SNAKES AND LADDERS (Subsidiary Alliance System) by GANGANATHA Kalenja

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the lesson, the students -

 1. critically analyse the political, economic, the diplomatic and discriminative methods used by the British to conquor Indian Territories: 

- the discriminatory terms and conditions of "Subsidiary Alliance System"

- the autocratic claim for "British Paramountcy"

- the contextual statesmanship of the British in introducing "Doctrine of Lapse"

2. explore the reason for the downfall of Indian Kings before a "Foeign Trading Company"

- the mutual distrust and animosity, Lack of forethought and statesmanship among the Indian princes such as Nizams of Hyderabad, Marathas and the Kingdom of Mysore.

3. interpret the British ambition of expansion of "trade and profit" through expansion of  "power and territory".

- comprehend that the British East India Company shifted its interest from trade to territory to establish their hold on the resources of India.

Description Of Activity

'Snakes and ladders' is the board game known originally as Moksha Patam, in ancient India.It is played on a game board with numbered, gridded squares. A number of "ladders" and "snakes" are pictured on the board, each connecting two specific board squares. The object of the game is to navigate one's game piece, according to die rolls, from the start (bottom square) to the finish (top square), helped by climbing ladders but hindered by falling down snakes.

                 The teacher selects 16 students and devides them into 4 groups. Names the team as - Hyderabad, Mysore, Maratha and the Bristish. The other students will be the observers. The members of each team should act collectively or should roll the die one at once. 

Variations

The Indian Teams represented by the Hyderabad, Mysore and the Marathas should roll the dies by simply throwing. But, the British team has a previlege to keep the die slowly. And also the British team can change the rule of the game including the design of the board as it finds suitable to the single team i. e. the Btitish Team.

      The Indian 3 Teams also can change the rules through a mutual agreement with the British Team, but with following conditions -

                    (a) all the 3 teams should follow same rules which are not applicable to British Team

                    (b) The Indian Teams should not meet each other 

                    (c) The rules made by the Indian Teams must be approved by the British Team.

                    (d) If the Indian Teams do not follow the rules made by the British team, an additional chance should be given to the British team to play.

                   (e) Out of 4 members in Indian Teams, one will be the supporter of British Team. He/She will take part in every decision making in Indian Teams and inform the same to the British Team.

                   (f) The game will be watched carefully by an umpire who will decision is final. And he/she is appointed by the British Government.

                   (g) If the umpire wishes, he can terminate the entire Indian Team.

Coaching Tips

Application of game to the Content:

       Snake - The fall of Power

         Ladder - The rise of Power

     Game Board - Indian Territory

     The Playing Teams: Indian Kingdoms who enter into an alliance with the British, The Subsidiary Alliance System and the British.

     The dice : Indian people and resources.

      The Umpire: The Governor General

      The game of dice or Snakes and Ladders : The System of Subsidiary alliance introduced in India by Lord Wellesley.

      The Rules of the game: The terms and conditions of Subsidiary Alliance System.

 

The Application of Terms and Conditions of the game to the Terms and conditions of Subsidiary Alliance System:

(a) all the 3 teams should follow same rules which are not applicable to British Team  -- All those enter into the alliance should follow same rules

  (b) The Indian Teams should not meet each other - The Indian rulers can not enter into any type of agreement with the other rulers.

  (c) The rules made by the Indian Teams must be approved by the British Team - The decisions made by trhe Indian rulers must be approved by the British

                    (d) If the Indian Teams do not follow the rules made by the British team, an additional chance should be given to the British team to play - If the Indian rulers fail to pay the subsidies, a portion of their territory will be annexed to the British Empire.

                   (e) Out of 4 members in Indian Teams, one will be the supporter of British Team. He/She will take part in every decision making in Indian Teams and inform the same to the British Team. -  A Resident is posted in the court of Indian rulers.

                   (f) The game will be watched carefully by an umpire who will decision is final. And he/she is appointed by the British Government. -  The Governor General keep on watching the developments

 

                   (g) If the umpire wishes, he can terminate the entire Indian Team - If the Governor General wishes, he/she can annex the territories of Indian kingdoms to the British Empire.

Equipment/Material Required

Snake and ladder game board with Dice