Hemantha Kalam - 26 'Life is a "Su Doku"!

During the past few years I have been observing my sister (a blogger herself) settling silently in a secluded place at home and go through the newspaper with a pencil. Curious, I checked with her when she said that she was working on ‘Su Doku’. I did not realise then, but on experience I found that this seclusion is the first step of comparison of life with ‘Su Doku’. 

As a person who always felt that no game should demand any exertion on the mind, I wondered what thrill she derived, but left her to her own designs.

Courtesy: http://www.sudoku-tips.com/Sudoku%20image/Sudoku%20Frustration.jpg

Now during the past year or so, when I had much time on hand and I had started really ‘reading’ the newspapers, to kill time, I started attempting to work on the ‘Su Doku’ and solve, though it could tax my mind which, in normal times, I never relished.

One incentive, I felt, would be that working on such ‘puzzling matters’ could help me keep my mind in shape and probably keep Alzheimer’s away. Funny though, but some intuition always tells me that I would indeed be a victim of Alzheimer’s in the days to come. By writing this here I am sure that I am paving not a path but a highway to be ridiculed, but I do guess that I am entitled to my own superstitions and beliefs until disproved!

Initially, even the easiest ‘Su Doku’ used to make me sweat it out, but over a period I got a grip on the game and gained the confidence of tackling it. Today anything less than ‘hard’ level of difficulty, does not really hold my interest anymore!

Now, what is ‘Su Doku’?

I am sure that I am wasting space and lines and precious time, as most of the people would already know, but let me explain as quickly as I can, about ‘Su Doku’.

‘Su Doku’ is a puzzle game. Though the present day’s ‘Su Doku’ certainly is from Japan, the real game is believed to have originated from China, around 1000 BC. The name ‘Su Doku’ by which the game is now popular is indeed a Japanese abbreviation apparently means Single number (Su = Number, Doku = Single) and the full name is  Sūji wa dokushin ni kagiru  roughly meaning, "the digits must occur only once" or "limited to single figures." (http://martyneville.hubpages.com/hub/sudoku-origin-and-history) It was only in the year 1986, that the abbreviation ‘Su Doku’ took birth. Some believe that ‘Su Doku’ originated from Switzerland and travelled to Japan via America. (http://www.sudokudragon.com/sudokuhistory.htm)

While ‘Su Doku’ also is presented in different patterns like,

Samurai ‘Su Doku’

Double Samurai - Courtesy: http://www.clarity-media.co.uk/samurai-sudoku.jpg

                                                        

Triple Samurai  

Courtesy: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMXgX7xvdMKPnxEFIs57n0UEah_jMQnuDhN6ajN-kvaS5SGGaUW4yPWLZfuGb_VGpnIUTszAQx8wtFERlba9PQYbUup1R7-ZALdCRpSXl4QMkW21GAfdUO0ntdEl48BGIs7veNpyWT9qY/s1600/triple+samurai+puzzle.gif

 

WeiHwa ‘Su Doku’ - Courtesy: http://www.mathpuzzle.com/Sudoku/WeiHwaSudoku/14-11-grid-combined.gif

Five Squares ‘Su Doku’ - Courtesy: http://www.activityworkshop.net/puzzlesgames/xsudoku/example.png

Six Triangles ‘Su Doku’ - Courtesy: http://punzhupuzzles.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/puzzle-example.jpg

the standard ‘Su Doku’ pattern is symmetrical.

Courtesy - http://lifeslittleinspirations.com/sudoku-rules-for-the-game-of-life

Playing ‘Su Doku’ is a paradox.  

In a standard and symmetrical game of ‘Su Doku’, a square / box comprising of nine inner squares / boxes, which in turn will have nine squares / boxes in each will have some digits and the balance digits need to be guessed right and placed.

The numbers from 1 to 9 should be arranged in each row and in each box without using the same number again either in the line or in the inner box. Thankfully only vertical or horizontal lines should be in a row and not diagonal rows. The system is simple, but solving is challenging and the quantum increases by the level you choose to play.

Solved ‘Su Doku’ - Courtesy: http://logicalgenetics.com/assorted/sudoku/sudoku-depthfirst2.png

All games need planning, for sure, but ‘Su Doku’ cannot be worked at all, without a combination of patience, planning, guessing, eliminating, strategising and ensuring zero error. If a single error occurs , the whole puzzle takes a toss and no marks to be awarded, unless the total puzzle is completed.

We should start by;

            1) taking a look at the resources (digits) available

     2) beginning with what we know to be sure

     3) introspecting

     4) correcting if we are using a pencil and an eraser

     5) eliminating possibilities 

     6) filling in steadily

     7) taking more time if and when needed and

     8) continuing to be positive all the time and not to despair

Now let us see what the playing rules of ‘Su Doku’ and that of ‘life’ are! 

Su Doku	Life
One person has to play at a time – in seclusion and with calm mind	A person has to lead his own life with a calm disposition.
Frame of a large square	Frame of Time
Existence of some resources like inner structures and some digits to guide	Existence of some resources like parents, siblings, teachers and friends to guide
You don’t have answers for all. You need to find the solution by calculating and guessing and using the resources	You don’t have answers for all. You need to find the solution by calculating and guessing and using the resources
You know the missing numbers but to place them appropriately is the issue	You know resources and priorities but really structuring the priorities is the issue
You cannot create a conflict by placing the same number in a row or in a box	You need to be unique yet without antagonising – be it in your own family or in society
Law of elimination helps solving the game better	Life can be better by eliminating un wanted qualities and connections
Levels of difficulties and achievements	Levels of difficulties and achievements
Resources may be few in high level of difficulty but it is not impossible to solve. You steadily build up the needed digits	Resources may be few but you can augment and grow steadily by working with singular goal and focusing in the right direction
While working, you put digit after digit without really thinking of the final success picture	In life too we grow step by step working towards the ultimate and wholesome success
People who use pencils and erasers	are moderates and willing to correct
People who use pens and permanent markers	are pre-conceived, rigid and not willing to change without  paying a price
The fun is in working towards achievement and once achieved fun is lost	The fun is to live a full life and once lived, interest lost
The full puzzle needs to be solved and no marks for part fulfillment	Life has to be lived in full and no marks if exiting unfulfilled or insignificantly

Depending on the choice you make you can choose the difficulty level of the game in the range as Random / Very Easy / Easy / Medium / Hard / Very Hard / Super Hard / Evil / Extreme. As can be expected, resources would be more for easy level of difficulty and scarcer as the level of difficulty escalates.

Similarly, in life too, it is we who need to discover as to what level of difficulty we are in and try to solve patiently and with a calm disposition to grow and end up a winner.

Isn't it? Well, what do you think? You tell me! 

Till then, 

Krutagjnatalu (Telugu), Nanri (Tamil), Dhanyavaadagalu (Kannada), Nanni (Malayalam), Dhanyavaad (Hindi), Thanks (English), Dhonyabaad (Bangla), Gracias (Spanish), Grazie (Italian), Danke Schon (Deutsche), Merci (French), Obrigado (Portuguese), Shukraan (Arabic), Shukriya (Urdu), Sthoothiy (Sinhalese) Aw-koon (Khmer), Kawp Jai Lhai Lhai (Laotian), Kob Kun Krab (Thai) and Asante (Kiswahili), Maraming Salamat sa Lahat (Pinoy-Tagalog-Filipino)

Hemantha Kumar Pamarthy

Chennai, India