sports were treated with utmost importance in ancient times. Besides recreation, they gradually became a powerful political tool to gain prominence. The famous game of “Chausar” (game of dice), which was played between Kauravas and Pandavas in the great epic of the Mahabharata, was the major turning point. Pandavas lost everything, including their dignity, and were ridiculed in the open house and exiled to the forests. They were forced to lead a life in the forests with rigorous conditions imposed on them.
In modern times, Cricket is a popular game. Played by Britons to prove their racial superiority, it was a good pastime for them. It is why cricket is majorly played in countries that were British colonies, like India, Pakistan, Australia, the West Indies, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, South Africa, New Zealand, et cetera. Initially, it used to be a recreation which was played by members of the elite class, including Whites, and members of the royal family of princely states. In post-colonial times, it was a sluggish five-day event called Test cricket.
Cricket was commercialised by Kerry Packer, an Australian businessman who started World Series Cricket in 1977. Since then, cricket has not looked back and has become a money-making machine. A celebrity cricket player gets millions from their games and endorsements. The Cricket is now an all-year-round event with many formats and durations. It is now fast and aggressive with cutthroat competition, and people are vying for it. Their enthusiasm for this game is rapidly increasing. Cricket has overshadowed other games, especially the indigenous games like Kabaddi and Kho-Kho.
The outdoor games are demanding and comparatively more challenging than the indoor games. It would not be good to compare the two as good or bad, but in terms of physical involvement, the outdoor games have an edge. The track and field events need stamina, endurance and power along with alacrity and caution.
The track and field events, as the name indicates, are played in open fields and include Athletics, Javelin throw, Pole Vault, Long Jump, High Jump, Shooting and Archery.
The indoor games, on the other hand, need physical and mental fitness; they are a little less strenuous. Games like Volleyball, Table Tennis, swimming, wrestling and weightlifting are performed in an indoor stadium.
Apart from these well-talked-about games, there are games which are played in the confines of houses, clubs and bars. These include cards, carrom, Ludo-like, and Chess. These games, which used to be a source of recreation for men, women and children in their leisure hours, are gaining ground in current times and are touted as strong money-earning games. While Chess is a serious mind game, others are light and exert less pressure on the mind. Chess has been a reputed game, and winning a Grand Master’s title is a prestigious achievement.
The games, as has been pointed out in the beginning, are a source of amusement besides their effect on the body’s functioning. Metabolism and overall fitness. When considered from their amusement aspect, it gives a two folded advantage of fitness and entertainment. For some people walking too is a game because of its nature and involvement of physical activity. Games function as an aerobic exercise, enhancing blood circulation and increasing heart work, walking is also a good exercise-cum-game. It entertains and amuses as a walker passes through beautiful natural scenery. Parallelly, it is a good aerobic exercise. So, people who take up brisk walking are virtually performing a Marathon Walk, though with considerably lesser concentration and effort.
He is among those who don’t play games. During his childhood, he was inspired by players and eager to join the sports played by his classmates. He was physically weak and not well-built; he used to play the goalkeeper position in football, where he had to stay vigilant. Kicking a ball that appeared heavy and tough was beyond his capacity.
He tried his hand at gully cricket. Soon, he lost interest. It was not a popular game at that time, but as time went on, he was amused to see people beeline to transistors. They would listen to the cricket commentary, which appeared to be a total chaos. Nothing except noise was audible. People would shout when a ground or aerial shot was played by the batsman. “It is six”, they would yell.
It was the time of Test Cricket. Sunil Gavaskar, G. Vishwanath, Eknath Solkar, Sayed Kirmani, Farooq Engineer, Chandrasekar and Ajit Wadekar were the heroes of the game. Incapable of understanding even a world of commentary, he remained mute and would see the faces of listeners with dumbness.
Later, as he progressed in class, he started playing board games. Primarily, he played Ludo, Snakes and Ladders. Almost regularly after the school was over, a few of them would gather at one of their classmates’ homes to play Ludo or other board games. He would reach home late and get scoldings. It went on for quite some time and gradually faded.
Modern times are the computer age. Different activities have shrunk onto a computer screen. Games are not an exception. The speed and excitement, joined with virtual imagery, brought them a new thrill.
As people began playing games on computers, a new genre of gaming emerged. The advancements in technology and equipment provided a significant boost to computer gaming, transforming it into a massive industry. Powerful gaming computers, gaming consoles, sophisticated mice, and improved widescreen monitors have made the gaming experience exhilarating. The demand for more advanced algorithms and software has also led to the development of a thriving computer gaming software industry.
Time changes, and so does everything. From a humble “Gilli-Danda” and “Kanche” to cricket, football and the Olympics, the generations have come a long way. Game is an inseparable part of life. It accompanied humans from antediluvian times to recent times and shall continue to stay with them. It is, nevertheless, a choice not between game or no game, but also a choice of preference, likes and dislikes.
-END-
.
Leave a Reply