I am From The 80s and Damn Proud Of It

Yes, I am from the 80’s. I am from that decade when computers were still a baby, mobile phones were still on the design board and cable television in a middle class Indian home was a distant dream. I am from that age when fathers did not ‘send their kids to their room so that they could think about what wrong they had done’, instead, they used to rip off the meanest branch from the nearest guava tree (a rarity today) and let their kids have it so that ‘the wrong’ happened just one time (and later a biryani to remind you of their love). I am from that age when the Sunday evening movie on Doordarshan was the only time a movie was aired on the national television and 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. were the happiest in a kid’s day when they aired Mickey Mouse and Duck Tales on DD2. I am from that age when a kiss from your mother and a smile from your father were the greatest gifts you could get for winning a prize in school. I am from that age where you woke up to a kiss from your mother on your birthday and you dint know the meaning of ‘birthday party’.

I am from that age when mothers had premonitions that their sons would need a good pair of uniform for the annual school day, as they should look their best when collecting an award in front of the whole school. I am from that age when mothers used to spend their Sundays scrubbing off the last ounce of the darkest dirt from their sons’ uniform only to be made dirty on the following Mondays (not because washing machines were not available, but they just couldn’t do their job).

I am from that age where 50 rupees was the greatest luxury a teenager could have. It meant that next week he could actually take an auto home from the nearest bus stop and still afford a snack with his mates after the evening tuition. I am from that age where evening rain in school meant just one thing. Football!!! I am from that age where the first time you get cable television in your home was after the 10^th standard exams. I am from that age where parents are happy with the marks you score and don’t bother about their neighbor’s children’s marks. I am from that age where passing your Physics exam in school meant that you are assured to get more than 80% for the board. I am from that age where a 300ml bottle of Pepsi was sufficient to quench the thirst of 5 friends. I am from that age when a desktop with 6.3GB hard disk and 64MB RAM was the ‘latest model’ you could get in your teens. I am from that age where bicycles were your friend for life and a ride in an auto rickshaw was a luxury you could not afford. I am from that age when a balcony ticket cost you 30 bucks and pop corn just 10.

I am from that age where teens knew the meaning of the words ‘punctuality’ and ‘patience’ because there were no mobile phones to ‘text’ or call someone waiting for you. I am from that age when the first mobile phone you got was during the second year of college and that too the basic set with just calling and texting facilities. I am from that age when you had to rely on YOUR communication skills to find your way to a place and not the GPS on your mobile. I am from that age where you could get enough petrol for 3 days for just 30 rupees and still the bike won't go on reserve. I am from that age when your best friends, including girls, dint give a damn if you wished them for their birthday or not. I am from that age where your friends used to tell you ‘Don’t worry man I got your back’ and they actually meant it. I am from that age when you could tell your friend ‘You are wrong’ and needn’t worry about him misunderstanding your intentions. I am from that age where young adults don’t mind travelling in general compartments of trains and prefer the road side bundy to a star restaurant everyday of the week and twice on a Sunday.

Most importantly, I am from that age which believed and still believes that, ‘Whatever that doesn’t kill you just makes you stronger’. So take caution before messing with me or anyone from the 80s. Yes, I am from the 80s and damn proud of it.