Author: Nisha Tandon
Childhood is a golden era of our life that we can revisit only in memories. They are the most cherished days of our life, where we find pleasure in small things. There is a lot of learning from the childhood that shapes our future.
And the quote by Graham Greene justifies this.
“There is always one moment in childhood when the door opens and lets the future in.”
Growing up in the 70s and 80s made my childhood more special. The kind of exposure we got is matchless as compared to today’s generation. Family values were instilled at a very young age because of joint-family systems, festivals celebrated as a community and no interference of social media in our privacy. We made diary entries, readers who grew up in those times know what diary writing is all about. Whatever we share today on Instagram or Facebook is to make our presence felt or due to the feeling of FOMO (fear of missing out).
As a child we had very few privileges in the 70s and we grabbed whatever opportunity came our way. The basic things like dining out or having a simple thing like cold drink was considered a luxury and we valued it, unlike today when these things are a way of life. An outing is incomplete without them.
We studied in a convent till high school and they were probably the best days of our lives, discipline was instilled in school and followed strictly at home. There was a line we had to draw between our parents and us, unlike today where we are more of buddies. I have no issues with it but I am from old school and would always want a line to be drawn as a mark of respect .
We had a specific schedule we had to follow diligently, right from waking up to independently doing our chores( hiring domestic help was the thing of the rich then ) to returning from school and completing homework to outdoor play every evening, which was a must.
We had the privilege to learn multiple sports free of cost as my father worked in Tatas in Kharagpur and the colony had all the facilities provided by the organisation. We had a clubhouse and we spent evenings either playing badminton, table tennis , board games or reading books in the library. We even had best friends who we poured out our hearts to. We could easily confide in that one special friend. I rarely see that happening today.
When I completed my 10th standard I also got an opportunity to teach under-privileged children as my mother was a part of an NGO, Prem Jyoti Prangan. I was rewarded with a Milton Bottle for my gesture, which was such an honour. I cherish that moment till date.
I get nostalgic when I think of my early childhood and my interaction as a 9 year old with my neighbours grandfather who was deaf, dumb and mute. I spent numerous evenings with him and built a special bond, he left an indelible mark on my childhood. Even today I cannot forget my time spent with him and I have dedicated a poetry to him in my published book. The bonds were genuine then.
Talk about childhood and not a mention of train journeys? We have wonderful memories of travel in those days. Till date flights don’t fancy me and I have opted for train journeys whenever possible. The innumerable journeys to grandparents house during vacation, travel between college and home remain deeply etched in my heart. The excitement of looking out of the running trains, eating delicacies made by my mother, sharing it with co-passengers, befriending them, playing board games and Antakshari, forming a strong bond in a short journey and bidding goodbyes with tears in the eyes when our destination arrived. Life was uncomplicated and we easily trusted strangers in those days. Can we do the same now? Also sharing our postal addresses and keeping in touch through letters for long. I even made a pen-friend which has ironically graduated to online friends on social media now. There were no risks involved during those days, unlike today.
No holidays in exotic locales, but we made the most of it in grandparents house. Sharing bed with cousins and flocking together at odd hours, sharing secrets, pretending to sleep when the lights were off, giggling under blankets and sneaking out to the kitchen past midnight for snacks. Sharing a special bond with cousins is a thing of the past, today’s generation has befriended the gadgets. We have lived in multi-storeyed houses and spent time flying kites on the terraces.
Since we were almost 40/45 people living together in a house in the vacations that even the simplest meals seemed like a treat. The fun of eating together amidst laughter still echoes in my ears. Any celebration didn’t need people from outside, everyday was a celebration during those days.
Carefree childhood gave me scope to think big , dream and work towards them. We made the best out of limited resources. Despite financial limitations, we were provided with the best education and that has helped to live a fulfilling life today. Being in my early 50s, I often reminisce those days and my heart fills with nostalgia. I would not trade those memories for anything. They are a priceless treasure, I often revisit.
