JOHAR DIDI

My first memory of Johar didi goes back to the years when I was in class Six. She taught us maths then. Since she appeared to be very strict we were all scared of her and maintained our distance from her. Gradually, we developed a liking for mathematics mainly because of her unique way of teaching. She told us to learn tables in Hindi in a rhythmic manner which I remember even to this day. She asked us to practice tables even as we played games in the ground.Even before we realized, we had learnt the tables from 1 to 20 by heart!
Didi was the no nonsense kind of a person and she would not like to hear excuses for the work not done or half-done.So we learnt to be regular in our work. Her soft nature surfaced whenever we did well in our tests or asked doubts. She would not mind explaining the sums again and again till it became clear to us. It was a pleasure to watch her laughing and joking with her colleagues. As we got used to her, our fear was replaced by respect.
In class 8, she took Mathematics and chemistry ( Rasayan Shastra) for us.I always longed to be in her good books and therefore studied very hard. Once, after our exams she gave us maths paper in which I had scored 93%. When I checked the marks, the total was only 83%. For a while, I wondered what to do but then I went to her and got the marks reduced.She appreciated my honesty and said, "Honesty always pays".
My rank in the class had fallen lower and I was quite upset. In the afternoon, Didi gave us the chemistry paper in which I had scored only 87%. When I checked the paper, I found the total lesser by 10 marks. Again I approached her and she increased my marks saying with a smile,"Didn't I say honesty always pays?"

This memory of her and this valuable teaching about honesty has stayed with me over the past three and half decades. My joy knew no bounds when I got to speak to her after so many years.She not only remembered me but also my sister and friends. Well into her seventies, she proclaimed with pride that she remembers each of her students and the year of their passing out to.She has been coaching generations of students for competitive exams. She simply said,"I teach even now..........whoever comes home with a doubt in maths or science subjects, I clarify their doubts........even now my mind is very sharp beta! I agree with you didi with lot of pride, regard and love. Waiting to meet you in person and seek your blessings......  

GET TOGETHERS ON THE FULL MOON NIGHTS

We were blessed with many family friends in the Telco colony.The full moon nights were usually spent on the terraces of the Noris or the GRK uncle's house. The planning for these get togethers would start atleast a week ahead at a 'Pre get-together' meeting. Since there were no phones, even the minute detail would be discussed and confirmed.By the end of the meeting, the guest list and the menu list would be ready. There would obviously be one or two people without their family around, they would also be invited. Those who would have joined Telco recently would be added too.

Each family would offer to contribute one delicacy....we kids would have our own demands....'Nori aunty, ice cream please', 'Sita aunty must make 'Aviyal'. Even among elders, they would request for their favourite delicacies to be prepared.The ladies would prepare the item allotted to them.We kids would be ready with our list of games to be played.....Most of the building terraces would be occupied by different groups of family friends. The ladies would settle down to catch up with gossip. The men would carry and arrange the utensils on the terrace. The elders would be chatting happily enjoying the cool bright moon and the children would be busy playing. One game we all loved to play was 'The dark room'. One child had to search for other kids, touch and identify them in a dark room!

After an elaborate, relaxed dinner, the families would join in some fun games. The activities would continue late into the night till the kids were tired and sleepy.....There were no TV serials to be watched or friends to be chatted on the internet. The people connected directly and happily..........           

PICNIC

The winter vacation meant a series of picnics. The weekends were reserved for picnics with family friends. We kids could have picnics with friends from the neighborhood during the weekdays. We normally went to places very close to our home. The forest behind our quarters was full of dry shrubs and very suitable for our picnics.Even at one day's notice we could arrange our picnic. The previous day normally was spent seeking permission from parents and putting together items needed for cooking. Yes, those days picnics meant cooking at the spot!

We would usually carry a big vessel in aluminium, kerosene, match box, rice, moong dal, onions, tomatoes, chillies, salt n other masala items. Water was also carried along with a few glasses.Someone carried oil. All the items came from different households.We had to carry our younger brothers or sisters also if they were   too tiny. The parents never bothered or worried about our safety. It was taken for granted that we would be responsible for the younger ones too!

We would choose a place and clean it first. After spreading two or three durries on the floor, we would arrange all the items. The oldest kids would arrange bricks for chulha...they would sprinkle little kerosene on the cowdung cakes and place them inside the chulha. The younger ones would collect dry leaves and twigs also. After lighting the chulha, the big degchi with water would be placed on it.We could cook only khichdi and chatny. The rice and dal would be washed and added to the water. After placing a lid on the degchi, onions, tomatoes and chillies would be cut for the chatny. After rice was cooked, turmeric and salt were added.Then onion-tomato gravy would be made, little sugar was added to this to make it sweet n sour chatny.

We took great pride in cooking our own food and having it too.......all by ourselves.I don't think it occurred to anyone that we should carry homemade food for cooking.Ordering food from outside was totally non existent! Our parents allowed us to indulge in such fun activities. Though nobody knew cooking properly, we were excited to try our hand at it. The taste of sweet-sour chatny still lingers in my memory......

Once the cooking was over, it would first be served to the younger ones and then others would feast wholeheartedly. The afternoons were packed with some games or anthakshari. Spending the entire day in the softness of the winter sun was such a pleasant experience. By four in the evening we would be back to the safety of our homes.By five or so it would start getting dark and the foxes in the nearby forests would start howling........           

GUDIYA KI SHAADI

One of our favourite fun activity used to be performing 'Gudiya' ki shaadi......the actual event preceded with hectic discussions regarding the selection of the doll to be married, selection of the groom. Most of the girls had she dolls only n it was difficult to find a he doll for her! Once the selection was over, we hunted for shiny pieces of cloth to make bride's saree or lahanga. Usually, some kind aunty would provide this. Then we would look for old broken chains or jewellery pieces to make the bride's jewellery.

On the day of marriage, we would select an open place, collect new bricks and mark bride's house. Almost all the children liked to be on bride's side because it meant lots of action.We would bring out the kitchen utensils bought during melas (fairs).......leaves n flowers would be collected for decoration........a variety of stones, sand, clay would take the form of fake food items......after everything was put in order, word would be sent to the groom's side.

The 'Baaraat' would come with dancing boys and singing girls. They would be welcomed and seated outside the bride's house.The bride would be brought out to the mandap with a lot of fanfare and seated next to the groom. One of the boys would become 'Panditji' and perform the marriage with 'Anaap-shanaap' mantras!
After the wedding, the grooms side would be served the fake wedding delicacies. They would all relish and
eat!

The children on the bride's side would pretend to cry at 'Bidaii' and bid farewell to the bride. The 'Baaraat' would return to the groom's side.The bride and the groom would never be left alone to live happily forever because the owner of the doll would be anxious to take her home!