Carrom is one of the most popular games in the Asia-Pacific region and there are often clubs that hold regular tournaments to test individual skills. It’s played regularly in homes and is a feature of social events for all ages. This game is similar to billiards and has some elements of shuffleboard to it as well. Using a disk called a “striker,” you flick it with a finger toward other disks to drive them towards one of four pockets.
Who invented the carrom board? There is a US patent issued for the board, but as for an individual inventor for this game, no one really knows who came up with the initial concepts.
Did the British Invent It? Maybe the Maharajahs?
Carrom tournaments have been held in Sri Lanka for nearly 80 years, even though the International Carrom Federation was founded in the 1980’s when the game began to increase in popularity. Most researchers have come to one of two conclusions when it comes to who actually invented this game: it was either the British who brought it into India during the colonial period or it was the Majarajahs of India.
The Carrom Company, who is one of the largest makers of the game board, was initially organized in 1889. A man named Henry Haskell, who was a Sunday School teacher, wanted to give boys an alternative to the pool halls that were popular at the time. He brought the game to the United States and was given a patent on the game board for Carrom. Although Haskell is often credited with the invention of the game board, the game was played around the world before the patent was issued in the US.
The Variations of Carrom Made It Even More Popular
As the United States suffered through the Great Depression, affordable outlets for fun were often sought after. Families went to movies, attended baseball games, and looked for similar pastimes at home. The baseball game Carrom board was one of those options and these boards are highly collectible today. It was so popular, in fact, that the Carrom Company tried to get into the furniture business for some time, though unsuccessfully until the start of the second world war.
In 1961, plastic corners were invented to enhance the carrom board to help it become more like the modern version you’d see today. The modern game board also now includes additional games that can be played, including chess, checkers, and parchisi for a multi-function game for the home. Brackets, score cards, and other items can all be printed out for family tournaments and although the game isn’t as popular in the West as it is in the East, it continues to grow in popularity.
If you’re looking for a way to unplug your kids from their electronics for a little while, a carrom board could be the right investment to make. It’s a game that is simple to learn, but it can take a lifetime to master.
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