O of #AtoZChallenge
At night, when the world would be making it's bed, waiting to drop down, my Aaji would put on her transistor in her bedroom and listen to old Hindi songs on radio. Suddenly, everything would go quiet. A warm, fuzzy feeling would envelope our house. A smile would appear on our faces, the worried wrinkles on the foreheads would disappear and we would find ourselves going down the Old World Lane!
Ah! The eternal- Old World Charm! Even today when I hear any old Hindi song, my imagination turns into black and white and I get transported right into the song!
If I have to revisit an era, I would travel to the 'black and white Mumbai' era. When the streets looked squeaky clean, the Victorian buildings at VT, Churchgate basked in it's full glory, Marine Drive and the Arabian Sea looked it's cleanest. During my time-travel, I can feel the warm wind blowing, making my tresses dance. I imagine life to be simpler with lesser choices, lesser money, lesser crowd, lesser possessions. The black and white visual fills me up with warmth and a sweet assurance. I feel easy to breathe (and it's not just the cleaner air).
Aaji, Ramesh Mama, my Mama-Aajoba are my only Grandparents of my life who told me tales of the Old Times; when they were young, when India was still not independent, when Mumbai was a 'rising city'. They told me stories from the 1920's to the early 70's. And whenever they did, I would find myself back in the Black and White imagery, re-living their tale.
My Mama-Aajoba lived upto a hundred years! He was born in the late 1910's and he hit a century! A WHOLE 100 years!! He lived a glorious life of a small-town boy turned self-made Dignitary! As a teenager he got to hangout with Bhagat Singh at the local akhada! Inspite of his humble beginnings, he went on to study and work at the same time ! My Mama-Aajoba was amongst the first IAS officers of the Independent India's First Government! He was called upon by Morarji Desai to be a part of the Committee to conduct Independent India's first ever Census! Strangely, to me my Mama-Aajoba was just my Bapu-Mama first; my Great-Grandfather who told me stories whenever I met him. He would always tell me that 'I was his favourite great-granddaughter' and I believed him :)
My Aaji, my Mum's Aai, practically raised me with my parents. I spent more time with her than even my parents (as they would be working and making a living for us). She was born in the mid 20's and has entertained me with numerous stories of her growing up in the Old Mumbai, Dadar area; stories about she and my Aajoba (Dada) shifting to Mulund after marriage. Through her stories she painted the early-Mulund pictures for me. When Mulund was a little village, with a railway station and no electricity and pipeline-water! She tells me how Mulund had a handful of families; not what it is today! She told me how as a young married wife, she would draw water from the well behind the house; something that she had never done in her life as she lived in Mumbai city(Dadar)! There were no roads in Mulund; just big farm and grasslands. My Dada would travel by train to Mumbai city for work, and once he got off at the Mulund Station, he would walk back home, down a narrow lane with farms and grasslands on the sides; and a खाडी at the distance! She remembers how Dada had got a bulb fixed in their house (when the electricity hadn't reached Mulund) and the night the electricity first reached Mulund, their house lit up dimly!
It is in her retelling of her life, did I find comfort and solace. It was as if I was alive through those early years of Mumbai!
Ramesh Mama is my Aaji's younger sibling. He is an eternal bachelor, who found solace with himself. He was working with Indian Railways and was posted in Ahmedabad and later Mumbai. His stories were about finding happiness in living a simple life. He lives alone. He STILL lives without a fridge, a water geyser and a TV. He is averse to technology and doesn't want to complicate his life with 'so much information and space'! Ofcourse he reads the paper and keeps himself updated. Mind you, he doesn't pay for the paper himself but prefers to borrow it from the neighbours when he 'feels' like reading! But his paternal family (my cousin Mavshi, who stays nearby looks after him and keeps him well-fed). Ramesh Mama has been my funny man, who always make us laugh, with his simple, silly humour :) It is 'signature Ramesh Mama' of him to bring me 250gms of Kaju-Katli every time (till date) he visits us! He still me tells stories of old memories, our family members, funny stories from his life and his travels. He gives me the craziest yet simplest tips on 'How to Simplify and Uncomplicate My Life'! He takes great pride in telling me that he uses just one gas cylinder through the year. He uses the gas to warm up the milk thrice a day (his superhit formula to live without the fridge)! With him by my side, I feel happy, strong and grounded!
Ramesh Mama is my only living Aajoba. Sadly, over the years I lost my closest grandparents. Having my Ramesh Mama around especially as I grow older, makes me feel rooted and sane!
I strongly feel that my connection with the old world exists because of my grandparents and the old Hindi songs! They are what I go back to, when I feel heavy and lost. To me 'feeling lost' if personified looks like a scared, lost child, with tears running down her cheeks. She goes running into the open arms of her Aaji, of the old songs. And when the old memories come rushing down and the old songs take over the uncomfortable silence, she feels the hug. The hug of comfort and love. And they whisper softly and lovingly,"It's okay! Cry. We are here!"
The Old World, our Old Grandparents, the Old Memories, are a shield, a Guard standing to give us comfort and strength whenever we need. No matter where they are now and how old we are now and how old will we be, they are there! For they live within us. These are the true Treasures of our lives! Treasures which are priceless and irreplaceable. They can never be stolen. These old memories of the old world can only be cherished, passed down and shared!
It's worth a visit down the Memory Lane and the Old World. Maybe, we might find few answers to help us find ourselves too:)
(image courtesy: Google Images)
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