The house hold games, which yesteryear’s children in our country used to play with enthusiasm after school hours and during summer holidays, are fast disappearing. Having spent whole of my childhood days in North, these games are known to me in Hindi (do not know their vernacular names) such as ‘Chouka Bara’, ‘Gippi’, Kanche-goli’, Gilli-danda’, ‘Kho-kho’, ‘Chor-Sipahi’ (Hide & seek), ‘Sanmp-Seedhi’ (snake & ladder), ‘Carrom’ , 'tug of war', 'ring' and ‘Skipping’. It was fun to come back home with dirt on half pant or shirt and coming back with some bruises on hand or leg was like a bonus!
Barring a few, all these local games have become extinct for urban children though some of them are still being played in remote village side. Thankfully, the last game Skipping has now become an ‘in thing’ for health freaks and health clubs. The advantages of these games were that these neither required any coaching nor needed a playground. They were played anywhere on the road, in the street and back yards of any house. Any time was fun time for playing these games. More over these games involved no expenditure.
Now children hardly get time to go out and play and also they have no liking for these outdated games.Watching TV, playing games on mobile phone or internet gaming have become house hold games for them. Those who can afford to spend, go to play stations in malls to get a feel of modern day games like Bowling, Tag or commuter games like car chase, star wars, Spider man, Harry potter and several such animated games, all for a hefty price!
It is acycle of orefferences. Over a period of time,we might see our traditional games back in our backyards.
ReplyDeleteI believe it is probably due to the increase in the concrete levels in cities and the lack of free open ground. At my place there is one ground and that is also miles away, takes 20-30 mins to reach there so it is probably the consequence of not planning cities.
ReplyDeleteWe have grown up playing these games...times have changes. Surely.
ReplyDeleteNowadays in every city parks and playgrounds for children are hard to find. Even at home, the indoor sports have taken a backseat because of lack of space in our apartments as opposed to independent houses we had earlier with a courtyard, and huge terrace.
ReplyDeleteIndoor games are replaced by computer and video games if not by TV. Small towns still have these games, by the way.
ReplyDeletereally...it brings back my childhood memories.thnks for reminding it here..
ReplyDeleteYou raise an interesting point.
ReplyDeleteIt was a different time... These days children are either addicted to the computer or some video game... Neither do people interact with each other these days. There are people who do not even know who their neighbors are!
ReplyDeleteThank you for all the comments but I do feel that children and their parents would not like to encourage these games any more even if space like grounds are available!
ReplyDeleteoh..really you reminded all those days..how the whole day under the scorching sun we used to play these games, it was so fun filled....
ReplyDeletebutt now its all like fairy tale for the kids who simply play computer games lying on sofa in their AC rooms.....
I enjoyed your post. I think today's parents are way overprotective as well. When I was a child, it was not uncommon for me to take off on my bike in the morning with some friends, heading out for our own adventures, and not return until later that evening. And there were no cellphones, internet, or pagers... Today, I feel parents are so careful and protective, rightfully so at times, because they can be.. Meaning, they have the means to keep a watchful eye on their children via many means. Got a little off topic, but i think that contributes. Oh, and awesome toys nowadays that we didn't have when I was a kid (and I am only 28 yrs old!)... I just randdomly came across this site, but i like it and will be returning!! I run a photoblog at http://catchthejiffy.com if you are interested in some European photo adventures!
ReplyDeleteso true!
ReplyDeleteTrue Sir. I liked your writing. I have written a post on similar lines, if you will like to read perhaps.
ReplyDeletehttp://sushmaspage.blogspot.com/2011/04/children-played.html
Brilliant post! So true....when i was a kid ..I spent every evening playing either Kho Kho or "chhupa chhupi", etc etc....I just miss those days so much. I see my little cousins with video games and I cant tell them enough what they are missing!
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