16. CHITRABHANU

CHITRABHANU           PAGE16                    

The year 1944 happened to be another good year. There was a birth of my younger brother which is described in this page 16. You like to read the same.    A PAGE IN MY MEMOIRS

CONTENTS                                                                                                                            

1944

Introduction (message from me)             Page 1

Contents                                                                         Page 2

Standard 3                                                                      Pages 3 - 4

Birth of Younger Brother                                          Pages 5

Games 2                                                                          Pages 6 - 8

Standard 3

Meanwhile I continued my studies as usual. Schools opened in June and I went to the new Standard 3. I purchased new text books and note books when the list of books was given by the class teacher. I went to Venkatrama &sons shop on Kingsway where all text books and note books were available. There were two shops of book sellers Venkatrama & sons on Kingsway and Srirama Book Depot on Market Street for the text books. In the evenings there will be large crowd of students with their parents or grandparents for the purchase of the books for about 10 days after school reopening. My father accompanied me and got all books and stationery. After coming home I covered all the books with a brown paper wrapper with a label on these wrappings. The labels were given free by the shop keeper to be pasted on the wrappers.

 The new books used to smell with a peculiar sweet smell and I liked it and I repeatedly smelt the text books with happiness. This was due to the glue used for binding the books. The number of books increased compared to standard 2. My mother stitched a cloth bags on her hand peddled sewing machine and gave it to me to keep my books in the bag while I go to school. The Sewing Machine was of famous brand Singer.

In the school I used to see other class mates coming with leather chappals. I was not having any chappals I go bare foot to the school. I remembered the tyre chappals purchased by my Grandfather when I was in Shahlibanda. But they had become too tight as my feet have grown. I saw another boy having a sandal shoe with a strap and buckle for tightening. It was a good design and shape and it attracted me instantly.

After going home I told my mother to have a sandal which I saw in the school. She said those are worn by rich people only and not by us. She told me that after I go to college we buy chappals for me. But I did not listen and insisted that I should have the same. The sandal was so much attractive for me I could not sleep properly that night. My mother seeing my determination she put up a strong recommendation to my father. Luckily to my surprize my father agreed and said he would buy them subsequent month after he gets his monthly salary. I was counting days for the first of month to come. Yes finally the date has come.

Without any reminder to my father he said he would take measurement of my feet to get the sandal by evening when he comes from Office. He brought a paper and asked me to place my foot on the paper. With lead pencil he marked the outer perimeter of my leg. This represented my leg. He pocketed the paper. I went to school. After I came back from the school I was waiting for my father to come home eagerly. Finally he came at 6.30 pm with a packet in his hand. I was excited. He called my mother and handed over the packet to her and told it is the sandal for me. I was elated, happy and eager to see and wear it immediately.

My mother opened the packing and took out the sandal. OH it was a wonderful sandal almost same as I saw in the feet of my friend in school. I was very happy. The color and design all suited and the size was very perfect and   comfortable to me.  I became the proud owner of these leather sandals a dream come true. My father brought it from the same Bata shop from Kingsway as it was a famous shop in those days. The price was Rs 2.25 P.

I continued to wear the sandal after applying a coat of castor oil to the inside portions of the leather to smoothen it as it was the practice otherwise the leather will react with the skin causing injury.  I showed my sandals with pride to all my friends in school. They were all happy. This continued for few months.

 One day I had a drill period (this is now called as PT Class). It was the last period of the day. In the drill we have to have the drill with bare foot. I removed the sandals and kept it under the nearby tree. After attending to the drill I left for home when the bell rang forgetting the sandal. After reaching home I did not notice the sandals. When my father came home he did not find my sandals at the place where all chappals are kept. When he asked me about it, I remembered that I forgot it in school. I told the same to him. He did not scold me and told he would send my elder brother along with me to school to find out. Next morning when we went to school we could not find the sandals. My elder brother asked the watchman but he said he did not see any sandals. Thus my precious sandals were lost.

My brother informed my mother and father that the sandals are lost in school. I had no courage to ask for a replacement. I felt ashamed for my forgetfulness. I was not provided with any chappals or sandals by my parents till I reached college in 1952 that is after a period of 8 long years. I got new chappals in 1952 when I started attending Intermediate class in Nizam College Hyderabad. That was my sweet award I got from my parents. No regrets.

 BIRTH OF YOUNGER BROTHER

The year 1944 started with New Year celebrations fallowed by Sankranthi festival a festival of kite flying very famous in Hyderabad and Secunderabad. This was also a big festival in Gujarat state. After enjoying these festivals we come across Shivaratri and Holi. A series of festivals keep us with holidays, festivity, and good food in the house with a number and variety of sweets. These festivals again followed by Telugu New Year Day Ugadi and Ramanavami. That was the examination season also in the schools.

 The annual examinations were held in April in schools. In my school also the examinations were held in April. After few days of correcting the examination answer sheets results were declared. I passed out second standard and was promoted to third standard. I ran to my home and announced that I passed out second standard. My parents were very happy and made some sweets  for me in the house that evening.

In this year 1944, my mother delivered a male baby. The Baby was named as Hanmanth Rao by my Grandmother. A cute boy and he was my third younger brother in the family.

The celebrations as usual went on in the house a cradle ceremony, naming ceremony etc were done in our religious style arranged by our family by our family Purohit Hanumanthachar.

The news was spread across our relatives and friends through word of mouth by our Purohit, relatives and friends, People came to see the baby and my mother. Mother was blessed by all senior ladies and Purohit as she is now mother of her 9th child. It was a great honor in those days to have more children unlike as is today. I was very happy to have another small baby in the house. I used to sit near my mother in the evenings take the baby on my laps. It was a thrilling experience to have the little small baby on my laps.

My mother was under complete rest for 3 months and my Grandmother looked after her very well to recoup from after delivery syndrome.

Games 2

We played games in the evenings after school from 5 to 7 pm in the open ground opposite to the house in Jeer Compound. I had mentioned a small Para in Shukla Page 3 earlier on Games Time. Hence, I named this as Games 2.

Every day when we come back from school by 4.30 pm we have some snacks in the house and jump out to the open Maidan in front of the house where 15 more children of our age group also join. Meanwhile our senior group of my elder brother another 10 to 12 also come for playing ball badminton. We the junior gang of 15 are not allowed to play ball badminton. But on our repeated requests they allowed us some times and we play ball badminton on a day once a week.

On other days all children together will decide the game to be played on that particular day out of Gilli Danda, Chocho, Kabbadi, Marbles, Hide and Seek etc.  After deciding unilaterally we play a particular game on that day.

Gilli Danda is a game one person will play and others will field. The person playing will keep a small wooden piece (Gilli) on the ground slightly excavated in an inclined plane. The edge of this piece is sharpened to a pin point. The other small stick of 12 to 15 ins. long is held in the hand. The player hits the Gilli with the handle mildly. It jumps to a small height in the air. The player hits this gilli hard to go into the air. It goes far away in the air. The other boys fielding will try to catch the Gilli before it falls on ground. If anyone of the fielding player catches the Gilli, the player is out and will quit. If the gilli Falls on the ground he gets certain runs as determined by distance set in the beginning of the game. Thus the batsman scores some runs.

After the first player is out the second player takes to play. The line up seniority for playing is set up before the start of play unilaterally.

There were incidents where the Gilli used to hit some passerby walking on the roads or a window of the nearby house or even our own players on their body causing some injury. We used to sort out the incidence amicably or getting bandage for wounds from nearby homes.

The next day we play Kabbadi. We form two groups of boys and play Kabbadi.

We enjoyed the games till 6.55 pm and all will go to the nearby temple by 7.00 pm for Aarthi.

The third day we play marbles. Boys will bring marbles with them. Marbles were of different kinds. Marbles made of flour, glass marbles, Marbles made of bones and marbles of steel. We have three Gunta (a hole in the ground) made in the earth of ground at equidistances. The player one will use a marble from a distance predetermined and will try to insert it into the first Gunta using fore finger.

If the marble does not fall into first Gunta he quits. The second player comes to play.

 If the marble falls in the first Gunta he moves to first Gunta and try for second attempt to insert it into second Gunta.  Similarly if he succeeds he moves to the third. If he succeeds the third Gunta attempt he is the winner and all other players will give him 2 marbles each. If he fails in any one of the Gunta he will quit.

Thus in the end of the day, we could have either gained some marbles or lost a few ones. We enjoyed getting coloured glass marbles, marbles of steel or that made of bones.

The other games of Hide and seek, Chocho were played on subsequent days.

On Sundays or holidays in the morning we used to play from 6.30 or 7 am onwards. Sometimes no play and talk to each other on subjects of mutual interests or happenings in our schools.

During our Dussehra Holidays or Christmas Holidays we go around Secunderabad in search of empty match boxes, empty cigarette packs, broken glass bangle pieces, postage stamps on used envelopes etc. in groups.

On some other occasions we just go and sit on shop phials (open platform in front of the shop) on Kingsway observing different cars moving on the road. We make two parties. One party is assigned to cars moving from left to right. The second party is given cars moving right to left. The first party notes down all the cars moving from left to right its make, number, color etc... In the end whichever party gets more number of cars are the winners. By this we were able to identify the Brand and make   of any car. In those days all cars were imported from England.

It was interesting to know the number of cars we used to observe in any one hour. Any guess? They were hardly 7 to 8 in each direction. Can u imagine how many are moving today in the year 2014 on Kingsway (R P Road) at Jeera Compound location? May be more than 350 per hour??

The games we played are rich in our memories and with innocence and unity we played were exciting. The cooperation and friendliness we had is very sweet which I cannot forget in my life. Those days were very exciting both at home and outside home with friends. Friendship with no egos, cooperation, honesty and affection is divine and sacred. Innocence played a greater role.

 Today after 7 decades though we all the 15 are  in a different locations known or unknown  may remember those sweet days and  games played if not at least by reading this PAGE 16.

Concept: Krishna Rao Khanapur

Graphics Support:  Manu Konnur

14. VIKRAMA

Introduction

Wish to know more about Nizam State Railway of Asif Jahi Dynasty and my association in life with it?
Yes read this Page 14 on my life with Nizam State Railway.

Year 1943

CONTENTS


Introduction (message from me)                    Page 1
Contents               Page 2
Nizam State Railway                                             Page 3
My Association with the Railways                   Page 4-6
Long Distance Trains                                           Page 6-7
Other Railways in the Country                         Page 7

Nizam State Railway

During 1940s India was under British Rule governed by the King of England. Locally in India the Head of State was Vice Roy. But in Hyderabad it was ruled by Nizam of Hyderabad. Nizam were Mogul kings of Asfi Jahi Dynasty. The Nizam at that time was seventh in their generation. The Nizam were independent kings. They had their own administration, postal, customs, currency, railways, road transport etc.

British Government was constructing Railways in India. The Nizam requested the British Government to construct Railway Lines for his state also.  Thus the Railways were constructed during the years 1890 to 1903. The Railways were called as Nizam Guaranteed State Railway (NGSR) Bus transported was also added to this as late as 1932 and it was called as NSRRTD (Nizam State Railways & Road Transport Department.

Secunderabad Railway station had both Broad Gauge and Metre Gauge systems. Broad Gauge lines going up to Bezwada on east and Wadi on the west.

Metre Gauge was from Secunderabad to Dronachalam on south and Manmad on the North. The trains were hauled by steam locomotives imported from England. There were different types of steam locomotives to haul local trains, passenger trains and goods trains. The steam locomotives were numbered and manned by a set of personnel assigned permanently. The set was a driver, oilmen and a coal man. As a student I was using these trains for commuting to my high school, college and university observed there were 7 steam engines numbered and 97 to 103 on the broad gauge.  The set of crew was not changes unless warranted by sickness or leave. I still remember the engine no 103 driver was Bapooji. These engines used for passenger trains from Secunderabad to Bezwada, to wadi and to. Kazipet was a big junction facilitating long distance trains from Madras to Delhi.

My Association with the Railways

We were in Begumpet house from 1949 onwards and I used to travel by these trains for my school. I will travel from Husain Sagar Junction to Secunderabad and return in the evening. The passenger train from wadi comes to Begumpet in the morning goes to Hyderabad and returns to Secunderabad via Husain Sagar Junction. We board the train at Husain Sagar junction. There were several other students and office going people using these trains. The Train after reaching Secunderabad further goes to Bezwada. Here at Secunderabad the complete staffs are changed. The engine is changed with a different crew. The new engine is pre filled with adequate water and coal at Lalaguda loco shed.

Metre Gauge platforms                                       Broad Gauge Platforms

Secunderabad                                                      Secunderabad

Similarly in the evening when we return from school the train from Bezwada which started there in the morning will reach Secunderabad at 4:50 pm. The staff, engine are changed here for it to proceed to Wadi. I would have come from school and was waiting. I watch these operations of change of engine its crew the name of Driver etc. The train departs at 5.05 pm goes to Hyderabad via Husain Sagar Junction. In ten minutes it reaches Husain Sagar junction we get down and go home by walk. This continued from 1949 to 1952 when I was studying in Mahbub College Secunderabad. From Secunderabad Railway Station to Mahbub College on Kingsway, I go by walk and return in the evening by walk.

I used these passenger trains when I attended College for Intermediate at Nizam College on Abid Road. The college was near Fateh Maidan. I board the train from Begumpet and go to Nampally railway station.

From there walk to Fateh Maidan through Baugh- e- am (Public Garden). In the evening come to Nampally railway station and board the train to Begumpet. This was for the period 1952 to 1954.

The third assignment was from 1954 to 1956. I joined B.Sc degree course in Osmania University Department of science with Physics as main subject followed by chemistry and Mathematics as other subjects apart from Languages.

Here I go by train to Secunderabad in the morning. Change to local Metre gauge train to Falaknuma. Get down at Arts College Halt and walk to Osmania University Arts College. Spend about 30 minutes in its library and t 10 is attending classes at Physic block in university. In the evening the routine follows walk up to Arts college Halt board local train to Secunderabad. Changes to passenger train on Broad gauge go to Husain Sagar and from there to home by walk.

The local trains were having small engines compared to Passenger Trains. Secunderabad Railway Station had 7 platforms. Three were for Broad Gauge Trains, Two for Metre Gauge Passenger Trains and Two exclusively for local or suburban Trains. When I come from Husain Sagar to Secunderabad to go to Falaknuma train I have to change the platform by using foot over bridge. The platforms for Local trains were 6 and 7 where as for passenger trains 4 and 5. Platform numbers 1, 2 and 3 for Broad Gauge trains.

After 1956 I joined civil engineer degree course in Osmania University College of Engineering at Jamai Osmania. My father got me a brand new Robin Hood cycle 22 in size to commute to my college. It was costing Rs 120. It was purchased from his friend’s shop who agreed to give us an instalment of Rs 12 per month. I was a proud owner of new Robin Hood cycle to commute. I was travelling from Begumpet via Raniganj, Kavadiguda, masheerabad, Ramnagar cheruvu (tank) and to Jamai Osmania in 35 minutes time. College starts at 9 am and i start from home at 8.25 am. On my return the same route to home. This I continued from 1956 to 1959 when i completed my degree as it was then a 3 year degree course.

Railway travel was economical and lowest prices compared to bus transport. More over for students we were given 50 percent concession. I remember those days monthly, Quarterly and half yearly passes were given. Half yearly passes were with a discount compared to monthly passes. From Husain Sagar Junction to Secunderabad it was costing just Rs 6 for a six month pass for me. If it is child below 12 years it will cost Rs 3 for full six months. My Father preferred six month passes.

Long Distance Trains

From Secunderabad there were no direct trains to Delhi, Bombay or Madras or Calcutta. The passenger train from Secunderabad carry two coaches meant for Bombay up to Wadi. At Wadi, the Madras Bombay express arrives; the coaches meant for Bombay are attached to Madras Bombay express. The train proceeds to Bombay VT.

Similarly in the return direction two coaches are hauled by Bombay Madras express meant for Secunderabad. These coaches are detached at Wadi and attached to Passenger train going to Secunderabad.

Similar arrangements were there for New Delhi and Madras. A link express would go from Hyderabad carrying two coaches for Madras and two for New Delhi. At Kazipet junction the New Delhi Madras Grand Trunk express come in the mid night. Two coaches meant for Madras are attached to this train. The two coaches which have come from New Delhi meant for Hyderabad are detached.

Next a train from Madras to New Delhi Grand Trunk express comes from Madras at Kazipet junction in the middle of night. Two coaches which have come from Madras are detached and two coaches meant for New Delhi are attached. These trains were known as Grand Trunk Express trains. Even today these Grand Trunk Express Trains are running except that they are now hauled by electric traction instead of steam engines.

For people going to Calcutta there were no direct coach facility. People travel up to Bezwada and get down there. They catch another Train coming from Madras going to Howrah.

Later on these two coaches were changed to one first class and other third class. There were no reservations in trains. We could purchase the ticket and board the train.

There was a city booking office at James Street Railway Station. We can also purchase the tickets here. Even for the next day trains, tickets were also issued.

So in those days it was a problem for long distance passengers and had to change trains at odd hours. Today in 2014 there are trains much faster, more amenities, comfortable, with pantry cars to every important place in India running on Electric or Diesel traction. The steam engines have been abandoned.

Other Railways in the Country

Apart from Nizam State Railway there were other Railways in India. Some of them were Greatest India peninsula Railway (GIPR) with HQ at Bombay, Bengal Nagpur Railway (BNR) with HQ at Nagpur, Bombay Baroda & Central India Railway (BB&CI) with HQ at Bombay, Northern Railway (NR) with HQ at New Delhi, Madras and Southern Maratha Railway (M&SM) with HQ at Madras, Eastern Railway (ECR) with HQ at Calcutta, North East Frontier Railway (NEFR) with HQ at Lucknow. All these Railways after India became Independence in 1947, were amalgamated and divided into Zonal Railways in 1950. Consequently Hyderabad did not have a separate Railway zone but under Central Railway Zone.

I had a great fancy and attraction for Railways. I keep on scrolling the Railway Time Tables imagining a journey to remote places and how i go in different station. I knew by heart the train numbers of all important trains in India. I also calculate the costs by seeing the distances and the fare tables. The different classes for travel were First, Second and Third

Class. We used Third class always. Never had an opportunity to travel other classes till later part of life.

Concept: Krishna Rao Khanapur

Graphics Support: Manu Konnur

13. PRAMADHI

INTRODUCTION

Festivals are a source of enjoyment and fun for us. I enjoyed them all during every year.

The most important was Dussehra being a festival for 10 full days.

CONTENTS

Introduction (message from me)               Page 1

Contents                                                               Page 2

Fairs & Festivals Dussehra                             Pages 3-4

Stamp & Cigarette Packet Collection          Pages 5-6

Fairs and Festivals- Dussehra

The schools had Holidays after Mid -Term and Half yearly examinations in September and December. These holidays were planned by School Authorities to fall during the Dussehra Navaratri festival and Christmas.  These examinations will be over by just commencement of Navaratri festival culminating with Dussehra and just before Christmas respectively.

The Navaratri festival of 10 days in the house was a big occasion. Just 15 days before the festival of Navaratri whole house will be white washed. On commencement of Navaratri the doors are decorated with Mango leaves and Main door with flowers to give a festive look. The first day the pooja starts with lighting of three big Lamps two of oil and one of Ghee. All the 10 days our family Purohit comes and does the pooja in the house. The more important days on Saraswathi pooja, Ayudha pooja and Durgastami special pooja is done. All these 10 days special food preparations are done and offerings to the family Deity will be done. Additional Brahmins are called for meals and they are given Dakshina in cash with fruits, betel leaves and betel nuts for blessing the family.

Special care will be taken by grandmother to see that different kinds of sweets are prepared on all these 10 days. She plans different kinds of sweets for watch day of Navaratri. My father will get new clothes for the whole family. The whole 10 days we used to enjoy with no school, plenty of variety and rich food with festive atmosphere in the house wearing the new clothes.

On day one of Navaratri festival starting on first day of Ashwija month of Telugu calendar my mother would start the display of dolls. In the main Hall of the house a gallery of stepped display is set up using old trunks so that it forms a series of stepped display. This is covered with a good bed sheet and in each step dolls of different categories are placed both of animals, birds and humans. We take pride in arranging these dolls. My mother had collected a number of dolls for the purpose and keeps them safe for display each year. This is called Bommala Koluvu. In the evening the nearby ladies are called am Aarathi is done, songs of sung and prasadam in the form of sweets are distributed. We as children will go to all houses and have the different kinds of sweets.

Thus, the Dussehra days we enjoyed eating sweets from morning till night.

The main Dussehra Day more people and relatives and friends are also invited for lunch. In the evenings we go to all relatives’ homes meet them and have their blessings. All these 10 days we will all make a visit to the temples to offer our prayers.

There was a Satyanarayana temple in nearby Hyderbasty. This temple is still there in the year 2014. The practice in the temple was to have an exhibition depicting scenes from epics like Ramayana, Mahabharata and Bhagavatha with full lighting and decorations. It was a rich scene to be seen every day. The scene changes every day for all these 10 days of Navaratri. We will visit this temple without missing it even for a day. There was also a Navagraha temple in the corner of Jeera Compound. This temple also exists as on today. This temple we will also visit in the festivals.

On Dussehra day there is a procession of people on the Karbala Maidan to participate in the mobile market selling all sorts of festivities. People walk majestically with a fresh corn plant with corn casket in built specially sold in markets on Dussehra day. All people will be in new attractive clothes and the whole atmosphere charged with festive look.

The NSRRTD buses both city and District Buses will all be decorated with flowers, cut plantain tress and mango leaves. They would have done Ayudha pooja to all buses, plant and machinery a couple of days before on Ayudha pooja day. The passengers in the buses feel pride to travel in those decorated buses.

Our school teachers used to give lot of home work to be done during these holidays. Immediately on commencement of Holidays we complete the home work in a day or two and to enjoy holidays on subsequent days. We were eagerly waiting for these holidays every year.

Today people have very little time to have this celebration. They have cut down the same to a moderate scale in the name of Modernisation. It is due to constrain the time, space and aptitude depriving themselves of our customs and happiness thereof.

Stamps and Cigarette Packet Collection

The hobbies in vogue were;

1. Collection of postage stamps of different denomination

2. Currency of different countries in different designs and colours,

3. Labels of empty match boxes of different colours and design of different makes such as Cheetah Fight, Koil, Parrot etc.

4. Collection of empty cigarette packets of scissors, passing show, Charminar, Golconda, Black& White, Red & White, Panama, Berkeley, Gold Flake, 555, Three Castles etc.

5. Collection of broken glass bangles pieces of different colors.

6. Collection of broken pieces of different colored stones.

These hobbies were giving us great satisfaction and competition among us.

The collection of postage stamps, match box labels and cigarette pack empty packets was wide spread. There was competition among the boys and girls who has the maximum numbers. The postage stamps were carefully peeled out from envelopes and correctly pasted in a particular book country wise. In case the postage stamp was not coming from the envelopes the whole envelope is put in water overnight and in the morning the postage stamps comes out easily.

Similarly the collection of match stick boxes labels; these are also taken out from the match boxes and pasted in a book in Alphabetical order. Where the label was not coming out easily from match box the same is put in water overnight and in the next morning it comes out easily. It is them dried in sun and pasted in the book.

The collection of empty cigarette packs was of interest as all these empty packets are made into a particular shape mostly circular with a big circular gap in the middle.  In the middle gap we paste a picture of any cinema actor or a natural scene of nature. The empty cigarette packs are cut with scissors in a particular design.

We used to go around the city to collect these from bus stations, railways stations and other market areas on holidays and Sundays. Groups of boys will go round the city by walk in search of the items. We on a particular day bring all these collections and to show to other boys in the play ground opposite to our house.

Today presently no children are interested in these types of hobbies.

Concept: Krishna Rao Khanapur

Graphics Support: Manu Konnur

12. BAHUDHANYA

INTRODUCTION

Everyone had childhood. Are u looking back into it any time? Yes many a time. But I have written about it. Come have a look in Page 12.

Year 1943

CONTENTS

Introduction (message from me)        Page 1

Contents Page 2

Childhood                                                      Pages 3-6

CHILDHOOD

Childhood starts the moment we are born in this world. Our Ancestors have said this phase of life Childhood is a very important phase of life and is the sweetest phase and it should be enjoyed to the full extent. The parents show extra care, love and affection to the child right from its birth. Even the Grandparents, brothers and sisters, relations and nearest friends show extra care, love and affection towards the tiny tot.

Yes the child when its born has a tiny nose, mouth, enchanting eyes, fluffy cheeks, short and sweet ears, very delicate small hands feet and fingers so soft like butter and so sweet like sugar. Anyone who happens to see a sweet child born few days ago will be the same.

The mother of the child is so excited to see her child more so if it is her first born .The nurses at the hospital dress up the child after bathing it and wrap up in a clean white cloth before it is presented to the mother for breast feeding. The Mother when her baby first sucks the milk from her breast is a thrilling experience for her which she never forgets in her life time if it is her first baby.

The baby grows day after day month after month. Every moment of its growth is keenly watched by its parents. In earlier days grandparents are in the same house as it was joint family. The mother in law takes more care of the grandchild. The mother is allowed full rest for 3 months if not more. All household work will be taken care of by the mother in law.

The baby is given a bath with hot water in the morning before sunrise. Alternate days with oil bath are given. While the baby is given bath mostly by mother in law the baby's head is shaped round as it is flexible, hands and legs are straightened to avoid any deformity. After wiping the baby with clean cotton clothes, the baby is given a spray of smoke of sambrani powder sprinkled on charcoal fire. The baby is dressed up and given to mother for breast feeding.

My Grandmother who nursed almost all her 12 grandchild children was very proud and did not allowed any one near to nurse the babies.

 She was a specialist in taking care of babies till third month. My mother was very fortunate to have a mother in law like her, she was her second mother.

The baby grows moves hands and legs, smiles. attempts talk words, rolls, crawls,  starts moving by crawling, slowly tries to stand up, falls many times, gets to talk words attempts singing learns the signs of parents, laughs, cries,  and before its first year will be able to walk without aids talk small word, understand mothers talk laughs merrily to make mother excited and happy.

A Mundan ceremony is performed before the first year as per religious rituals. This is a ceremony where the full hair on head is shaved off so that fresh new hair is grown. The baby further grows both in height and weight. Mother starts giving solid food for its growth. The baby is taken care of by its brothers and sisters in olden days. Presently one or two child norms are practiced, the child is deprived of its brother or sister’s care, love and affection.

When the baby reaches two and half years it is sent to a nursery school. In olden days there was no schooling till 5 Th years. Before 5th year a ceremony is performed as per religious rituals known as Akshrabhyasa. The child writes the word Sri on a spread sheet of rice on a silver plate. The parents help the child to write the same and are presented with a slate and pencil. The invitees’ children are also presented with slate and pencil. New clothes are brought for the child on the occasion. The ceremony is followed by a heavy lunch to all the invitees. There after the child is admitted in a school.

Some of the more religious people take the child to Saraswathi temple at Basar near Nizamabad for this Akshrabhyasa ceremony even now.

The child now is conversant with people around it converses, plays, has its own likes and dislikes, and tries to understand what mother or teacher teaches. The brain of the child grows and stores all information and creates the power of recollecting. Daily the child learns the behaviours of other people and imitates with its innocent looks and actions giving immense pleasure and happiness to its parents.

The growth goes on till seventh year and the parents especially in Brahmin families perform the Upanayanam.

It is a thread ceremony where the child attains the stage of Brahma chary. He is provided with a sacred thread to wear across his shoulders. It comes in three layers. This stage allows him for all sacred rituals to perform.

The child is now a boy and is given the upadesam of Gayatri Mantra by the Purohit and the father. This Gayatri Mantra he recites daily as a part of his morning prayers This ceremony is almost like a marriage celebrated with all other aspects such as putting up a Pendal, Nadaswaram music, lunch and dinners almost a mini marriage going on for 3 days.

The boy is now conversant with the customs, religious rituals, prayers, traditional festivals in the house. He is now in school learns day by day names of days, Nakshatras, years, months, fairs and festivals, mathematics, social sciences, history and geography etc in the primary school.

This stage of life he with his local friends from neighbourhood starts games as per local customs. He spends his time in the evenings after school with them. He cultivates brotherhood, cooperation, language, and cooperates with all his friends in learning and playing different games.

During this period of life he has no responsibilities, tensions to worry about or any politics to play about. He is more a darling child in the family liked by all and he is allowed to express freely what he thinks and what he wants. It is more so now as there is only one child in the family in majority of cases.

He completes his primary school and comes to middle school. His wisdom and thinking power has increased reacts to accidents, pain in others, fellow friends sufferings, reacts with teachers at school, learns advance planning to attend school with clean dress, correct books completing his given home work.

Meanwhile knows the important ceremonies and rituals to be performed in the home, his relatives, birth days, marriage anniversaries, death ceremonies if any, and fairs and festivals.

The present day children have access to internet, computers, various devices, TV, telephone, cell phones, DVD players, music systems and other entertainment sources which we lacked in 1940s and 1950s. Valve Radios was the only sources and some rich families a Gramophone.

He completes his middle school and has a fair knowledge of his own, his family, friends, school and local environment. He is now 12 years of age getting into teens.

This portion of the life known as Childhood and everyone has passed, are passing and will pass in future.

How many of us who have passed this stage of our lives treat it as important? Is it better than Teenage, Adulthood, Family Life, or Old Age? It is every bodies guess. I leave it to you all to ponder and arrive at your own decisions.

Concept: Krishna Rao Khanapur

Graphics Support: Manu Konnur