<p class="title">Childhood in 1960s Bombay was very different. I would say tremendously interesting. When I share the stories of my childhood with the todays’ generation, they gape wide-eyed.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Our neighbours were our extended family and our parents had the habit of discussing everything with them. Our neighbours did not miss any opportunity to lecture us kids on various issues. “You should work harder in Math” or “It seems you did not finish your dabba today.”</p>.<p class="bodytext">During cricket season, most of us would huddle in one of the resident’s house in the building, to watch cricket. Cricket was a game to be watched together. Only fools watched the match alone at their homes! Coffee, snacks etc would come from different houses. Nobody cared from where they came, as long as they came. Some thatha (grandpa) would treat us all to ice cream all if India won the match. He would conveniently avoid eye-contact with paati (grandma) as only she would be concerned about the budget aspect!</p>.<p class="bodytext">Apart from neighbours, our extended family included many others. There was this saleswoman, Shobha, who was a regular at our place. Shobha used to sell sanitary napkins. She would come at least twice a month to our house. Amma would welcome her home with hot tea or buttermilk depending on the weather. The two women would chat for a while, with Shobha sipping her much-needed drink and Amma pottering around doing an odd chore like folding clothes.</p>.<p class="bodytext">I was too small to understand what they spoke but after their session, both looked rejuvenated and happy. If Shobha did not turn up for many days then Amma would worry about her. “Where is this girl Shobha? Why has she not turned up for many days? I hope she is okay.”</p>.<p class="bodytext">The other regular visitor to our house was an elderly man who took old clothes and gave Amma new vessels. Whenever he came, Iwould stare at his snow white long beard. He looked like a character from a storybook! Amma used to give away our old clothes and he would let her choose a few new vessels from his big quaint bag.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Even now, when I see some vessel at her place, I ask her, “Is this from the old man with the snow-white beard?” Amma would at times offer him something to eat or drink. He would bless us children and walk away happily with our old clothes.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Dad always worked late in his office. He worked overtime to make extra money to pay our fees. Amma was a homemaker. We, as a family, rarely went out to eat at restaurants as this luxury was meant only for the rich back then. The sales woman and the old man added colour to our mundane life. Not to forget, our neighbours, who were always there for us! We children, too, learnt to respect every visitor who came home because Amma taught us what “atithi devo bhava” meant by example. Thanks Amma!</p>
<p class="title">Childhood in 1960s Bombay was very different. I would say tremendously interesting. When I share the stories of my childhood with the todays’ generation, they gape wide-eyed.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Our neighbours were our extended family and our parents had the habit of discussing everything with them. Our neighbours did not miss any opportunity to lecture us kids on various issues. “You should work harder in Math” or “It seems you did not finish your dabba today.”</p>.<p class="bodytext">During cricket season, most of us would huddle in one of the resident’s house in the building, to watch cricket. Cricket was a game to be watched together. Only fools watched the match alone at their homes! Coffee, snacks etc would come from different houses. Nobody cared from where they came, as long as they came. Some thatha (grandpa) would treat us all to ice cream all if India won the match. He would conveniently avoid eye-contact with paati (grandma) as only she would be concerned about the budget aspect!</p>.<p class="bodytext">Apart from neighbours, our extended family included many others. There was this saleswoman, Shobha, who was a regular at our place. Shobha used to sell sanitary napkins. She would come at least twice a month to our house. Amma would welcome her home with hot tea or buttermilk depending on the weather. The two women would chat for a while, with Shobha sipping her much-needed drink and Amma pottering around doing an odd chore like folding clothes.</p>.<p class="bodytext">I was too small to understand what they spoke but after their session, both looked rejuvenated and happy. If Shobha did not turn up for many days then Amma would worry about her. “Where is this girl Shobha? Why has she not turned up for many days? I hope she is okay.”</p>.<p class="bodytext">The other regular visitor to our house was an elderly man who took old clothes and gave Amma new vessels. Whenever he came, Iwould stare at his snow white long beard. He looked like a character from a storybook! Amma used to give away our old clothes and he would let her choose a few new vessels from his big quaint bag.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Even now, when I see some vessel at her place, I ask her, “Is this from the old man with the snow-white beard?” Amma would at times offer him something to eat or drink. He would bless us children and walk away happily with our old clothes.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Dad always worked late in his office. He worked overtime to make extra money to pay our fees. Amma was a homemaker. We, as a family, rarely went out to eat at restaurants as this luxury was meant only for the rich back then. The sales woman and the old man added colour to our mundane life. Not to forget, our neighbours, who were always there for us! We children, too, learnt to respect every visitor who came home because Amma taught us what “atithi devo bhava” meant by example. Thanks Amma!</p>