Down Memory Lane

Feb 5

When I walk down memory lane, I find how I lived as a child compared to today's kids.

I rarely found myself alone as a child. In the family I was always accompanied by my siblings and parents and outside the house by friends and neighbors.

Let me enumerate some ironic facts as follows:

1. After coming from school, I used to play till evening. I never went to tuition or coaching classes. There was no TV, Internet, DVD etc.

2. I played real sports with real friends. There was no play station or video games.

3. Me and my friends/siblings used to make our own toys and other items to play with. We had no knowledge of worldly things and sports.

4. I used to go to my friends house uninvited and my friends used to come to my house anytime and have dinner or breakfast together. We didn't have any phones or cellphones.

5. I never worn a helmet while cycling, but had no accident. Bikes or scooties were rarely seen on the roads.

6. Nothing happened to my feet even after walking and roaming around barefoot.

7. If I ever felt thirsty, I would drink water direct from tap. There was no bottled mineral water or RO filter. The Ganges water was not polluted.

8. Whenever I felt thirsty, I would drink water directly from the tap. There was no bottled mineral water or RO filter. The water of the Ganges was clean.

9. I never got ill or infection though I used to share same glass of juice with three friends or siblings.

10. My parents never gave me any supplement to keep me healthy and fit. They were not that rich, but they provided a natural complement of love and affection. I used to enjoy family time and relationships.

11. I never put on weight, although I used to eat a lot of rice and rotis every day.

12. My childhood photos may be black and white, but the memories are still colourful.

I used to listen to my parents and now I have to listen to my kids too. But I enjoy life and its transitions which give enough material to read, write and talk and also to feel feelings both inside and outside.