My Precious Childhood:

My childhood was not a bed of roses, but I was fortunate enough to have filled with experiences that are completely lost today. Born into a lower middle class family in a quaint village of Southern Tamil Nadu, I was raised in a devout Roman Catholic family. Truly, then I never knew, what connection we had with Romans to be called Roman Catholic Christians. Though my parents were not orthodox Christians, it was impossible to skip regular prayers and masses at the church. Moreover, the priest clad in white cassock would show up at the school to seek his vengeance for not listening to his boring sermons on Sundays. Strict discipline was emphasized right from the childhood. Nuns would do a regular check up on our teeth and if a tinge of yellow stain appears, we would have to pick up brick powder and brush our teeth. Their reprimands, then sounded like a screaming monster, but they have definitely redefined my life.

Uninvaded by machines, those days were entwined with brisk activities. We would start the day with going to the field to swim in the well. Then, we come home to fill up our stomach with a simple meal and head to school with our friends chatting all the way. On weekends, sitting idle at home was never encouraged by my parents. My cousins and I would go to our farmland and all along the way hanging on the branches of the banyan trees was a great fun. Alas, now there is not a single tree on both sides of the road. Upon reaching the field, claiming giant trees and running up and down the rutted paths kept our muscles strong and sound in health. We would test the strength of our teeth by chewing sturdy sugar canes stolen from the neighbouring field. My granny would dig out heaps of ripened mangoes buried under the neem leaves in a giant mud pot and we joyfully taste every bit of it. When monsoon comes, it becomes all the more interesting with mushrooms sprouting up from the wetland. My cousin and I would wake up at dawn and set on a hunt for the white hoods protruding from the ground in all over the green environment. The joy is ineffable when we spot huge amount of long mushrooms in a single place. When it rains, the whole village plunges into darkness and on such occasions, eating hot Dosai made by my mother and listening to the legendary tales narrated by granny are vivid memories of my childhood.

There is a pond outside the village and during summer, the water level comes down to knee deep in a huge pit. The whole village gather on a particular day to catch fish from the pond. It is a frenzy activity in the slushy water, as everyone swarms in the pit to gather every single fish. We also get hurt when sharp bones of the fishes plunge into our feet, but the intense activity makes it oblivious to our mind. With loads of fishes, we come home and share it with our neighbours.

There were many fun-filled activities like chasing butterflies in the myriad field, hunting with the dog at night, taking the cattle out for grazing and indulge in farming and much more. At every activity, there was a bonding with the nature. Most of those precious things are lost after embracing the lifeless machines in our life. Nevertheless, we still have a chance to live one with nature in every way.

This is my experience, and you can share with me your childhood memories, that are very precious and you miss them now due to the change in lifestyle. Come on, let us relive those wonderful moments through our words.