Our generation… the children who grew up in a safe and happy environment. Without a care in the world - knowing, that tomorrow belonged to us.
How fast that ‘tomorrow’ came and went.
We have seen the world change around us. And changed it has!
Yes, there was life before Computers, Mobile Phones and PlayStations. A very different life, but a life nonetheless…
Those were the days when nobody would sue you if you called them gay… queer days indeed!
When being part of a ‘minority group’ meant that you had a fight with your friends and only your best friend saw your point of view.
When the word ‘Cosmopolitan’ actually meant something (beyond being a women’s magazine that enjoys the largest male readership)
When it didn’t matter whether you were Hindu, Muslim or Christian. Everyone went to the same school and shared their benches, their education and their tiffin.
When ‘reservation’ meant booking your railway berths in advance, only to share them with an unfortunate family, who didn’t manage to get theirs but got on to the train anyway.
When a B&W TV at home meant that you had arrived in life and the only channel we got featured ‘Phool Khile Hai Gulshan Gulshan’ and ‘Chitrahaar’. Very unlike today, when we have Colour TVs, Plasma TVs, LCD TVs, LED TVs, 3D TVs. In every shape and size. Each capable of showing you over 250 channels (thanks to DTH) with nothing on them worth spending more than 10 minutes on.
Those were the times… when Thums up was consumed in bulk (at Re. 1 per bottle) without the associated paranoia of consuming toilet cleaner or pesticides. And Enteroquinol was popped as frequently as the 5 paisa, black & white striped toffee, called ‘Bull’s-eye’
When it was common for doctors to take a smoke break while advising their patients to quit.
When people did not need to put disclaimers on anything, and an ‘Asterisk’ only featured in a borrowed comic book.
When a salary of Rs. 10,000 a month put you among the elite in your city (Today, it’s not even enough to retain an office boy, who flits between jobs like a butterfly on a caffeine overdose)
When ‘Job Satisfaction’ was about being thankful that you even had a job!
When, as kids, we were ‘conditioned’ to believe that everyone who did ‘Business’ was either a ‘Black Marketeer’ or a ‘Smuggler’, and having a ‘steady’ job (where you spent your entire life till you retired) was the only way to gain respect in the community. Today, a self-owned business is like the Bajaj Chetak of the yesteryears. Everyone wants one.
Those were the days… when the common mode of travel in Mumbai (it was called Bombay then) was the BEST bus or local train and a taxi was a luxury.
When Fiats (Premier Padminis) and Ambassadors ruled the world, the Contessa was a top end luxury car and an Impala was the ultimate statement of wealth.
When fixed deposits gave you 18-20% interest per annum and you could actually grow your wealth by investing in them (can you believe that?)
When Blueberries and Wild Berries were the only berries that interested you.
When the world did not revolve around variations of “i” (phone, pod, pad, tunes, work, life, photo, movie, DVD, etc.)
When apples were eaten to avoid the doctor and windows needed curtains.
When happiness was a Sinclair ZX Spectrum with 256 KB memory.
When Faces had nothing to do with Books.
When your list of friends was about quality, not quantity.
When crossing a road was not a near death experience.
When sending children to the department store alone, to help with shopping, was no big deal.
When moms did not worry if their children were hours late in getting back from school… or play.
When mushrooms were cooked & eaten and ecstasy was what you felt when you were happy.
When guns were not sold like peanuts.
When the only person who terrorized you was the principal of your school.
When jails were meant to punish people. And prisoners ate what was placed in front of them (instead of demanding Biryani and Kebabs)
When bandits were bad guys (not politicians)
When cops were good guys (not an extension of politicians, who were once bandits!)
When your best friend would not kidnap you for ransom to pay his debts.
When honour had nothing to do with killing.
When ‘Adarsh’ meant 'Ideal'.
When there were no Jessica Lals. Or Priyadarshini Mattoos. Or Arushis.
How much our 'vision of tomorrow' has changed!
For better or for worse? You decide!
