The dichotomy between work and play is expressed to children in a nursery rhyme, ‘All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy’. No wonder why many of us grow with the notion that when you’re working, you should not be having fun.
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, sounds cool, but then some writers have added a second line to it, and it now goes…
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
All play and no work makes Jack a mere toy.
I love it when Mark Twain says, ‘The secret of success is to make your vocation your vacation’.
Following the health experts advice ‘People who cannot find time for recreation are obliged sooner or later to find time for illness.’ Lok Virsa, in association with Norwegian Directorate of Cultural Heritage (Riksantikvaren) on Wednesday launched a book on “Pakistani and Norwegian Children’s Folk Games” here at Shakarparian under its on-going joint institutional cooperation programme between Pakistan and Norway.
It was a joint effort by Lok Virsa and Norwegian Directorate of Cultural Heritage (Riksantikvaren), Oslo.
Samina Khalid Ghurki, federal minister for National Heritage and Integration was the chief guest whereas Cecilie Landsverk, Norwegian ambassador to Pakistan attended the ceremony as guest of honour. Secretary, National Heritage and Integration Fareedullah Khan, MNA, Shakeela Khanam Rasheed, Executive Director Lok Virsa, Khalid Javed, and Junaid Iqbal, veteran journalist and culture expert also spoke on the occasion.
In her address, the National Heritage minister, Ghurki said “This book is a great contribution by Lok Virsa in presenting beautiful memories of childhood of the people from both the friendly countries. This effort will serve to inculcate awareness in the children and the youth community about the indigenous folk games played in Pakistan and Norway.”
In my view by bringing out this book, Lok Virsa and Norwegian partners have performed the function of a bridge to create better knowledge and understanding of the people and culture of the two countries, thousands of miles apart, yet sharing the same zeal of helping each other to promote global harmony and peace, she added.
Ghurki said Lok Virsa is an important component of the Ministry of National Heritage and Integration. “This unique institution is doing a valuable service to the nation by documenting, preserving and promoting the tangible and intangible culture of Pakistan through various initiatives, activities and projects. The book in question is also a step forward in this direction,” she maintained.
The present democratically elected government of Pakistan Peoples Party is determined to support all initiatives that aim to benefit the rural folk and to project Pakistan’s magnificent cultural heritage at the national and international level, the minister further said.
Ghurki added “Pakistan and Norway enjoy very cordial and friendly relations that are enhancing day by day. The Norwegian contribution in the field of culture in Pakistan is highly praiseworthy. The on-going Joint Institutional Programme between Pakistan and Norway implemented by Lok Virsa and Norwegian Embassy is an example of this mutual cooperation.
Addressing the ceremony, the Royal Norwegian ambassador Cecilie Landsverk said, “We are presenting something which is fun! Children’s games represent a genuine culture that proves to us that we are not so different after all. Norwegian children love to play in the street, and have games suited for it, and so do Pakistani children and the children around the globe. A lot of those games are presented in this little book that is launched here today”.
Acknowledging contribution of Lok Virsa, the ambassador said “Lok Virsa has been, and is one of our most favoured cooperation partners here in Pakistan. We believe in the way they work and how they promote cultural heritage. First of all it is an important job to promote cultural heritage in Pakistan, there is plenty to dig into. We appreciate how Lok Virsa this time, has chosen to take an initiative, together with the Norwegian Directorate of Cultural Heritage to look at folklorist traditions in a way to promote cultural understanding between nations”.
Talking about the book in question, Landsverk described it as a book that presents games from Pakistan and Norway, – two countries that have come closer over the last forty years because of immigration. The games are much the same, but not all. I look forward to show this book to Norwegian children for many reasons, but first of all because they can see Pakistan is not so far away and different after all. A message to us grown ups, is that children need their own space, they need to play and they don’t really care where the games come from as long as they are fun. The diplomat expressed the hope that this effort can be an inspiration to children and a reminder to adults that we are much the same.
In his welcoming remarks, Lok Virsa’s executive director Khalid Javaid informed that the Children Folk Games is a book which brings back priceless memories of the past. It also informs readers that while things are changing rapidly including environment, play grounds are yielding to concrete blocks all over the world and play ground spaces are shrinking, yet children games retain their old age beauty and simplicity, he explained.
Chief executive Lok Virsa thanked partner organisation – Norwegian Directorate of Cultural Heritage, in particular Inger Heldal, Senior Adviser and the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Islamabad for their support and cooperation in materialising the idea in reality. He expressed the hope that the educational institutions in Pakistan, with whom Lok Virsa works closely in connection with its on-going museum educational programme, will make best use of the materials available in the book so that our younger generation can benefit from this joint effort of Pakistan and Norway.
The 100-page book ‘Pakistani and Norwegian Children’s Folk Games’ contains twenty four folk games along with description, number of players, preparations, steps and rules required for each game. It also comprises sketches and photographic representations so as to facilitate the readers to understand easily how to play these traditional games.
Pakistani folk games include Langri pala (one-legged tiger), Kho kho (go go), Pitho garam (hot potato), Kokla chhapaki (hide the whip), Geetay (pick up pebbles), Chhupan chhupai (hide n’ seek), Keekli (joy dance), Gulli danda (spindle n’ stick), Bantay (marbles), Oonch neech (high low), Kona kona (corner corner), Baraf pani (ice water), Laal pari (red fairy), Per patoonay (blind man’s buff), Gamoona (long jump), Dast janokai (tab n’ run), Gitth gitth tappan (obstacles race), Nani re nani (granny o granny), Laatoo (the top), las pa sar (musical chairs), Stapu, Choori gwazi (bangles game), Cheech makro (guessing game) and Topay (snatch the cap).
Norwegian games given in the book are Kick the tin (hide n’ seek), Bro bro brille, paradise (hop scotch), Klinkekuler (marbles), Hoppe strikk (French skipping) and Hoppe tau (skipping).
The important thing to remember is that the games played either here or in Norway helps children to learn method and discipline and what they could gain from them in building future life and careers.
