Ever since the outbreak of COVID-19, there has been a strong consciousness regarding an Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India). The notion has been ‘Go Vocal for Local.’
The new Indian Patriotic game launched to replace PUBG developed by an Indian company
Towards this end, the government has provided incentives to many - especially the Medium and Small Enterprises (MSME) - to produce or manufacture everything in India itself. In line with Atmanirbhar Bharat Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his famous ‘Maan ki Baat’ address to the nation, made an announcement to boost the manufacture and global imprint of Indian toys. He further associated the toys to be used as catalysts for imparting values and knowledge right from a tender age and vouched to further the spirit of ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’. Ha also talked about it to be used as a pedagogical tool to be used in places such as Angadwadi centers.
But the biggest breakthrough announcement was heard when he also talked about virtual games to perform the same function. During the speech itself, he cited examples of toymakers like CV Raju who had started the Etikoppa toy movement which was initiated to develop a temperament to not only sell toys but make such toys that would help kids understand the Indian culture. The PM also talked about the toy manufacturers of Dhubri.
India has a rich tradition of indigenous sports such as Pachisi (Snakes and Ladder) which can be traced to the times of the Mahabharata or Chausar or Polo which are indigenous games of places such as Manipur or Assam’s very own traditional sports such as Moh Jooj, Koni Jooj or Tekeli Bhonga. But why have these sports or activities been limited to board games or played during the festive season only? The answer is simple. We have not taken it to their desirable heights.
A country like the USA manufactures such virtual games so as to promote its ideology. Games like Project IGI, Call of Duty, etc portray that the USA is all good. Supposedly a game like ‘Captain America’ toy sends out the message loud and clear that makes America great. So these popular narratives are imbibed by people through their childhood. And this undoubtedly makes one aware of the ways of the nation, generates a patriotic sentiment, or a temperament towards liking the nation which is fair enough.
Now the lucrative toy industry has a whopping value of Rs 7 lakh crores approximately but in India’s case cheap Chinese imports have hijacked the market for years and have further affected the indigenous toy manufacturers with only a few being able to survive. There were certain games such as ‘Chandragupta: Warrior Prince’ which was a play station that did not gain that kind of popularity or market when compared to other successful virtual games.
There could be many reasons but undoubtedly the problem with today’s children is that they not only lag in historical knowledge, or our rich heritage but are driven towards western influences to such an extent that at times one tends to ignore one’s rich history and develops a fondness towards other cultures and such seeds are sown from a tender age itself.
Ultimately it will be us who are going to lose out today. There is a huge debate regarding the syllabus related to subjects such as History and especially since a long time the northeastern states have cried for a better representation. Now, today’s generation does not have great reading habits and the trend is going to remain the same with everything getting digitalized.
There are various channels such as the like of ‘Epic’ channel that project our history through shows such as ‘Time Machine’ but that is not enough as today’s children are more into computers engaged in virtual games or play stations.
For example, in a state such as Assam, everyone knows about the bravery and heroism of Lachit Barphukan and how he stopped the Mughals from occupying Assam and the famous battles of Saraighat as it is a popular narrative. But students of the state who are in CBSE schools miss out a lot on such history.
Hence, virtual computer games can be made on these lines. Participation of brave sons of the soil such as Bhagdatta, Narakasur or Ghatothkach (son of Bhima and Hidimba Devi) whose traces can be found in Mahabharata or Har-Hari Battle - the fight between Lord Krishna and Ban King of Sonitpur (Tezpur) which finds mention in the Vishnu Puran or Bir Chilarai (Sukladhvaj) the Koch King who was also known as the kite King standing on his horse with his sword while giving nightmares to his opponents who was undoubtedly one of the best warriors should be brought into the limelight through such virtual games or toys.
Such legends should be promoted and similarly, even freedom fighters should be also promoted on similar lines which will help our children understand our history and culture thereby developing a liking and respect towards the same. And similar such initiatives with the rest of the states of northeast India can be initiated.
Thus such kind of representation in such forums will definitely allow better representation of people of northeast India and hopefully it will aid in doing away with the ‘xenophobia’ or the fear of the unknown which becomes a reason for racism or abuse and also opens the window of employment for many which are necessary for these tough corona days as people have lost out on their jobs. So this actually can be used as an initiation of a process that should be well complemented by adequate incentives.
(The author is practicing as an advocate in Gauhati High Court. The views expressed in the article are his own.)