Life in 50s It is a refrain from all elders of all times that THEN was better than NOW, and all have Golden memories of “ GOOD OLD TIMES”. It used to bug me a lot when I was young, but I seem to be guilty of the same offense. Well I wont go so far as to claim that “THAT” time was the “BEST” , But in retrospect it had many advantages – which may not sound so to today’s youngsters.
We did not have Computers, mobiles, MP3/ MP4 , Ipods, TV then. The Cameras were very exclusive and expensive. Yes, prehistoric Dark Ages, and we survived that! There were only radios then. Radio Ceylon with Ameer Sayani and Binaca Geet Mala was hot favourite of us youngsters (We were so once you know !) and frowned upon by our elders ! Later All India Radio came up with Vividh Bharti in competition and was a hit too.. Lata , Asha, Rafi and Mukesh were undisputed melody Royals. Movie tickets were at most 1 -5 rupees. The stalls were 4 Anna (25 p). Most theaters were not air conditioned. A picture used to celebrate Silver jubilee when it would run for 25 weeks in one theater. You could buy small booklets of songs from the film at the shows so even there was no Karaoke ,we could still sing the songs with correct words. Antakshari was a big entertainment. Tape recorders were just coming in the market and anyone with one won instant envy ! Radiograms were prestigious property, capable of AUTOMATICALLY playing a stack of 8 records . There were 12” LP (Long Playing) or 7” EP (Extended Playing ) records which had more songs on them . The regular record only had one song on either side. These radiograms were VERY advanced ! Previous gramophones had to wound up by hand , and by the end of the voice will become strangely modulated. These wonderful machines not only played automatically , but also many records at a time . Tape recorders were also Big machines with huge spools of tape. Smaller pocket radios were introduced then and were HUGE success for all of us – you could spot lucky people with a radio to their ear listening to commentary. Cricket was a National Obsession then too, though it was not the frenzied 20/20 version of today. Six days of match including one rest day was the norm. Vijay Hazare’s team won first ever test against England in 1952 . Then same year we also beat Pakistan to win the series ! What euphoria ! Hazare, Mankad, Umrigar , Lala Amar Nath were as well known then as Tendulkar, Dhoni and Yuvi today. We had fewer expensive personal possessions. I was gifted my first wrist watch when I graduated ! Now my 3 year old granddaughter has one.. The Fashion was as fashionable as ever. Back combed hair, Tight Salwar suits, Drain pipe pants – we were chic . The communication was pretty basic . There were no instant phone calls, emails, sms, smilies, emoticons . We actually wrote letters in longhand and POSTED them by regular posts. For a long time Rs.1 stamp will deliver the envelop anywhere in India. Post cards and Inland letters were still cheaper. Stamp collecting was a serious hobby. Money was sent by Money orders . Post man used to deliver letters at home, and collect them from Letter boxes. We were supposed to have a good handwriting, and knowledge of spelling and grammar. U (you), B4 (before), gr8 (great), were NOT acceptable! We had to use FOUNTAIN pens and had to carry a bottle of ink .. Quink was the most favored. You could get it in blue, black, red or green colors. Pencils were used for rough work, but all final work had to be in ink. No ball point pens ! If there was an emergency TELEGRAMS were sent. Later the government came out with numbered Phonograms for special occasions, making this service easier and more affordable.. You could book a phonogram say NO.23, and a telegram will be delivered saying “Happy Birthday” to the recipient. Calling by phone was expensive and was done with an eye to the clock. STD and ISD calls were booked by operator by minute. During holidays trains were the only affordable option. Planes were for foreign travel, and anyone going was garlanded at the airport. There were no air-conditioned trains. We used to travel with a Surahi for water, which was filled on stations by tap water. Toofan mail was the fastest train from Calcutta – there was even a film made on it. Ambassador and Fiat were popular cars. Buses and trams were used for local transport. Ticket used to be 4 anna (25p) or 8 anna (50P). Films were Black and white , and some had started to come with one or two scenes in Technicolor. Filmfare, Illustrated weekly, Femina Screen, Blitz were some good magazines. Somehow today there are far more magazines and reading material available , but reading public seems on the wane. In 50s Filmfare had started the awards, and also Talent hunt. Dharmendra , Sadhna, Asha Parekh were winners of such competitions.. Those awards were prestigious and exclusive. Today there are so many awards that anyone can win somewhere. In schools NCC was compulsory, and we used to strive to be able to take part on 15th August and 26th January parade. Our parents were NOT sympathetic if it was a long or hot day . Somehow I do think we had more patriotic Feelings. The Priests, Doctors and servants were hereditary ! Our Doctor Sinha had looked after 3 generations. There were few expensive medicines. For most regular ailments we used to get a pink concoction made by his compounder. The Doctor once blasted me when I phoned him about my twin daughter’s cold - Told me I had a fit mother-in-law and a mother , so to heed them and NOT to bother him for such small things ! He was most reluctant to make house calls or to give injections ! Injections and most other things were reusable and there was not so much medical waste. Something was being done right – the population has not come down . There were few diagnostic methods available or missed . Xray was the most advanced thing ! We children were not used as fragile things and were expected to do our bit in the home and schools. Exams were tough time but still much better than now. 60% was First Division and cause of extreme joy. 50 % was second Division and very respectable. I wonder about today’s 98% and really pity these children. So much pressure and so many young suicides ! We are seriously going wrong in our education . And the Books! The school books were not changed every year. They were easily passed from elder to younger child. I remember one mathematic book by Chakravarty which even my father had used. Here is a motage of memories from Kolkata that was Calcutta . Uday Shankar doing experimental Dance . Satyajit Ray making movie classics. Circuses still a valid and legal entertainment source ! An engineering marvel Bahkhra Nangal Dam being made. Exhilarated Hindi Chini Bhai Bhai to equally ballistic Hindi Chini BYE BYE ! In Trinca’s a new dish being introduced – the Sizzler ! South Indian Idli and Dosa beginning to make significant advent on north Indian menus and palate. A smiling Chacha Nehru with a rose in the buttonhole. Jhal Muri and Puchkas in Maidan . The younger generation does not share our memories , hence do not understand that not having something is not deprivation. Well their time will come when their children will not understand their point of view. The youth of all times finds something new to enjoy , and age of all times frowns on any new kind of enjoyment. This is eternal Generation Gap. When someone shares something of value with you and you benefit from it, you have a moral obligation to share it with others
