Introduction
The waiting period is over. The page 2 of A PAGE IN MY MEMOIRS is attached herewith.
Contents
Introduction
(message from me )................................................ Page
1
Contents.......................................................................................Page
2
Location
Shahlibanda Old City Hyderabad................................ . Page 3
Death of
Ammamma.....................................................................Page
3
Brushing
Teeth..............................................................................Page
3
Filtered
Coffee...............................................................................Page
4
Maid Servant
Butchamma..............................................................Page 4
First
School....................................................................................Page
4-5
Location Shahlibanda
old city Hyderabad
When we sleep during
night my Grand Father (GF) used to narrate
short stories from epics and I used to get sleep in about 15 minutes.
The bed usually is on floor as there were no cots or cotton filled mattresses. It was a carpet called Jampkhana
in those day a thick cotton sheet of carpet with a cotton filled pillow. The
covering is to be a thick cotton sheet of some design and color. It was
considered rich person if one used a Sholapur Bed Sheet which was very rich
cotton bed sheet used for coverings. This so called cotton sheet was costing
around Rupee one and 10 annas (Rs.
1.62p). The bed was spread by my GF around 9.00 pm. We go to sleep before 10
pm.
Death of Ammamma
My GF lost his wife
my Ammamma ( mother of my mother) Saraswathi Bai during 1933 when there was an
epidemic of influenza in the country. She died in Kakinada when my Grand Father
was serving there. People died in hundreds
almost in all towns and there were no persons to carry dead bodies to
carry to burial ground for cremation. The Municipal employees carried the dead
bodies in bullock carts and many people died in each family.
Brushing Teeth
Grandfather used to get up
around 5 am and complete his morning cores has his bath of hot water boiled in
a mud based Chula on fire wood .Finish his morning prayers and wakes me up at 6
am. I finish my tooth brushing with my fore fingers taking hot water from the
bucket kept ready by GF. There was no tooth paste in those days. we used local
made rice husk burned ash. This was collect from my mother's house. This ash is
a product from rice. The rice flakes poha is made by beating the rice grain.
After the poha is taken out the husk is separated and burnt with charcoal fire.
This becomes an ingredient for brushing the teeth. So simple hygienic no cost
involved. No tooth brush used only fingers to brush the teeth. After brushing
teeth get the face wiped with cotton towels . These towels usually used by Marwaries
mostly red in color with checked designs were available for 5 paise. Very
effective in drying and wiping out the wetness. Gets dry also soon if exposed
to sun.
Filtered Coffee
Grandfather will be ready with
two cups of filtered coffee for both of us. In a relaxed mood facing the
morning sun sitting in the open verandah of the house with talks we finish the coffee session.
The coffee powder was
obtained from Coffee House of Coffee Board. A well grounded rich roasted coffee seeds using a fixed percentage of two
varieties of coffee seeds Plantation A and Chicory. This was available at
Sultan Bazaar Coffee Board shop only.
The cost was around Rs 1.50 for half a
pound.GF was having a small brass coffee filter containing two small vessels
fitted with a removable filter that too of brass.
Maid Servant Butchamma
Then the maid servant Butchamma gives an
entry by 6.30 am. First finishing the cleaning the floor of house with Jhadoo
sprinkles the front court yard with water mixed with cow dung.
.
The court yard is then decorated with Rangoli designs. Usually it is with chalk
powder and on festival days she uses colours to give a festive look.
I was keenly observing her activity with an
excitement.
Then she will take me and give a hot water
bath and gets me ready for my school.
Meanwhile my GF makes the meals ready using
charcoal based fireplace. He makes rice, sambar and some vegetables and curd. I
finish my meals by 9.30 am
I am left at the nearby school by Butchamma.
First School.
I was in standard one in a school which had
Marathi as second language. I studied in the school for a year 1942-43.
.
There was no uniform in the school. But we
were having a coat and a cap to wear to the school.
The school session would be over by 4 pm.
Punctually Butchamma will be at school gate to take me back to home.
My GF will be waiting for me at home and
gives me a cup of tea on reaching home. I wear the evening dress and we would
be off on our walking exercise to Afzal Ganj. The routine continued.
Though the routine was normal to all students
at the time but for me it was of a unique experience with my GF. He had lot of
love towards me and felt proud in bringing up me under his care though my own
parents were nearby in the city. The life I spent with him laid a firm foundation to my life either in
discipline, studies or love and affection between humans which I cultivated
under his guidance.
Author: Krishna Rao Khanapur
Graphics: Manu Konnur
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