Some situations that you are in, make you reminisce about your childhood and a flood of memories flow in.. This is what happened recently when I was on a trip to Chennai for a dear friend’s 60th birthday celebration (Sashtiabdhapoorthy). My memories panned from childhood to college, with two aspects standing out – means of transport and friends.

Travel in the times of my growing up in the 70’s and 80’s were always in either a train or bus or the evergreen walking. Rarely in appa’s scooter or in the vintage Morris Minor car, of the company he worked with. Local train travel wasn’t so much but the train trips to Tirupathi with my family and friends were a joy. 2nd class travel was the affordable means of travel; and sitting near the door with friends and chatting and laughing away to glory.. Ahhh!!! Pulling each others leg, some gupshup and just like that laughter.

As for a bus travel within the city, if it  was with either of my parent, I would be off to sleep as soon as I board the bus; and would have to be woken just before we reach the bus stop where we had to get down. If I had to travel by myself, then I would force myself to be awake and hope and pray that I don’t get a seat to sit.. If I sit, then.. 🙂

The most used means of transport was walk. I love walking (then and now). It gave me a chance to ‘Paraakku paarthufy’ (looking all around and not really focussing on one thing).. I would pass by almost everyday of my school days, the great singer Smt M.S. Subbulakshmi’s house, hoping that I would get to see her or learn singing from her. Would look at people, houses, shops etc.. and if I see a library or bookshop, all attention will be to it. If I was with my mother, she would tell me not to look around but focus on the road and walk fast :-).. Books were always a draw for me and if I had one in my hand, the world around would not exist. All the ‘Paraakku Paarthufying’ will change to rapt attention 🙂

As I grew into adolescence and beyond, friends became an integral part of life –  girls and boys – school, college and those who lived in the same street as we did.. While many a friend was made in school, some are for life – one from school needs a special mention – with whom the relationship is so unconditional, even today. An amazing f(r)i(e)nd for life:-).. I still smile when I recall the one big fight we had (don’t even remember what it was for) and some classmates were sweet enough to help us patch it up.

We were the first batch of Botany students in my college,  which was sarcastically called a ‘school’. The principal was very strict and ran the college with an iron hand (though I thought that she was one of the sweetest people I have met, with an amazing sense of humour). We had to help set processes and to some extent the lab as well; which meant going to other colleges to find out what they do. Walking into a men’s college to find out the process in their Botany department was tough because there would be cat-whistles and noises. We didn’t know if that was an appreciation or general light ragging. Nice to think that it was the former :-).. Yet another time when some friends are for life!!

In the 80’s and a good part of the 90’s, apartments weren’t so much in vogue, definitely not in Chennai. If you had to make friends in the neighbourhood, they had to be those who lived on the same street; and our street had more boys than girls. My brother is one who can make friends easily and many a boy in the street was his friend and thereon became mine. With many a marriage being arranged marriages during that time, it wasn’t looked at nicely when a girl was seen talking to boys and definitely not seen going out with them, before marriage. Not being married at that time, I therefore had my own restrictions and curfews. Many no’s and less yes’s.. It didn’t matter though, as these friends of mine were most welcome home anytime and I was allowed sometimes at the gate, where all of them would gather post dinner. Curfew time would be just 5 minutes or 10 minutes away; and I need to be ready to get back home, when I hear amma’s voice calling me.. With all those restrictions and curfews, some friendships stayed on, evolved and remain as lovely relationships even today.

As I reminisce on my growing up days, I can’t but think of how different so many things are, these days. That day or this day, each one has its own draw of people and its own charm.

Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millenials, Gen Z, Gen Alpha – each generation will have a story to tell about their growing up years – the differences may appear stark in some aspects and yet similar. Such is life’s evolution. Like it or hate it, that’s how it will be!!

Observe, be a witness and smile with the thought that you are seeing the evolution of 3 or more generations, if you are any of the first three generations!! If you are of the last two, you have a few more generations to experience, enjoy and have your own story to tell, in a few years!!