My Lost Childhood

They say, 'A child gives birth to a mother', and so it is…100% true…

However, in my case, being a mother is like a recap of my childhood…so many long lost childhood memories begin to have a meaning again…

The other day, when I reached home from office, my mother in law seemed very happy and told me that today Vedant got ready for his school without any tantrums and trouble that he is infamous for! I asked her how did the Sun rise in the West today, and she said exclaimed,  it’s not the sun or moon… it’s the ‘Dhoorwala’! As we sat together and laughed about the incident that led my otherwise naughty son to be sober due to the fear of this dhoorwala, I began to wonder about this species that had lost meaning and significance in my life for a while now….

As a kid, I remember running behind this Dhoorwala (A BMC helper, who frequents the residential localities especially during monsoon and fogs the area as a deterrent against mosquitoes and other insects) in great excitement. The real amusement would be to run through the smoky roads that he created almost like walking in clouds!

Another such amazing species was the’ Vasudev’…a traditional folk community in Maharashtra who sing praises for Lord Krishna…The prominent songs of this Vasudev would wake me up on cold & dark winter mornings and I would run to the window to watch him walking through the narrow aisles  in the adjacent chawls skipping his way through  colourful rangolis and brightly lit lamps (panti) in the post Diwali days…The sound of his taal, chiplis and the sight of his conical cap made of peacock feathers (Mor topi) made me feel magical and zealous to begin my brand new day…

Today it’s a pleasure to wake my son to the tunes of  this same Vasudev   who dances near our compound as I see the same delight in my sons little eyes!!!Sometimes in the post school time afternoons, I used to be shaken by the loud sounds of this species called Kadak Laxmi (again a folk community in Maharashtra) who beats his bare back with a hunter (chabuk) that makes a weird sound…It is said that he does not feel the pain as it is done in the devotion of the Goddess laxmi! This horrible sight is accompanied by the incessant sound of peculiar drum beats played by his wife who invariably carries infant in her arms and an idol of the Goddess on her head…

I remember watching this scene hiding behind my window curtains and wondering why does one need to inflict pain on self in praise of God…The reminiscence of Kadak Laxmi came to in my life again after so many years when my son spotted one on the road and kept asking me…"Why is he hitting himself?"

Another funny species was the Bholanath (An ox/bull dressed in loads of colorful beads and blankets with a rattle like drum playing master (man) who went from home to home, predicting future of people and kids. I used to enjoy the sight and sounds of his bugu bugu from faraway and my friends and I would compete with each other to give alms to this fascinating animal…I was reminded of him when I was teaching my son the famous badbad geet (children’s song) Saang Saang Bholanath…..

Amazingly motherhood has given me an opportunity to relive my childhood…and I hope it gives you too…For my friends and cousins who are living/settled abroad, please ensure that when you come here on your short yearly breaks, relive this part of priceless childhood with your children…I bet... it will be an unforgettable joy!