Television Memories

 

I remember Dad listening to cricket commentaries and the news from the BBC on our Murphy radio, and I was all attention every morning as Radio Ceylon aired their'request ‘request programme’ of English songs. Transistors and radio were our gadgets of information and entertainment. .”

Television came to India in 1959 with an experimental transmission from New Delhi. Services were extended to Mumbai in 1972 and 1975 and

included Chennai, Calcutta, Srinagar, and Amritsar. Colour television in India began making its presence felt in the early eighties.   The first programme in colour to be broadcast by Doordarshan, the public broadcast television channel run by the Indian government was the live telecast of the Independence Day parade of 1982 followed by the Asian Games in New Delhi. Doordarshan also began broadcasting a slew of soaps, comedies, and thrillers. Humlog was the first serial to be broadcast by Doordarshan in 1984.

We were the proud owners of a medium-sized BPL colour television in 1985.  As the Onida television tagline said: “Neighbours envy, Owners pride.I have fond memories of watching Nukkad, Wagle ki Duniya, Buniyaad, Yeh jo hai zindagi which are a few from a never-ending list.  The serials were entertaining and relatable as they dealt with the common man’s life and problems. Then there was the hilarious I Love Lucy and Different Strokes which I tried not to miss.

Star Trek did not interest me at all, but it had quite a huge following. The Sunday evening Hindi movie could not be missed. Everybody did not own a television set all at once, and neighbours went to each other's homes for cricket matches and a good movie. Our maid came to work a little earlier than usual on Sunday and stayed back to watch Ramayan and Mahabharata.  Film buffs remained glued to the television watching Chitrahaar which was broadcast once a week. If my memory serves me right, I think it was on Wednesday that the programme was broadcast. There was Krishi darshan and broadcasts of rural games like kho-kho and kabaddi, which are yet being broadcast.

Satellite and cable Television in the 1990s proved to be a big challenge for Doordarshan. It struggled to compete with the numerous cable and network channels, but kudos, it survives!

My sons had their fill of children’s programmes on Cartoon Network, Pogo and Nickelodeon. I too was hooked to certain channels and serials on satellite television.

Television has profoundly impacted modern society, culture, politics, and social norms. From news programmes, documentaries, and entertainment, television shapes our world.

On November 21st, World Television Day, we celebrate the advent of television in our lives and choose to ignore its nickname, “idiot box." (Too much of anything is anyway a bad thing.) From its humble beginnings to the modern sleek compact, high-tech sets, television continues to educate, inform, and inspire us.

Happy Television Day.

Image credit: Pixabay. 

 

The Year That Was

 

As each year draws to a close, we look forward to a happier New Year. It’s December 2024 and I find myself given to introspection, reflection, and gratitude. Each year unfolds like a kaleidoscope of lessons and experiences. We lose some, we win some, and through it all we grow.

A lack of peace on our beautiful planet marked 2024. Prolonged wars between nations and communities caused immeasurable death and destruction of innocent lives. Only when there is peace can progress follow. Let’s hope that peace finds a home on our planet in 2025.

We also witnessed other significant political events that changed the global landscape. Natural disasters, tragic accidents, and unforgettable moments of pride and honour, will remain etched in memory.

I learned lessons in 2024. Thanks to some foolish and careless investments and decisions, I learned to be money-savvy. Old friendships turning sour disappointed and hurt me, but I’m grateful for kindness from unexpected sources. I gained insights into the workings of the self-publishing industry, and personally, what I learnt and experienced has been quite unappealing.

At the close of 2024, I am proud of even my littlest achievements. I am a wee more tech-savvy than when the year began.  I’ve done a moderate amount of writing and read a few more books than I did in 2023. There’s always room for improvement, I say.

The Christmas tree looks prettier and has an extra special glow this year.   My older son from overseas is visiting after 3 years, filling our half-empty nest with love, light, and laughter.

I hardly travelled in 2024, but a couple of short trips made me feel extremely blessed and happy.

As we move into 2025, we carry with us lessons learned and our hopes and dreams for peace and prosperity in our lives and around the world. Kaleidoscope 2025 will bring forth different thoughts, actions, reactions, and words and I hope they are positive ones for all of us.

 

Happy New Year. 

Image Credit : Pixabay

New Year Resolutions

 You make New Year Resolutions with determination

Once made, you fight off temptation

You walk the straight and narrow mile.

In the Resolution world

Life's all hunky dory for a while. 

Then you make a tiny slip

And another, and another,

Until you find 

You've lost your grip

So long!

Until happy next New Year. 

Image credit: Pixabay. 

Where Have All The Christmas Cards Gone?

 The one thing that I miss dreadfully about Christmas is the good old Christmas card. 

While the seamstress and confectioner gear up to take on the onslaught of the festive season and every Christian household works overtime to put out their best on that special day, one charming aspect of the festival is slowly fading away... Where have all the paper Christmas cards gone?

There are generations who have grown up minus the internet or the cell phone, played Catching Cook and not Candy Crush, and enjoyed the ritual of writing and posting Christmas greetings. 

I pride myself on belonging to one of those generations. This part of the Christmas preparations was delegated to me when I was a teen. 

I sat down and made a list of whom the cards would go out to, trying not to forget anyone. First came the immediate family circle—grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins, then distant relatives and friends. 

Once I had made the list, with constant additions and subtractions, I went to stores that stocked Christmas cards. I read and reread the words on the inside and outside of the card and strove to pick a good mix of fun and spirituality, intending to send the right card to the right person. 

Then I returned home and assembled together all that was needed to send out the greetings. I carefully wrote the cards in my best schoolgirl handwriting, slipped them into their envelopes, glued or licked the required stamps onto the envelope, and handed them over to an elder to be dropped into the post box. That was one job struck off the Christmas ‘to-do' list.

In the meantime, as the festival drew nearer, the trips to the letterbox grew more frequent—I snatched a moment or two every day to peer into the letterbox to find out if Mr. Postman had made my day. Sometimes he did, sometimes not. 

On good days, I collected the cards, ran home, opened each, and exclaimed in delight as I read the sender's name. The cards were kept away carefully to be strung up along with the decorations. Some precious old ones also found a place alongside the new ones.

Emojis and digital greetings are no substitute for the charm of writing and posting Christmas cards. They are the closest one can get to a hug on this special day. 

Do you send e-cards or go with the virtual ones?  

Image credit: Pixabay.

Travel Memories : Kerala

 Travel memories: Kerala

 

Random Musings: 

It was in 2014 that my family and I visited Kerala. Ten years have passed, but the memories of that marvellous holiday have stayed with me. Summer may not be the best time to visit Kerala but some last-minute plans led us to holiday in this awesome land.

God’s own country, Kerala leaves you spellbound. This beautiful, tiny state in the southwest of India is lodged between the Arabian Sea on the west and the Western Ghats on the east. Kerala has been named after ‘Kera’ or the coconut palm, which is inherent in its landscape and economy. The land has been blessed with a long coastline and numerous beaches and is a vacation hotspot. Kerala is a kaleidoscope of colour and design.

Historic monuments, some magnificent fauna and flora, glorious sunshine, miles of endless sea and stretches of yellow sand are what make Kerala a perfect holiday destination. From the moment we stepped down from the plane, we soaked in the breathtaking beauty of the land of coconut palms and cashew nuts.

 

Kochi is a city steeped in history. It essentially comprises a group of islands: Willingdon Island, Fort Kochi, Mattencherry, and others. The Arab, Dutch, and Portuguese influences are palpable in Kochi. The Saint Francis Church, built in 1503, happens to be the oldest European church and also the burial site of Vasco da Gama, whose remains were later moved to Lisbon, Portugal. His tombstone in the church is quite a tourist attraction.

Mattancherry in Kochi is a neighbourhood about nine kilometres away from the Ernakulam district and a popular tourist destination. Populated by various communities and cultures, Jew Town is the historical part of Mattencherry.

 

It was here that the ancient Jews began trading. Numerous versions abound regarding the existence of the Jews in Kerala. Legend has it that there were once thousands of Jews in Kerala but today their numbers have dwindled to not more than sixty. As per some records dating back to the 17^th century written in Hebrew, the first Jews sailed to South India on the ships of King Solomon. Other records tell of the Jews coming to India during the Babylonian exile.

 

Some records say that they fled to Malabar after the destruction of the second Temple. Most of these stories center around an ancient trading centre called Cranganore, north of Cochin. In the early sixteenth century there was a mass exodus of Jewish refugees from the Spanish and Portuguese invasions. Stroll down the lanes and bylanes of Jewtown, now flanked by antique showrooms; drink in the old-world charm and rejuvenate mind and body. The Jew palace and Jew synagogue are important landmarks.

 

The golden sands and mighty ocean at Cherai left me feeling like a cat who got the cream.

 

Willingdon Island is a man-made island named after Lord Willingdon, a former British Viceroy to India. The islands boast the best hotels in the city of Kochi and serves as the Port Trust headquarters of the Southern naval command, Cochin Harbour.

 

You can’t leave Kerala without experiencing its wildlife. The Periyar Tiger Reserve is spread across the dense evergreen deciduous forests and grasslands of Thekkady and is home to several wild animals like the elephant, tiger deer, etc. Sighting the animals as they come to drink from the artificial lake across the  Periyar River is an unimaginably exciting experience. 

The sightings can be done from a boat cruise, trek, or a jeep safari. Sometimes it is your lucky boat cruise, and sometimes it is not. We were fortunate enough to spot a few deer quenching their thirst. The early morning hours and late afternoon are the best times to go on these expeditions, as it is then that the animals generally make an appearance. The watchtowers in the forest enable tourists to watch jungle life close at hand.

It is believed that Kerala’s spice connection is about 3000 years old. History tells us that travellers from various countries flocked to Kerala to partake of its myriad spices. Cloves, cardamom, mace, nutmeg, ginger, and turmeric all grow in abundance. Vasco da Gama too ventured into India to avail himself of his slice of spice. Spice gardens and plantations abound all over Kerala. Our tour of one such spice garden in Thekkady saw us breathing in the heavenly fragrances of thriving spice plants. Besides spices, there were several fruits and vegetables too. Some exotic, some commonplace. Spice plantations may also offer accommodation or a homestay on the plantation where guests savour traditional home-cooked Keralite delicacies and simply enjoy the wonder and beauty of nature.

Are you a tea drinker? Then make your way to Munnar. Lose yourself in the winding lanes, extensive tea plantations, rolling hills, waterfalls, and babbling brooks. The winding roads did not go down too well with me. The very picturesque hill station is situated at the confluence of three rivers and was once the summer resort of the erstwhile British government in South India. The word Munnar means ‘three rivers. The gorgeous Munnar is a popular holiday resort. Besides some very fascinating fauna and flora, the hill station boasts of having the highest peak in South India—Annamudi, at 2,695 metres is a trekker’s delight.

 

The Eravikulam National Park is home to a plethora of varied animals, birds, and butterflies and offers a stunning view of the tea plantations and hills. The main attraction in the park is an endangered species of mountain goat called Nilgri Tahr. The hills of Munnar take on a bluish tinge every 12 years when the Neelakuringi flower blooms.  

 

The Tata Tea Museum in Munnar located in the Nallathani estate tells the story of the evolution of tea plantations in the hill station through old machinery, photographs, and curios. The CTC manufacturing unit showcases the old method of tea production, while you savour a variety of flavors in the tea-tasting unit. Furniture from the colonial era, which includes wooden chairs, tables, iron ovens, and some office furniture used on the tea estate, is displayed at the museum.

Scream your loudest at Echo Point, 15 km away from Munnar and wait a moment!

 

The waters beckoned once more, and to Ashtamudi in Kollam, we proceeded. The Ashtamudi Lake is a large, palm-shaped, eight-armed water body and a popular tourist attraction. Also known as the gateway to the backwaters, Ashtamudi means eight cones. The 16km long lake empties itself into the Arabian Sea through the Neendakara estuary. The coconut groves and palm trees along the shores of the lake simply enhance the splendour of the landscape.

 

The backwaters comprise a network of waterways, inlets from the sea, estuaries, lakes, and natural canals connecting coastal towns. The waters are teeming with aquatic life, and cruising the backwaters could be the best thing that could happen to you in Kerala.

 

The resort we stayed in put us up in one of the numerous wooden floating cottages. The cottages overlook the placid lake waters. Our fishing expedition from the balcony of the cottage provided much excitement.

 

The first-time fishermen, comprising father and sons patiently waited for the catch (all provided by the resort). Undoubtedly their patience was rewarded sometimes with a single fish, sometimes with a couple. ‘Happiness is…getting lucky on your very first fishing expedition.’ The resort might even cook the fish for you!

 

The resort arranged for an hour-long houseboat cruise, which to me was the best part of the holiday. The District Tourism Promotion Council and other private and government organizations arrange for boat rides as well as houseboat cruises. On the eight-hour-long cruise between Kollam and Allappuzha, you discover the network of waterways that is so unique to Kerala. Some houseboats are equipped with a fully furnished kitchen, bedrooms, and bathrooms. You could spend a night on the boat and be treated to a typical Keralite meal and chill out with some beer. Yummy, yum, yum!

The Chinese fishing nets, a popular tourist attraction, were introduced in Kochi by a Chinese traveller, Zheng He from the court of Kubla Khan between 1350 and 1450 AD. Modern fishing techniques are swiftly replacing the Chinese fishing nets. 

I remember how fascinated we were by the nets. Visitors can buy fish from the fisherman and have them cooked or may even be able to lower and raise the nets for a fee. 

 

When in Kerala, feast on signature Keralite cuisine. From Appams to Avial it just gets better and better.

 

Carry away a little of Kerala with you. Go home with loads of spices, cashew nuts, tea, coffee, handicrafts, and coconut products. Massage your woes away with an energizing Ayurvedic massage available at most resorts. There is so much to discover, to experience; put Kerala on your bucket list.

This post is part of the blogchatterbloghop weekly prompt. 

The images are from my trip to kerala. 

 

Childhood Memories Are Made of These

 

For most of us, childhood memories are precious treasures revisited occasionally. My childhood memories are generally happy memories, and I’d love to share some of them with you

 

Family

Mom and Dad were a hard-working, God-fearing couple who inculcated values and principles in my brother and me that have held us in good stead today. There was playtime and study time, and my parents were extremely strict about keeping boundaries between the two. Playtime was always after homework.  Mom supervised homework, while dad had the pleasure of signing the good report cards. My brother and I  had our fair share of sibling quarrels, but I remember how excited I was when he came into the world. Family also included, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins who lived in far-off places and with whom we regularly kept in touch through letters, cards and postcards. We visited them during vacations and I cherish those memories.

 

School

I attended a Convent school and experienced both happy and not–so–happy memories.  My kindergarten days were fraught with fear and anxiety (I still don’t know why)As I sat in the cycle rickshaw, I shed copious tears to school, every day, until the rickshaw puller complained to Dad about my crying and I received a spanking of my life. I never cried to go to school again. Among the teachers, I had my set of favourites. English was my favourite subject. Math and Science were certainly rocket Science to me and I struggled with them, especially in high school. Middle school saw my 4 friends and me eating out of lunch boxes ‘catching place’ and sharing meals that our moms had so lovingly prepared. We sat under shady trees, shielding ourselves and our food from hovering kites, who sometimes swooped down and snatched food.

The swings the slides, the playground and boisterous kabbadi games are sweet memories for me. Occasionally we were treated to movies and the regular curtains in the hall were temporarily replaced with black curtains. The black curtains made our day because movies meant no lessons.

The little bookstore in a corner sold stationery, including the prized white and green scented eraser. The tailor master sat in another corner measuring us for uniforms.

 These memories are revived on the school WhatsApp group ever so often and then we are on a roll. They do a good job of breaking the humdrum of adult life.

 

Friends

I had a small circle of friends in school and together we created some awesome memories. We attended each other’s birthday parties, ate from each other’s lunch boxes and generally enjoyed being in each other’s company.  I’m still in touch with a few and it feels wonderful. Then there were friends from the neighbourhood and we created some equally fantastic memories.

 

Playtime

 I was no sportswoman but just loved a good game of hide and seek, Kho –Kho, Seven Tiles, Catching Cook, Kicking the can, Hop Scotch (also called “Langdi”).  

Indoor games included the all-time favourite, snakes and Ladders, Ludo and Name, Place, Animal, and Thing

The Little Dirt Road

 We lived in a rented cottage. The cottage had two main doors: the front door opened to a big compound owned by the landlord who also lived on the premises.

The back door opened to a small muddy and bumpy lane. On either side of the lane was a row of cottages, occupied by other families. This lane was a playground for the children including my brother and me.  We played badminton and cricket, rode cycles up and down the lane, and played with stray puppies that wandered into the lane.

During the winter, folk from the cottages sat in the lane, sipping hot tea, and engaging in lively banter. During the hot summers, we sat outside enjoying the cool evening breeze.  Since we didn’t have a geyser, Mom heated bath water on the Chula which was placed outside our home in the lane.

Neighbours were on good terms with each other, helping one another in times of need. I particularly remember the gusto with which Holi was played as the folk from the cottages poured out into the lane throwing colour and spraying one another with coloured water.

All good times come to an end. Children grew up and moved out. Families moved out and new families moved in.  The memories of those happy days in the lane are something I will always cherish.

Random Memories

·       Writing letters to Santa Claus.

·       Dad gave me a ride to the local library that was housed in a shed.

·       Eating pickles and sweets to my heart’s content

·       Going with Dad for my first Hindi movie: Haathi Mera Sathi.

I’m grateful I had a happy childhood, and echoing Michael Jackson's song “We Are the World,”…I would say, Let’s make it a better place for our children. Let's help our children experience childhood as it should be. 

 

This post is part of the BlogchatterBlogHop weekly challenge. 

Image credit : Pixabay. 

 

 

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Parenting: Learning by Degrees

 Parenting: Learning by Degrees

 

My parents were an ordinary, hardworking, God - fearing couple who taught us well. They inculcated in my brother and me values and morals that I hold in good stead  and strive to do the same with my offspring.  Dad was a big, burly good natured man with a penchant for song and the stricter of the two. Mum taught in the local convent school finding a balance between work and home. Disagreements notwithstanding, they created a haven of love, laughter, happy days and good times. 

You know naught about parenting when you receive the gift of parenthood and parenting is a humongous responsibility. No book will teach you how to be a parent. Amid trials, errors and a lot of well meaning advice from folk around, you strive to raise your child to be a well balanced individual. Parenting is a rollercoaster ride. There are happy and sad moments. You experience days of intense joy and pride and days when you just want to slink away into some dark corner.

The toddlers grow up all too soon – words, actions, moments and milestones get tucked away into a treasure trove of memories to be relived time and again. Adolescence is a difficult time for both parent and child.  The adolescent is one day an adult looking to carve a niche for him and despite the pangs, you will have to let go… As a parent you are constantly faced with new challenges. Don’t let the challenges break you, let them make you.

 A worrisome trend among children today, are ‘soft addictions’, brought to light by author and life coach Judith Wright.

Children are increasingly becoming slaves to habits that rob them of meaningful activities and pursuits. Soft addictions include excessive screen time, an unhealthy indulgence in junk food and shopping,etc.   Parents must monitor the activities of their children, and inculcate in them responsible behavior. Parents need to project a positive image and emit positive vibes for children to emulate.

To quote Ms. Wright, “Parents can have perspective and need to take responsibility for helping their children manage these soft addictions. Too often, they model behaviors that encourage kids to fall into soft addiction routines instead. For instance, many parents come home from work and spend the majority of post-dinner hours slumped in front of the television. Other parents model gossiping behaviors, spending hours each week e-mailing and phoning friends.”

“I’m not suggesting that parents or their children go “cold turkey” and quit all soft addictions. As human beings, most of us have some soft addictions. We can still live a full, meaningful existence if these activities are part of our lives. But they need to be a minor rather than a major part”. Rediscovering the fine art of conversation, visiting friends, going for walks in the woods, expressing their feelings to people they care about, listening to inspirational music—all this can add meaning.”

“Just as important, it can provide a healthy behavioral model for their children. Consciously or not, kids are great imitators, and softly-addicted parents tend to produce softly-addicted kids. It’s very difficult for parents to tell kids to stop watching so much television when they’re guilty of the same type of mindless, habitual behaviors. Parents will find, however, that if they learn to spend their time more meaningfully, not only will their lives be more satisfying but they’ll help create more satisfying lives for their children.”

In a nut shell when you are a parent:

·       You love unconditionally

·       You experience some life changing experiences

·       You are your child’s first teacher

·       You learn that you  are not infallible

·       You will experience disappointments and heartbreaks yet you must remain strong

·       You give your children roots and then wings.