Sous-série RAS COLL5/7/2 - Snakes and Ladders

The Society possesses two versions of the Indian game of snakes and ladders, RAS Cat.051.001 by a Maharashtra artist reflecting a Hindu interpretation, c.1800, and RAS Cat. 064.001, by an Ajmer artist, c.1810 reflecting a Sufi interpretation. The material concerning these is:

• Correspondence from Henry Beveridge to Oliver Codrington, Royal Asiatic Society Librarian, concerning the 'serpents and ladders' diagrams in the Society's collections, the interpretation of the Persian inscription on the Sufi version, 'Gyan Chauser', and an equivalent work in the British Museum. Handwritten, 5 pieces, dated 23-31 July 1915.
• 'Miscellaneous Communications' - offprint from the Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society, July 1916 with F.E. Pargiter's articles, 'Map of the Earth' concerning the Jambudvipa, Jain map of the universe (see RAS COLL5/7/3) and 'An Indian Game: Heaven of Hell' concerning RAS Cat.051.001. Also a later photocopy of the chart of the game.
• A copy of two pages from 'The Indian Game of Snakes and Ladders' by Andrew Topsfield, Artibus Asiae, 1985, relating to the Muslim (Sufi) game in the Society's collection.
• 'The Indian Game of Snakes and Ladders, and What Happened to it, Part I' by Irving L. Finkel which quotes from both Pargiter and Topsfield, undated.
• 'Cobras and ladders...game that was all the rage in the Raj' by Christ Hastings concerning the launch of the Digital Library of the Society on which the Snakes and Ladders game is featured. The Mail on Sunday, 18 February 2018.