It was casual chatting- 'during our times...’, as the elderly always
say. Mom and maasi reminiscing their childhood memories, and often comes an inherent
spurt of laughter. This is so fascinating- some unbelievable and interesting
facts that happened only then! Amid this discussion we too got a sneak peek of
the yester-era. Some catchy snippets:
1. Buying chai patti daily: Unlike
today's bulk buying, people then purchased goods according to daily requirement
and not for monthly stock. The tea powder came in packets for charana, athana (I think these words
will be out of dictionary very soon; or they already are? :O)
2. The serpentine ration queue: Buying of grains wasn't as easy as going
to the grocery store downstairs or even simpler- opening your grocery app and
placing the order. The ration market always had long queues to wait before you
could get your quintal. The wheat, they say, wasn't as we see today, but red in
colour and something like ‘Gahu (American) 1 Re kilo’ written on the price
plate at the store.
Rice- which is a weakness to most wasn't a daily affair in most places
in Maharashtra. It was a delicacy prepared only on festivals!
Green revolution was still underway and there wasn't surplus produce;
but was organic!
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3. Exclusive foods: Dry fruits, almonds and jam and even apples were not
common. A jam bottle (not readily available in markets then) was coveted and
eaten with care so as not to finish early. Mangoes were a heaven's paradise
(this hasn’t changed much) and they were careful not to leave any bit of the
pulp from the peel.
They fondly remembered their ‘first time encounters’ with these
exclusives.
4. Making their own toys: Balls didn't come ready made. They were crafted with love and care,
consolidating pieces of tyre rubber and scrap; grooming some artistic skills
and craftsmanship you know! And losing this piece of toy was heartbreaking!
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6. Cycling: This was a luxury and often meant borrowing and sharing of
bicycles among peers. It would have been a sight when girls tried their
brother’s cycle (don't get the purpose of the rod) and managed to paddle with a
tilt!
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7. Playing in the mud: Parents today would get palpitations at this
thought! Making forts in monsoon with one’s own architecture and moulding the
clay with own hands would have been a delightful exercise; certainly more than
bringing the ready-made ones on Diwali.
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8. Sharing: This was ‘practical’ and not merely mugging definitions from
the moral values book; especially with each one having siblings. There was
always everyone’s thought when the pie was divided! Using the clothes and
textbooks of the elder brothers and sisters was an unsaid rule. The elder one
was lucky here, while the youngest chap getting the (second hand raised to no.
of elder sibling times) passed on material. :D
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9. Lifestyle and surroundings: There was no-motor obsession! With no
mobile, people were ‘mobile’! They walked everywhere and anywhere, for miles,
effortlessly. It didn’t require treadmills to complete our workout quota.
Students walked to school and came back home for lunch. There was no
television, screens to glare at. Thus, there was ample time, life was hassle
free. The air was fresher. Pune was known as a ‘non-fan station’! So there were
no ACs, no gyms and less medical stores!
10. Celebrations: It was an elaborate affair. Festivals were celebrated
in real and not merely on WatsApp. But as a witty student once said, “All said
and done, we cannot live without technology and no one would like to go back to
the 1G era.”
11. The 31st: The month-end time was the most dreadful for
most households! That eagerly waiting on 31st of the month for dad to return
home with salary was the most awaited occasion! Tensions did exist, not like
the ones today, but more basic with what to cook food tomorrow? Will it suffice
the family? When compared, I don’t know which are worse. (Thankfully, we live
in better times.)
Those times we cannot believe, can only afford to imagine! They have
been through it, yet they were happy and content and lived life to the fullest.
They had some tough life lessons which made them face challenges head on,
unlike today’s overtly pampered kids. Sanitised hands and low immunity!
They found happiness! Childhood was a memorable time for them. Some were
good experiences, while some they never want again. But this is life- of bitter
and sweet experiences. And who
knows, we too would tell our younger ones, “During our times…”
It is to move on with lessons, thanking God for the good things and
hoping for a bright future. It is to find happiness between Kal, aj aur kal!
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