A game of Carrom (circa 1950)

A family from the Indian subcontinent is engaged in a game of Carrom, as players and onlookers, in this undated uncredited photograph likely taken around 1950. Once among the most popular games in south Asia, Carrom has significantly lost its popularity in Pakistan recently.

Although there is no concrete evidence, it is argued that the game originated in the royal palaces of India. There are records of formal competitions being held in the subcontinent in the 19th Century, and by the time of World War I, it had become a popular tradition in the entire India. The strike-and-pocket game played with disks on a wooden board was an important part of children's lives until a generation ago.

Boric Acid powder, which was used to allow the disks to move swiftly on the board, was recently declared 'Toxic for reproduction' by the EU.