What do you think?
Rate this book
JUST PLAY! : Life lessons from Traditional Indian Games
India has a rich culture of games, but sadly many of them are forgotten today and run the risk of disappearing into oblivion. They are fun, elemental and easy to play by people of all backgrounds, ages, cultures and qualifications. What is more, each of them has lessons for us that are as important today as they were when they were created.
Just Play! Life Lessons from Traditional Indian Games is a book that takes you back in time through the fun and laughter of these games. Every game—from Panch Kone to Solah Seedi to Aadu Puli Aatam—represents or captures an aspect of life and the world. Unlike life, games can be played again and again, to get it right.
While making mistakes in the real world has a lasting impact, making mistakes in a game has limited consequences. It is through mistakes that we learn and grow. These games reduce life’s complexity to a replica of manageable elements and size. They enable the player to view situations calmly and objectively so as to isolate the core of the problem. And therein lies their charm and relevance.
With fun and laughter, the book Just Play! enables us to learn valuable life lessons from these traditional Indian games.
Just Play! Life Lessons from Traditional Indian Games is a book that takes you back in time through the fun and laughter of these games. Every game—from Panch Kone to Solah Seedi to Aadu Puli Aatam—represents or captures an aspect of life and the world. Unlike life, games can be played again and again, to get it right.
While making mistakes in the real world has a lasting impact, making mistakes in a game has limited consequences. It is through mistakes that we learn and grow. These games reduce life’s complexity to a replica of manageable elements and size. They enable the player to view situations calmly and objectively so as to isolate the core of the problem. And therein lies their charm and relevance.
With fun and laughter, the book Just Play! enables us to learn valuable life lessons from these traditional Indian games.
195 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 5, 2022
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 26, 2025
I found this book in a podcast episode where Phalgun, an Indian game publisher via Mozaic games, mentioned it.
The concept intrigued me, so I ordered it from Amazon.
The book was good. We see a solid amount of cultural history being unearthed or expanded on, and the life lessons hidden therein.
Personally I find books about life lessons and self help pretty same-y. Like once you've read one, you've read them all. This one did give me a bit of that feeling but it was wrapped in a great history lesson.
Seeing all these Indian games that have inspired or are contemporaries of classic board games, it goes to show how rich our culture is when it comes to games.
Worth a read if you want to learn about old indian games, or are just into games in general
Haiku #89
Do you like ludo
If you do please run and hide
(im kidding its fine)
The concept intrigued me, so I ordered it from Amazon.
The book was good. We see a solid amount of cultural history being unearthed or expanded on, and the life lessons hidden therein.
Personally I find books about life lessons and self help pretty same-y. Like once you've read one, you've read them all. This one did give me a bit of that feeling but it was wrapped in a great history lesson.
Seeing all these Indian games that have inspired or are contemporaries of classic board games, it goes to show how rich our culture is when it comes to games.
Worth a read if you want to learn about old indian games, or are just into games in general
Haiku #89
Do you like ludo
If you do please run and hide
(im kidding its fine)
August 9, 2022
Indoor games, outdoor games & little sports are every person’s part of life. Many memories and incidents, good and bad, are attached to these games. There were times when the whole family used to play together, and those summer holidays when cousins used to meet at grandmother’s place and have a great time playing games. These games are the first moral lessons we as a kid have learnt.
The first ever game probably every Indian kid must have played is either Snakes & Ladders or Ludo! This game is all about ups and downs, how to take a step with utmost care and how not to let down the confidence one we lose! Likewise, several games have some of the other lessons that are being taught.
Author Vinita’s vision of bringing out this book based on Indian games is just fantastic. While playing many roles in our life, somewhere, we have forgotten our simple tactical mind of ours that can be made alive by playing simple games. In this book, there are 11 chapters, and each is divided into sections. The true sense of wit, virtue and wisdom in these games give a new perspective on one’s mind and thought process.
In this book, Vinita tried to explain these games' uniqueness. They look simple, but the philosophy behind them is enormous! The first chapter, explaining the game – Panch Kone, is the prior version of Brainvita! When I read this statement, I had my fuses gone haywire. Then I started reading the book with utmost interest. As the chapters progressed, the richness in every game started sinking into my mind.
‘ Traditional games, being more elemental, draw from simple symbols, everyday materials and the philosophies of our culture for inspiration. Some of these are echoed by people across the world.’
This is so true. The Chess, Vaikuntapali, Ludo, Hopscotch patterns, etc., are all based on elementary designs we see daily. Reading the book and the author’s narration will make the readers realize the relevance of these games in real life. With the writing style and narration in simple language and with a reasonable explanation, this book is just the right one to pick when you feel low or want something that will entice your mind.
Pick it if:
- you like books that take you back into memory lane.
- you like books that talk about our country's history and heritage.
The first ever game probably every Indian kid must have played is either Snakes & Ladders or Ludo! This game is all about ups and downs, how to take a step with utmost care and how not to let down the confidence one we lose! Likewise, several games have some of the other lessons that are being taught.
Author Vinita’s vision of bringing out this book based on Indian games is just fantastic. While playing many roles in our life, somewhere, we have forgotten our simple tactical mind of ours that can be made alive by playing simple games. In this book, there are 11 chapters, and each is divided into sections. The true sense of wit, virtue and wisdom in these games give a new perspective on one’s mind and thought process.
In this book, Vinita tried to explain these games' uniqueness. They look simple, but the philosophy behind them is enormous! The first chapter, explaining the game – Panch Kone, is the prior version of Brainvita! When I read this statement, I had my fuses gone haywire. Then I started reading the book with utmost interest. As the chapters progressed, the richness in every game started sinking into my mind.
‘ Traditional games, being more elemental, draw from simple symbols, everyday materials and the philosophies of our culture for inspiration. Some of these are echoed by people across the world.’
This is so true. The Chess, Vaikuntapali, Ludo, Hopscotch patterns, etc., are all based on elementary designs we see daily. Reading the book and the author’s narration will make the readers realize the relevance of these games in real life. With the writing style and narration in simple language and with a reasonable explanation, this book is just the right one to pick when you feel low or want something that will entice your mind.
Pick it if:
- you like books that take you back into memory lane.
- you like books that talk about our country's history and heritage.
September 14, 2022
Just Play: Life lessons from traditional Indian Games by @vinitasidhartha
@rupa_publications
This book solely took me to back my childhood, I recollect when I used to visit my grandparents' home during school breaks/holidays. I had played, or I've seen playing some of the games explained in this book. At that age obviously, I was not able to understand some of these games, e.g. I've always glimpsed playing a group of elderly fellows playing Solah Seedi and Chaupad but I was not able to understand these particular games in that short span. This book comes in handy and explained each game with all possible and important details to understand these games. Games are an integral part of Indian culture and heritage. Sadly, in this era of the internet kids are deeply involved in playing video games, play stations, laptops, watching televisions, etc. They have completely forgotten the traditional Indian indoor games.
Just Play is an intriguing collection of most of the games that have either been conveniently avoided or have been forgotten. Accordingly, this book is a delight because of its research and elegance.
This book is a quick read that provides valuable insight into some of the interesting Indian traditional games that enable us to learn valuable life lessons. Very interesting and fun read.
#justplay #readwithak #bookish #indiantradition
@rupa_publications
This book solely took me to back my childhood, I recollect when I used to visit my grandparents' home during school breaks/holidays. I had played, or I've seen playing some of the games explained in this book. At that age obviously, I was not able to understand some of these games, e.g. I've always glimpsed playing a group of elderly fellows playing Solah Seedi and Chaupad but I was not able to understand these particular games in that short span. This book comes in handy and explained each game with all possible and important details to understand these games. Games are an integral part of Indian culture and heritage. Sadly, in this era of the internet kids are deeply involved in playing video games, play stations, laptops, watching televisions, etc. They have completely forgotten the traditional Indian indoor games.
Just Play is an intriguing collection of most of the games that have either been conveniently avoided or have been forgotten. Accordingly, this book is a delight because of its research and elegance.
This book is a quick read that provides valuable insight into some of the interesting Indian traditional games that enable us to learn valuable life lessons. Very interesting and fun read.
#justplay #readwithak #bookish #indiantradition
July 13, 2024
Just Play! by Vinita Sidhartha is one of the most unusual books I’ve encountered in the recent times. Also, one I immensely enjoyed reading. Segregated systematically into sections: Understanding the Self, Strategy, Synergy,Survival and The World and You this book delves into India’s rich culture of games. These games were played not for mere entertainment but, skill development, relationship building, learning about virtues and vices that shape one’s identity when imbibed as an individual exploring life.
This book also acquaints the reader to the facts that games like Ludo, Snakes and Ladders and many other widely played games that have originated in India and gradually westernised in nature over the long span of time. Games played using pebbles, cowrie shells, dry coconut shells and many other nature friendly games were played with emphasis on precision, team building and competitiveness and primarily consistency.
This interesting read is rich in perspective, simple to understand with a premise we ought to know. There’s so much to discover and marvel at when it comes to India’s social and cultural fabric, making this book is one of the many important reads which brings a forgotten history to the world that needs to realise and relearn.
This book also acquaints the reader to the facts that games like Ludo, Snakes and Ladders and many other widely played games that have originated in India and gradually westernised in nature over the long span of time. Games played using pebbles, cowrie shells, dry coconut shells and many other nature friendly games were played with emphasis on precision, team building and competitiveness and primarily consistency.
This interesting read is rich in perspective, simple to understand with a premise we ought to know. There’s so much to discover and marvel at when it comes to India’s social and cultural fabric, making this book is one of the many important reads which brings a forgotten history to the world that needs to realise and relearn.
August 21, 2022
Indian mythology and cultural heritage has a plethora of ancient games that the people used to enjoy. Not only did these games offer moments of respite from the endearing political situations and the fearful apprehensions, they also instilled values of teamwork and ethics of sportsmanship. Just Play is an interesting compilation of most of the games that have either been conveniently ignored or have been forgotten because they just formed a meager part of the plot of a bigger story. Hence, this book is interesting because of its selectivity and interpretations.
Read the complete review here: https://www.aliveshadow.com/category-...
Read the complete review here: https://www.aliveshadow.com/category-...
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews