Jadavpur University is known for its frenzy over the card game 29. Picture by Rashbehari Das

Students spend as much of their time on campus out of class as they do in it. And no hour of timepass is complete without diversions and distractions. This often means gossip and mindless gabbing, but it can also mean fun and games. Innovative and free (even if this seems perilously close to extinction for a generation overdosing on PS2), every Calcutta college still has its fair share of favourites.

At the department of law, Calcutta University (popularly known as Hazra Law College), chess is popular, explains Parbati Dasgupta, who has just finished her undergrad degree this year. “We also play really fun, kiddish games like Killer, a version of chor-pulish,” says Parbati.

Students at the Bhawanipur Education Society College, however, believe in games that “teach valuable lessons”. Nikhil Modi, a second-year student of literary arts, says, “We have our patented games like Dabbawallah, in which teams are given the responsibility of keeping dabbas in certain spots at specified times. It’s a time management and memory exercise.” Other recreational diversions include Bhawanipur Bureau of Intelligence, a treasure hunt and Stock Exchange, played with notional money. “We also have annual pool tournaments,” says Nikhil.

With its sprawling campus, Jadavpur University is the frequent host of all kinds of games — sometimes for its own students, sometimes for trespassers. Kingshuk Niyogy may have studied at R.V. College, Bangalore, but he hung out regularly in JU since 1992. “When the lobby was around, the most popular choice was kumeer-danga,” he explains.

Known for its frenzy over the card game 29, JU has come up with its own variations. “We play with the rule that anyone can re-raise after seeing all eight cards, but has to start from 24!” reveals ex-student Azeem Hussain. Expect to walk in to see groups of students in huddles of four in the various departments, the basketball court or Vivekanda Hall.

“New students are often bewildered and many don’t want to be a part of the game simply to rebel. But they inevitably get sucked in,” smiles Hussain, remembering an anti-29 lobby started by fellow students. JU also came up with a game of its own called Fauji, which involved some 20-odd people running in the department corridors, trying to “kill” members of the opponent team in the quest for a “treasure”. Another — more conventional — hit is carrom and table tennis in the common room or union rooms.

The other favourite across campuses is Mafia, a game with at least eight people where a “moderator” asks the “townspeople” to close their eyes and chooses two or more killers and a sheriff (both unknown to each other) with taps on their heads. The killers kill and the townspeople, with the help of the sheriff, have to guess who the killers are. Sriyanka Ray, a second-year English student at Presidency College, attributes the popularity of this activity to it being a “mind game”. “It’s a great way to really get to know new people quite well,” she smiles.

Also at Presidency, card games like 29, Bridge, Call Bray and an informal form of poker without chips are top draws. Space becomes an important factor in games like badminton, which has always been big in Presidency.

Ahana Dey, a second-year Political Science student of Loreto College, says that throwball and basketball are favourites on their campus. “The administration is planning to start shot put and rowing soon so that the college can take part in these events. Other than this, boards games like Pictionary and Scrabble in the common room are our options,” says Ahana.

Only space-cramped St Xavier’s College seems not to have developed a strong games culture. After the Green Benches gave way to development, the hangout base shifted to the stairs outside the canteen, which was also subsequently banned. Games are therefore limited to football and basketball, which means that the field as a seating spot for the non-sporty is out. “Rules, including lowering of the decibel level on the premises, weren’t suitable. As a result, we didn’t have much of a campus life,” complains 2009 graduate Opashona Ghosh.

Ranjabati Das
What’s the favourite game on your campus? Tell t2@abpmail.com