Scholars

Here, we examine the noted scholars of ancient times who influenced the sport we now know as carrom.

Aryabhata

Big Ary was an Indian mathematician circa 900AD who is credited with inventing geometry - without which rebounds would not be possible. His influence can be seen to this day even on the unholy tables of pool and snooker. Born of humble shoemakers, Ary spent his formative years formatting himself before taking the shape of a mountain goat and scaling the cliffs of mystery.

 

 

St Joseph of Nantes

Recorded in The Book of Saints as being the founder of what we now know of as rules, Joseph's doctrines included "he who breaks is on the whites", "2 v 2 games must rotate in a clockwise form" and "courtesy is next to Godliness." Guidelines which remain to this day.

Matthew

The son of humble people who made shoes, Matthew rose to become a student at Notre Dame in 1732 and by the age of 20 had published pamphlets about birchwood, beech, boric acid and esoteric powders from the east. It is reported that he made pilgrimage to India where he met Baba Ghandu and the Bombay Tribe and sat at a carrom board for the first time. On his return to France, he wrote the first documented chronicle of this mysterious game. "Le conseil d'administration de majesté" (the board of majesty) became the most widely read pamphlet of the Napoleonic era.

Lord Fortrose of Scotland

Still a divise figure, Fortrose examined the optimal sizes of boards and pronounced in 1851 that a 74cm x 74cm playing surface be adjudged as proper.  Denounced by bishops and by folk in Pakistan who (to this day) favour a gigantic board, Fortrose retreated to his lodge in Elgin where he spent his latter days working on dimensions. His influence on board size remains unchallenged by westerners, yet still, mocked by Pakistani players. Knowing his days left were few, Fortrose set out to India to follow the footsteps of Matthew and was killed by a monkey.