Brick Lane Market 5
On any Sunday, at the heart of Brick Lane, where all the food stalls cluster upon the railway bridge, you will find eager gamers around Carrom boards, absorbed in their games, and you can guarantee there will be a crowd of spectators too, mesmerised by this fascinating sport from India that is a curious blend of Billiards and Drafts. Played with discs upon square wooden boards coated in french chalk, the objective is to knock you opponents counters into the pockets at each corner.
If you look closely among the throng you will spot the cunning genius responsible for this spontaneous flowering of a vibrant game culture that has complete strangers of diverse backgrounds playing together across the table every week. Slight of build, with spidery limbs and lanky hair – a man who greets everyone as a friend – this understated presence is Carrom Paul, President of the Carrom Association of the United Kingdom.
“One day fifteen years ago, I went to Ealing and I saw these game boards that I’d seen in India, so I bought four and brought them back to the Spitalfields Market and set them up for people to play, but it got so big I had hassle from the other stallholders. I was selling religious artifacts then, and once I sold the Carrom boards, I thought I wouldn’t get any more. But this old Indian man came along and explained that the pockets at each corner are the four great religions of the world, Islam, Hinduism, Christianity and Judaism, and when all the religions meet in the centre there will be peace and the moon will turn red, represented by the red counter at the centre.
So then I decided to buy lots! I moved to the Upmarket and they gave me the dead stall out the back where no-one goes, but I opened the fire exit and played my music and everyone came in from Brick Lane and the place was full of people playing Carrom. Eventually they put my rent up from thirty to one hundred and ninety pounds a week, and squeezed me out of there in 2009. Then the food stalls on Brick Lane invited me to join them and set up my Carrom boards and play my music, and I’ve been here ever since. And now, this is my life! It’s become my life because I love the game so much. The beauty of it is there is no luck, no chance, only tactics and play. You get lovely people come to play, no blaggards, drunks or druggies – they can’t be bothered. It’s a magnet. It’s chilled out and it’s relaxed.”
Gentle Paul comes up to Brick Lane from Tunbridge Wells every weekend. He takes the day off on Monday, does his website orders for Carrom boards on Tuesday, delivers them on Wednesday, and spends Friday and Saturday preparing for Sunday. Now he has a mission to get Carrom declared an Olympic sport, and since Billiards, which is a derivative of Carrom, has already been listed, he has high hopes of success.
It certainly is a beautiful spectacle Carrom Paul has conjured on Brick Lane, an unlikely haven where anyone can sit down and play for free. He paired me with Robbie, a passing white-haired gentleman to try a friendly game, just to learn the ropes and develop our technique for flicking the counters, and by the end of the game – which I found unexpectedly relaxing – we had become friends. It is a perfect Sunday pass time, civilised and egalitarian, with subtle religious overtones.
You can visit Paul’s shop www.carromshop.co.uk
Carrom Raj, the Carrom Master in Brick Lane– “to my mind, he is the best Carrom player in the UK.”
I love carrom as it has childhood memories for me, from when we visited relatives in India during my childhood.
I was never very good; never developed the proper technique of firing the pieces without hurting my fingernail half the time.
I bought an inexpensive carrom board back with me a few years ago but haven’t played.
Will have to go and visit and watch the players, skilled and new, for a few hours.
Hej
How wonderful…will definitely pay Brick Lane a visit on my next trip back…just so that I can have a go and learn the game of Carrom.
Thanks for sharing.
LOVE PEACE enJOY your Sunday
Julie
x
Many People call CARROM ‘The Game of the Gods’ also played a lot in what is called ‘God’s Own Country’ (Kerala India.CarromPaul x
I spent many hours trying to master this game in Palolem, Goa…very tricky but incredibly addictive…will have to have a go next time I visit BL 🙂
Hello Swedish House!
Please visit http://www.carromsweden.se...
If you are in Sweden, welcome to Svenska Carromförbundet!
Tack!
Hi Kavey,
Trick is to leave you finger near the Striker and then flick. If you leave too much distance and you need a hard shot, it can hurt. If you use the Carrom ScissorFinger as most experienced Carrom Players do, it never hurts! x
Hi Julie of Swedish House,
I will be pleased to meet you. If you make yourself know to me a free drink for you when you come! L&P X
Hi Gail Tysoe,
The Game of the Gods is very addictive! Do you know any Carrom Rehab centrtes yet? I see you like Palolem, one of the better beaches in Goa!
When you come, please make yourself known to me and a free lassi or something will be given to you! x
Hi Carrom Paul
I remember buying lots of boards from you well over ten years ago when you were trading at Spitalfield market. It was to start a Carrom club at Bangabandhu Primary school.
I had no idea then of the meaning of the four corners and the coming together of all religions, but it’s a wondeful symbol which I heartily support.
When I saw you’d been moved from the covered market to the street I felt a bit sad as people playing are a bit more challenged by the elements. But you don’t appear phased by it.
I’ll say hello next time I pass by…. which might well be later this afternoon
amicalement
sprite
Nice to see that this Game of Carrom in the market of Spitalfields.Hats off to all persons associated directly or indirectly with this.The game spreads like this only.My best wishes to one and all.
Hi Carrom Paul
My name is shofique Miah i dont know if you can recall me playing Abdul Khan in carrom final back in 2002 and got a runner up prize of £200 and a certificate, its nice to see you live and kicking in Brick Lane with your carrom boards. At present i’am working in indian restaurant and recently been checking carrom on line after work, i have lost my touch of play as i have not been playing for a very long time, but for some reason my mind and fingers are aching for a game of carrom. i’am planning to visit you at Brick Lane for a game and to see you and say hello. Are you still organising any competitions?
Hope to hear from you soon.
Take care and see you soon
Hello Paul
Great to see someone so passionate about Carrom. I am a recent convert, but met with Alkesh and Manessh from Synco Carrom, and now sell Synco Carrom here in the UK. I hope you are still there in Spitalfields. If so, I will come and see you there.
Take care.
Hi John,
Nice. Are you still selling Synco Boards over in UK@
CarromPaul
Hi Shofique Miah,
I remember you well.
You are in the Video on YouTube.
CarromPaul
Hi Sunil Gupte,
Thank you.
CarromPaul
Hi Sprite,
I remember well. I was so happy that kids can learn early and maybe play interschool games and become great Carrom Players.
CarromPaul
Hi Carrom Paul,
I went to Brick Land market today and asked around looking for your carrom stall. A friendly man playing chess with passers by said you had left a few years ago because of eye problems. I was disappointing to hear this, I hope you are doing well.
Do you have any ideas where carrom can still be played in London?
Thanks,
Edward
Hello CarromPaul,
Just wondering if there’s anywhere that carrom is still being played in London?
Thanks,
Rosh