Is this a Snake or a Ladder?
Over the past few months I haven’t published much here on Oxymoron because I’ve been pre-occupied with another project that I have been keeping quiet until now. It was meant to be just a personal project but somehow it developed a life of its own and I’ve ended up in the strange position where, contrary to my better judgement and intentions, I’m not quite sure if my wife Vineeta and I just started another business, or not.
Let me explain.
Earlier this year, Vineeta and I made a trip from her parents home in Mumbai to the historic city centre where we spent some time doing the touristy thing, seeing sights and visiting an art gallery. Toward the end of the day, our taxi driver insisted that we couldn’t go home without visiting the Prince of Wales Museum, now called the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, or for those who find that a mouthful, just ‘The Museum’. We knew nothing about this museum and said that we’d pass, but even though it would have been advantageous to him to take us home and end his day earlier, our driver was quite insistent. So we walked down the road to the museum where a random man on the street saw us and told us that we really must go to the museum.
I can’t help but wonder of that guy was on commission from the museum, but nevertheless, we thought why not? If nothing else, it looked like a nice historic building and we had a couple of hours until closing time so we crossed over the threshold from the chaotic streets of Mumbai into the pristine sanctuary of the museum grounds.
Inside, we wandered the halls of the museum marvelling at historic artefacts not just from India, but Tibet, Rome, Greece, Sumer and Egypt. There were so many fascinating items that I struggled to know where to put my attention or how long to spend looking at any one thing in particular.
That was until I saw it and it stopped me in my tracks. I ran to find Vineeta and pulled her hurriedly to stand in front of it as I exclaimed, “Is that Snakes & Ladders?”
Indeed it was, but not as we knew it. In contrast to the simple children’s game that we are all familiar with, this large 18th Century artwork in the Jain section of the museum was clearly steeped in meaning, and I was mesmerised. I still don’t know why, considering that I have no significant affection for the children’s game and I’m not massively into board games, but something deep inside me told me that I needed to study this game.
That was the beginning of the next seven months of my life, during which Vineeta and I researched the history and design of the game and attempted to recreate it in English so that we could play it at home. It soon became clear that we were not supposed to recreate the Jain version from the museum, but to follow the tradition of the game and create a version tailored to the culture of our own time and place.
You see, while nobody knows exactly where or when it originated, Snakes & Ladders started out as a game of moral, religious and spiritual education. The board represents the journey through life, with each square carrying deep meaning for players to reflect on, while the snakes and the ladders represent karmic lessons. It was only in the 1890’s that the game was brought to Britain and commercialised as the simplified children’s game that we know today, then later taken to America as Chutes & Ladders, going on to become one of the most popular games in the world. The traditional game slipped into the shadows of history, becoming largely forgotten even in India.
Let’s just say that this little project somewhat took over my life, and in turn Vineeta’s life too. Almost every day for months I would work on developing a new design of the game, iterating through hundreds of versions in response to research, testing, Vineeta’s wisdom and insights that appeared in my daily meditations. The result was a modern version of Gyan Chaupar, meaning the game of wisdom or self-knowledge, that we could play at home with friends.
I’d been really strict with myself throughout this process to put my entrepreneurs mind in a box and lock it away so as not to corrupt the purity of the creative process. I knew deep down that this project was an important part of my own self-healing after so many years in the grind of being a founder-manager of a digital agency and I didn’t want to screw it up by turning this into a business.
Doing something creative and meaningful that was non-digital and without commercial pressures was refreshing, cathartic and much needed. So when my friends kept asking me questions like “Where are you going to sell it?”, “How will you get it produced?” and “When can I buy a copy?”, I would politely try to shut the conversation down.
But then I finished the design
Having been so strict with myself about respecting this as just a personal creative project, once it was finished I looked up and realised that this wasn’t just about me. The game had already had a profoundly beneficial impact on the lives of Vineeta and I, as well as some of our friends who had played it during its development. It would seem like a shame not to make it available for others to experience and so I decided that I would compromise and print a hundred copies to sell online.
How hard could that be?
The problem is that I like to do things properly and consequently this decision to sell a few copies online quickly spiralled out of control. I had to find a printer who could deliver the quality I wanted. I had to figure out how to sell them online and got carried away with Vineeta designing a custom e-commerce website. I had to figure out how to package them so that they could be delivered safely. And just to add to the challenge, I of course also had to make sure that the solutions to all of these elements were aligned with my own values.
Together with Vineeta who has been incredibly supportive, I have basically gone through the initial steps required to start a small board game company just to sell a hundred copies of Snakes & Ladders. Not factoring in either of our time, if we manage to sell them all, we might almost cover our costs.
I’m not quite sure whether I have trodden on a slippery snake or whether I am quietly climbing up a ladder to a magical land, but for now, let’s just say that it’s been a completely irrational labour of love and despite the challenges, I’m excited to finally be able to share it with you all.
In the coming weeks, I’ll write some posts sharing some of the interesting challenges I’ve faced in this micro-startup process, so stay tuned that. But for now, I’m just excited to say that it is finally launched!
Where can you find out more?
You can find out all about our version of Gyan Chaupar and buy a copy online at www.gyanchaupar.co.uk
It’s available in two versions, both of which double up as both a game and an artwork for your wall. One version is a rigid board, which is my favourite even if completely impractical to post, and the other is a far more sensible poster format. Both feature 84 hand illustrated tiles representing important aspects of life as well as Vineeta’s beautiful Mandala of Unity where the game begins and ends. It’s rich in meaning to help you in your personal development and provide a framework for deepening relationships with the people you love.
They will be available to buy until 28th November or until they are sold out, whichever comes first. The reason is that I know some people will want them delivered in time for Christmas, but I also want to take some time off around the end of the year, so if there are any left at the end of November I will pause sales until I’m ready again.
Vineeta and I have also started a little Substack together called 42 Mysteries, in which we’ll be sharing snippets of ancient and modern wisdom to support you on the journey through life, guided by the roll of the dice on the Gyan Chaupar board.
Oh, and there’s even an Instagram account @gyanchaupar.
I told you we got carried away!
Finally, I have a favour to ask
I’m really passionate about this game and although it is still just a little hobby project, I really want these 100 games to go to good homes where they can positively impact people’s lives. The saddest thing for me would be if they just sit on my desk without a home to go to.
So if you would be willing, I would be incredibly grateful if you would tell people you know who might be interested and also post about it on your preferred social channels. That would be a massive help.
Thank you so much!
I love life's little surprises like that. Me and my partner also created a board game during Covid out of boredom. It brought us to a new universe we did not know even existed :)