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 10th
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.
