Churan

I went to school in the 60s and the 70s. What I share most Colcattans (people familiar with Kolkata then Calcutta) would be able to relate to.

Those were the times when luxury was to get idlies for breakfast from Ramakrishna Lunch Home in Kolkata. The amount used to be handsome. It used to be Rs. 6.00 for 30 idlies for a family of 6, Mother Father, 3 sisters and a FAT me. The super luxury was to go for Dosa at a 1st floor open eatery on Camac Street, I fail to get the name. Probably Hidustan. They used to give some amazing green chutney – their signature item with dosas.

Now you can imagine what was it like in school. I had all the red colored chooran, moodi, aam paapd, kamrak and glogappa all prepared by hand and severed with hand. Eeks. Yes all by bare hands and no gloves no sanitizers.

I did not know then the difference between healthy and unhealthy – I still do not. The toys that I owned and played with were ball and a shuttle cock and a badminton racket. These prized possessions made me play for at least 2 hours each day out side in the sweltering heat on the road where occasional cars used to stop the play.

I did not know then that it was preparing me for 1980 to 2020 and beyond. It made me resilient to many things. It made me resilient to people. This includes all kinds of people, colleagues, bosses, neighbors, family members and many other relations.

I did not know then that I was being prepared for 1024 ailments, which the present day generation is getting treated at hospitals.

I did not know then that I was being prepared for fighting for the rights and not just complaining and cribbing. There was as it nobody to listen even if I did. The only vent out mechanism available was in a column called Agony Aunt in Illustrated Weekly, which was read, by my elder sisters and parents and hence the question was to be asked in a pen name. The answers were predictable and insipid, the pleasure was to notice my pen name.

I did not know then that the world would turn half circle and the other half would start being visible again to inculcate resilience in growing in years and not vaccine in failing time.