I love this chapter - this is where your life picks up speed. And surprise surprise, you won't even realize when this chapter begins. Let's ponder upon this point a bit - when was the last time you sat on your cozy armchair, with a cup of coffee on your hand, soothing melody on the background and reflected on what you did in the last 24 hours - I am sure you will come upon stumbling blocks to even think of an armchair - because our lives have become so fast that we barely have time to even blink.
I work in an MNC - which is good I suppose, from a career-istic point of view. But when I look back down the last 23 years of my life (and sadly I don't have a good memory of the first 6-7 years), I feel I was happier then than now. Maybe because I had no worries back then, I could leave all the tensions to mom and dad and become carefree - or maybe because my mind was clear, free of any dusts of civilization that slowly cripples your thoughts as you grow up. Whatever may the reason be, I was happy growing up as a child. I could pee anywhere I want, I could cry my heart out when my 'wishes were not granted' or I could simply beat the shit out of my elder brother with my tiny hands.
But things start changing - real fast. Your tiny hands are now called fists and rather than trying them out on your bitter enemies, you learn to scribble faster than a professional pianist (of course the pianist wasn't scribbling, he was playing piano!). You are taught the art of 'memorizing' facts and even figures - and officially you have boarded the Express Called Life. Everything now is quantified - how long you study, how long you sleep, how long you play (or sometimes you don't play at all!). Your goals are set - getting the better of your fellow classmates and standing on the podium with a medal around your neck, with your proud parents sitting on the first row, clapping and shouting your name...
Let's slow down a bit - I did not go through this ordeal, my life was a bit simpler - but I remind myself, I now belong to the 'Old Generation' - 20th Century when having a decent color TV was considered richness (if you had 'cable connection' - dude, you're the King!). I still remember when we got our first Cable Connection - I had starry eyes and awestruck to see so many national and international channels, at my fingertips (actually it was at the tip of the remote control, but anyways...) and it was fun!
There was a huge playing ground in my school and I was excited - cricket, football - I was in heaven and studying took a back seat as I surged forward towards the goalkeeper. I can proudly say it was a glorious past with me being the lord of the soiled and muddy little demons who ruled the neighborhood - but alas, the 'New Generation' little ones are bound to play cricket at their apartment basements and who can blame them - I have not seen a single playground in Bangalore in the last 2 years - the few hidden ones are privately owned and there is a hefty price tag if you want to set foot on them.
But eventually, I also set foot on the express and set forth a goal - becoming an engineer (from a distinguished college, with a distinguished degree, with a dis...it goes on believe me). We were warriors, representing our school, our teachers, our beloved town - and there were thousands of us. The Express was packed - (kuuuuuu - jhik jhik jhik jhik jhik - that's the Train honking!) and we had rosy dreams, of reaching the ''land of success'' with beautiful mountains, blue ocean and everything possible that we could dream of.
Morning - Breakfast - Tuition - School - Tuition - Tuition - Dinner - Sleep
The cycle continued for us for about 2 years - I wonder why we were not roaming around like zombies after the grueling 'education workout' everyday - maybe because we were 'doped with a desire to be successful'. And we did it - we got good ranks, good college but we missed something as well (reminds me of the famous quote - 'kuch pane ke liye kuch khona parta hain') - we lost 'some parts' of our childhood. How I wish I could go back and play on the streets, a little more? I used to hold a 'street cricket record' - 54 runs in 3 overs - and I was just as mighty as Chris Gayle!
Enough of my life and how it was - I would like to encourage the readers to express how they felt their childhoods were - was it fast and furious or you got the scope to enjoy it a bit :-) ?
And a note:
Today I see 'younger warriors' - who undergo this strenuous exercise, starting from as early as 6 years old - and I can not help but be sad - moms and dads, please let them play around a bit - education is important no doubt, but let it not be a replacement for your baby's fun hour.
I work in an MNC - which is good I suppose, from a career-istic point of view. But when I look back down the last 23 years of my life (and sadly I don't have a good memory of the first 6-7 years), I feel I was happier then than now. Maybe because I had no worries back then, I could leave all the tensions to mom and dad and become carefree - or maybe because my mind was clear, free of any dusts of civilization that slowly cripples your thoughts as you grow up. Whatever may the reason be, I was happy growing up as a child. I could pee anywhere I want, I could cry my heart out when my 'wishes were not granted' or I could simply beat the shit out of my elder brother with my tiny hands.
But things start changing - real fast. Your tiny hands are now called fists and rather than trying them out on your bitter enemies, you learn to scribble faster than a professional pianist (of course the pianist wasn't scribbling, he was playing piano!). You are taught the art of 'memorizing' facts and even figures - and officially you have boarded the Express Called Life. Everything now is quantified - how long you study, how long you sleep, how long you play (or sometimes you don't play at all!). Your goals are set - getting the better of your fellow classmates and standing on the podium with a medal around your neck, with your proud parents sitting on the first row, clapping and shouting your name...
Let's slow down a bit - I did not go through this ordeal, my life was a bit simpler - but I remind myself, I now belong to the 'Old Generation' - 20th Century when having a decent color TV was considered richness (if you had 'cable connection' - dude, you're the King!). I still remember when we got our first Cable Connection - I had starry eyes and awestruck to see so many national and international channels, at my fingertips (actually it was at the tip of the remote control, but anyways...) and it was fun!
There was a huge playing ground in my school and I was excited - cricket, football - I was in heaven and studying took a back seat as I surged forward towards the goalkeeper. I can proudly say it was a glorious past with me being the lord of the soiled and muddy little demons who ruled the neighborhood - but alas, the 'New Generation' little ones are bound to play cricket at their apartment basements and who can blame them - I have not seen a single playground in Bangalore in the last 2 years - the few hidden ones are privately owned and there is a hefty price tag if you want to set foot on them.
But eventually, I also set foot on the express and set forth a goal - becoming an engineer (from a distinguished college, with a distinguished degree, with a dis...it goes on believe me). We were warriors, representing our school, our teachers, our beloved town - and there were thousands of us. The Express was packed - (kuuuuuu - jhik jhik jhik jhik jhik - that's the Train honking!) and we had rosy dreams, of reaching the ''land of success'' with beautiful mountains, blue ocean and everything possible that we could dream of.
Morning - Breakfast - Tuition - School - Tuition - Tuition - Dinner - Sleep
The cycle continued for us for about 2 years - I wonder why we were not roaming around like zombies after the grueling 'education workout' everyday - maybe because we were 'doped with a desire to be successful'. And we did it - we got good ranks, good college but we missed something as well (reminds me of the famous quote - 'kuch pane ke liye kuch khona parta hain') - we lost 'some parts' of our childhood. How I wish I could go back and play on the streets, a little more? I used to hold a 'street cricket record' - 54 runs in 3 overs - and I was just as mighty as Chris Gayle!
Enough of my life and how it was - I would like to encourage the readers to express how they felt their childhoods were - was it fast and furious or you got the scope to enjoy it a bit :-) ?
And a note:
Today I see 'younger warriors' - who undergo this strenuous exercise, starting from as early as 6 years old - and I can not help but be sad - moms and dads, please let them play around a bit - education is important no doubt, but let it not be a replacement for your baby's fun hour.
