Childhood : A unique and unforgettable phase of my life.
At Melrose Cottage
During my early childhood days
Spent in Melrose Cottage, Life was different.All siblings lived together.These were the days of our schooling and education, playing, teasing,laughter and enjoyment.
We grew up with Arya Samaj system of thought and of course a life of discipline associated with it. For everyone, elder or younger we used the suffix ‘ji’ .This tradition still continues.
Pitaji the head of the family was too busy with his legal profession to care for the household chores with at least 8-12 members including relatives.But still ensured perfect control.
Mati ji was a very dedicated and hardworking woman .
To ensure division of household labour each member was assigned duties according to his or her abilities.
The extraordinary or unique feature of our family tradition was the family meeting on Sunday evening.It began with a prayer 'Ab saunp Diya is jeevan ka sab bhaar tumhare haathon mein', and the Gayatri Mantra.
I being the youngest , insisted on standing on the table for singing.
It was a meeting with an agenda and all reporting to pitaji as presiding person.Maiji as vice President and if I am not mistaken Navin ji as the secretary who would note down the minutes.Non performer of duties was taken to task.All important matters were reported and discussed.
The Arya Samaj Tradition :
Every Sunday morning there was hawan and chanting of Vedic mantras hymns for which we had small booklets.The aroma of hawan samagri filled the surroundings and there's purification of air too as offerings were available in pure form.
Daily Life:
Life was enjoyable together. Since there was very less sunlight on our side we went to a ‘pahari’ (as we called it) on the opposite side to dry clothes and basking in the sun.
Every morning a bread Wala would come with a tin trunk on his head.It contained loafs of bread and bakery products.
I relished his milk biscuits, taste of which still lingers on in my taste buds.Since I was the youngest he jokingly scared me with his lond knife with while he made slices of bread in our presence.
Few incidents of Melrose life I recall quite often:
Annandale ground / helipad was visible from our window.So annual Dussehra celebration we enjoyed watching from our home.Crowds of people went down the road below our house.They returned in the late hours with burnt Rawan ki lakdi.
There was a steep slope below our house leading towards Kaithu.During winters we enjoyed and laughed at the people skidding and falling down on snow..(Of course it was morally wrong)
Sledges were also used there.
We used to play with snowballs.Navinji was quite adventurous and naughty. Once his snowball hit a respectable old person,Tiwari ji who reported to pitaji who had reached home .
On holidays Bhupji and me also went to a pahari opposite State Bank with bhuna chana and makki ke dane.We collected banakshe ke phool ( Which were used as an ingredient for herbal cure for cough and cold)
Once Rakshaji and her neighbourhood friends like Bhuma collected in an empty building opposie to our house for a get-together.They prepared halwa but if I am not wrong it was like what we named and teased as (leti)As ingredients were not properly cooked.
We were quite close to Sharma family. Bhuma,Radha Ramesh?and Babbi the youngest friend of ours.
We played cricket with the bat (dabotni) the equipment for washing clothes.Ball was made out of scores of old socks.
Rakshaji and Bhupji studied in Lady Irwin school just above our house.we could hear the prayers etc.in our house.I was in St.Thomas.
Others studied in Sanatan Dharam School.
Once in the rainy season I wore a raincoat and forgot my schoolbag at home.
Since it was a Christian missionary school, I would sing loudly my Christmas Carols and all others got chance to tease me.
I remember Dev ji usually came to my school for payment of fees.On request there was double promotion in class one.
Once I got less marks and out of fear I didn't get my report card signed from Pitaji
(A confession) I think I tried to sign myself and was then teased by Navinji.( He was quite intelligent as well as naughty)
I am told (though I didn't remember) that once I ate lot of sweat purus( I was fond of sweets) and jumped on the pile of quilts.(sugar rush?)Then fell down.
Another confession of a secret which me and matiji knew.
I also remember going often to school teachers lodge where I played with my friend Lata Ratnam.I had be called back home.
Now I would invite inputs by my elders for their memories about Melrose Cottage.
