Many of us in the West have the assumption that the games we play today were invented in Europe. Indeed, while there are great modern games, like monopoly or scrabble, there are a wealth of games created in Asia. India specifically has an incredibly rich history of board games, many of which have been adopted and adapted in the west. It may come as a surprise, for example, that chess draws inspiration from the Indian game Charturanaga. It is here that we will discuss the best board games invented in India.
Chaturanga
As per the introduction, we know that modern day chess is closely related to Charturanaga. In fact, there are at least 5 other chess-like variants which are also offshoots of the game. These variants find themselves in China, Japan, Burma, Thailand and Korea. To spread its way to Europe the game was first adopted by the Persians in the early 7th century and then passed to Europe.
Unfortunately, the exact rules of Charturanga have been lost to history. The game was played around 2000 B.C. and records of the full game has been lost.
The Pieces are similar to modern chess, we have a King, A rook, A bishop, a knight and pawns. The queen was given a major upgrade in modern chess as in charturanga it could only move one space diagonally and was known as a councillor.
Also contrary to modern chess, a player can only win if all pieces (other than the opponent’s king) have been taken. So the opponents King must be the last piece on the board.
Carrom
Carrom is a 20th century board game which originated in India. Due to the close links between the UK and India the game spread to Europe during the mid-late 1900s. It’s a 2-4 player game which basically functions as a combination of pool and air hockey. Carrom is especially popular among families due to its small size and portability.
You must flick the striker disk (like the white ball in pool) into the target pieces which are called “men”. The likeness of air hockey comes as the discs slide across the wooden board. Again, like in Pool, you’re aiming to sink all you your coloured pieces and the final piece the red queen – similar to the black ball in pool.
The game spread foremost through recreational play. As such there are many different variations of the game which were played with different natioional rules. You can see a few differences below:
Pakistan: The striker disk is slid, not flicked.
American: Miniature pool cues are added to this version.
Japanese: Larger pockets and more target pieces.
As time went on a more standardised version of the game was established and the world Carrom Championships sees the participation of 20-30 different countries.
Pacheesi
Pacheesi can trace its origins as far back as 1000 B.C. This game has been commercialised in the west as Ludo or Sorry! both of which have seen great success with family audiences. Pacheesi however is normally played in teams as opposed to Ludo which is an individual game. The game is so popular in India that some have even described it as India’s national board game – even if it has no such formal status.
The aim in Pacheesi is to get all four of your pieces around the board before your opponent does. Instead of dice, six cowrie shells are thrown to facilitate play. The number of shells face up are given different values and this determines the play: how many places they may move, and whether they earn another turn.
For example, 1 face up shell is worth 10 points. This lets you play one of your pieces onto the board and earns you another turn. The rules can be somewhat confusing, so it’s helpful to have a rulebook handy when you’re playing this one.
Moksha Patam
Moksha Patam is more commonly known in the west as Snakes and Ladders. Its first iterations came from 2nd Century India. The game was brought to the UK in the late 1800s and evolved into the snakes and ladders we know today.
While we now know it as a fun children’s game, Moksha Patam was initially intended to be an instruction on morality. The ladders in the game were virtues, which we should seek to abide by. The Snakes were vices which were to be avoided. As you progressed further up the board you would move to higher levels of consciousness and spiritualism. The end goal was to reach Moksha which stands for enlightenment.
Shastranga
Whereas most of the games on this list find their origins in ancient India, Shastranga was made only this year. This game was published in 2022 and focuses on historical astronomy and astrology and relates it to the modern day.
The game is all about “owning” your zodiac style. As you progress through the game you get traits and attributes affiliated with that star sign. Further round the board, the player learns the habits and natures of each star sign. It helps us understand ancient Indian astrology and ultimately, I think it’s an interesting way to meld old and new. However, the other players are trying to stop you from fulfilling your destiny and this is where the competitive aspect comes in.
Conclusion
To sum up, the best board games invented in India have come to be some of the most popular in the west too. Notable games include Chaturanga, Pacheesi and Moksha Patam which evolved into Chess, Ludo and Snakes and Ladders respectively. However, Board Games invented in India did not only travel to the west, but also further east in Asia. Carrom found popularity in countries like Japan and Charturanga was popularised in Burma, China and Thiland as slightly different chess variants. India is truly a nation of board games enthusiasts and I for one and glad that we get to experience many of these in the west.
