Aritmética canhestra

Do DN:

O algoritmo Portalegre Ruben de Carvalho Jornalista

A acompanhar uma amável entrevista com Francisco Louçã, o Expresso da passada semana publicou o que pretende ser o até hoje mais completo estudo sobre a realidade orgânica do Bloco, clinicamente aliás intitulado Radiografia do Bloco de Esquerda. Com direito a um pormenorizado mapa de Portugal, especificando os números bloquistas por distrito e regiões autónomas, de militantes e de votos nas legislativas de 2005. Os resultados são deveras interessantes. Segundo o semanário, o Bloco possui em Portalegre 61 militantes; em Viana do Castelo, Vila Real, Bragança, Guarda, Castelo Branco, Évora, Beja e Açores, em cada um, 122 militantes (o que, verifica-se, corresponde em todos exactamente ao dobro de Portalegre, 2x61); em Leiria serão 183 (ou seja, 3x61); em Aveiro, Santarém, Faro e Viseu atingem em cada os 244 (uns quadrangulares 4x61); em Braga, Coimbra e Madeira já sobem para uns distritais 305 (isto é, 5x61); em Setúbal o factor multiplicativo é de 12, a saber, 12x61=732. As maiores multiplicações do Bloco ocorrem no Porto e em Lisboa, no primeiro 13 Portalegres (793=13x61), atingindo na segunda 24 Portalegres (1464=24x61). Desmentindo os resultados dos exames nacionais de Matemática e as preocupações do prof. Nuno Crato, não só aquelas multiplicações de Portalegres estão rigorosamente certas como, de acordo com a investigação do Expresso, o "total de militantes" é precisamente de 6100, isto é, exactamente 100 Portalegres, também o resultado da operação que consiste em somar as aplicações a Portalegre dos factores multiplicativos bloco-distritais. Estamos assim perante um caso de estudo que inevitavelmente irá marcar para o futuro a investigação estatística, sociológica e política portuguesa (e quiçá não só), facto que é, de resto, desde já atestado pela cuidadosa exegese que o articulista do jornal faz a estes números, conhecedor como certamente será das rigorosas arquitecturas orgânicas e contabilísticas que permitiram atingir este multiplicado rigor milimétrico. É que poderia até suceder que um qualquer distrito tivesse, digamos, dois Portalegres e meio - mas não: está tudo certinho. Apenas uma pergunta: quem é que palmou a máquina de calcular da redacção do Expresso?

Game for play?

From The Hindu:


Game for play?



Perhaps we need to look at our traditions to discover new ways to play, says VINITA SIDDHARTHA.





PLAY has always been an essential aspect of growing up. It develops the interpersonal and competitive skills of a child and, at a more subconscious level, many other skills. It is unfortunate that play is often a forgotten and underestimated aspect of a child's development. India, with its rich cultural heritage, has a treasury of games that have been played from the earliest times. Pachisi, which is often called India's national game, comes from the Hindi word for 25. Its origins are unknown, but it is believed to have been in existence from at least the Fourth Century. In fact Emperor Akbar played this game on giant courts of marble, where beautiful women would move about to simulate the coins.

With such a long history of games, it is hardly surprising that almost every community and region has its favourites based on the availability of materials and the style of life.

In fact, many of the games, now popular in the West, were originally from India. "Snakes and Ladders" is just a variation of Moksha Patam or Parama Padam. It was used to teach children about values and religion. The virtues allowed one to ascend higher while the vices reduced a player to lower levels. The morality of the game appealed to the Victorians who took it back to England with them and renamed the virtues and vices according to Victorian ideals. Over time, the game lost its moral overtones.

In the harum-scarum world of the 21st Century, it is interesting to see how many of these traditional games are relevant. By virtue of their origin these games were inexpensive and environment friendly. Most of them were played using easily available materials. In fact they were household items like tamarind seeds, or stones and shells and sticks, which were often found lying around. The board was often scrawled in the dust or drawn on the floor with chalk. Some old homes even had the board drawn into the floor while the cement was still wet. While some games needed special equipment or pieces, these were often developed into a village craft. Ganjifa cards are even today an art form while palanguzhi boards were a challenge to a wood carver.

Played by all ages both indoors and outdoors, these games promoted interaction between generations of the family who lived together. While social interaction is undoubtedly important, these games had more to offer to the child of today.

Chaturanga, the predecessor of chess, was played and developed in India in the Seventh Century. Simulating the act of war, the game developed analytical thinking and concentration. Carrom, a cousin of billiards and snooker, required mental agility, deft fingers and quick reflexes. Kho-kho and kabbadi are old games which gained popularity after the mutiny of 1857. At the time, many believed that people would be called upon to fight for freedom and in that context physical fitness and stamina became critical. Both these games were encouraged as they greatly helped develop the body. The skills of crouching, running short sprints and the quick changes in direction that kho-kho entailed were considered important training for war.

Kabaddi is the child of wrestling. Also known as Hamama, it was believed to have been played by Lord Krishna and his friends. The interest in the game arises from a natural instinct for attack and defence. Involving the twin strengths of a good physique and keen intelligence, the game has spread to France where it is played by the French army, navy and police.

While some of these games have retained popularity and are often played at a competitive level, there are many smaller games, which seem to have faded into oblivion.

These games were initially played primarily by women and children in the inner quarters of old homes or their courtyards. They involved the use of tamarind seeds, stones, shells and other small objects, which helped develop the motor and sensory skills of a child.

In fact, games like five stones are excellent for developing reflexes while a game like Paandi or hopscotch inculcates a sense of balance. Counting, simple addition, number recognition, colour recognition are all skills a child absorbs sub-consciously while playing these games.

Life has changed. The 21st century has brought technology to the fore. Children today are computer literate. But basic skills are critical for growth and development. Perhaps we need to look to our traditions to discover new ways to play for, after all, games are much more than just child's play.