Old versus New

Life was much simpler when I was younger. A free bird is what I could correlate myself with. It seems those were the days when I was with Alice in her “wonderland”. The mystery stories of Enid Blyton’s Five Find Outers fascinated me. Tintin the creation of Herge was a window for me to the entire world. It seemed I was with Tintin moving around places along with Captain Haddock, Professor Calculus and the smartest people Thomson and Thompson.

Don’t misunderstand me to be very old in age, but nowadays I feel I am unable to keep abreast with time. The youngsters are much smarter and up-to-date. But who is smarter is the million dollar question? The other day I was reading a piece somewhere which talked about new generation and how fast it is growing. It said five years time is a generation in the present day scenario, which means an individual five years younger to you belongs to another generation. But what is the parameter which defines the time period? I am still searching for the answer.

Leave aside this topic we will discuss it some other time. Coming back to my childhood…born in the country of so-called “snake charmers” I would always want to be born in the same country again and again. The charm of the country is mesmerising. Be it the wild life, forests, sea beaches, indigenous tribes, forts, Rajas and maharajas and the freedom struggle, everything is special. And I tell you though I am born and brought up in this country but I am yet to visit many parts of my own country…wish I could in my life time.

I went to the catholic convent schools. I write “schools” because my father is on a transferable job and we shifted to different places. I have stayed in erstwhile princely states which had palaces, lakes, gardens and airfields which belonged to the maharajas. Some of the palaces have been converted into colleges and schools or government offices, but the nostalgia still remains. Old timers who have grown up during the rule of the maharajas have splendid stories to narrate about their childhood, they are really fascinating. The museums set up give us the vivid picture of the life styles of our rulers in the past. The wild life is still in tact in many parts of our country. I have ventured into a few jungles myself and experienced some of the best hiking expeditions. Picnic parties into these jungles during festivals or on New Year’s Eve are a part of entertainment for the people of these erstwhile princely states.

I crave for those beautiful days of my childhood. Now I live in Delhi. Life is not the same as old time. In this busy life style making out sometime and remembering the past gives me immense pleasure and, moreover, sharing it with others doubles the pleasure. So until next time…