Contrasting features of life

How lucky today's children are. As soon as they are born, their parents make all kind of efforts possible to give the best to their children. Toys, dolls and what nothing! Video games, PS  and other innumerable stuffs that I have not even heard of keep their lives so advanced.

Times were different in those days when I was a child. It was even worst during my parent’s time.

I am among those generations that have undergone livelihood that the mere imagination would make today’s youth vomit. We were not different from today’s children except what time had presented a unique design of life style.

The cradle made of roughly chopped woods dangling on the bamboo piece slid under the ceiling gave the sweetest sleep. No matter how we slept, no matter where our head rested, our parents wouldn’t mind. (That’s why back of my head has an irregular shape that many people notice). I have been among those children whose mother prepared food in a ladle (Daru,zaru) and fed with the hand washed with plain water. Countless time toddlerhood has grazed the knees on the floor plaster with cow dung. Picking the butt of local cigarette thrown by grandma and grandpa and putting into the mouth was a fun. We never knew what it was not to swallow dried cow dung that was at our disposal. Playing with the pet like dogs and cats for an hour and taking meals without washing hands was never an odd thing in life. I am among those poor children who, as soon as winter vacation would start, used to turn socks into a ball. I have also the experience of taking chewed doma that my dad would keep on the table.

Bon betta, Horlicks and so many supplementary nutritious foods that I have never heard of, never saw me. I did not know that they existed nor do I know now. (Even now I don’t know name of many food items whenever I am to do shopping).What would make us grow healthy was never a question of nay parents. Simply feeding carbohydrate rich food like rice and curry of potato which of course is carbohydrate only, would satisfy mum and we. External micronutrients intake was never thought of.

What was Iodine salt then? Crude mustard oil and stale food laden with flies and cockroaches made our ingredients. We were not aware how important hygiene was.

On the other hand, today’s children fear of cow dung. They hate the mere sight of it. Outworn and torn cloth is immediately rejected. It is just the otherwise of what I have experienced. (I used to stitch pocket on a thin shirt and wear.