Being A Delhiite
Being A Delhiite
Delhi in the mid-sixties was quite different. It was a blend of the urban and the rural. It had wide-open spaces and was interspaced with villages. It had and still has a forest area within the city called the Delhi Ridge area.
I was brought up in South Delhi. We lived for many years in Wazir Nagar…next to the South Extension. South Extension was considered to be a place for the rich. South Extension is one of the posh localities in South Delhi. It is on Ring Road. There is a very popular market in South Delhi. But most people who lived in Wazir Nagar belonged to the middle class of that time. Nowadays definition of the middle class has been changed.
Delhi back then was a very different place from today. I grew up here and have many beautiful memories from this home. We were living in a rented house of one room set. It was built to accommodate three families on a plot, having one bedroom set each.
We shared a toilet with these three families and slept on the roof in the summers. In the evenings, I used to sprinkle water on the roof to get it cooled and then put folding beds and beddings and we slept on them. Sometimes we used standing pedestal fans when the heat was unbearable at peak of summer. Sometimes when it started raining in the middle of the night, we ran down with our beddings on our back to get inside the home.
Today when I tell my children, that we had to share our toilet with three families, they are surprised as now they don’t want to share their bathrooms with even any family member.
In the kitchen, we had put a wooden table to make it a standing kitchen. Otherwise, my mom had to cook food while sitting, and it was not comfortable for her to stand again and again to pick things like masalas and oil, etc from the shelf which was higher. So that table was used as a kitchen slab and we felt comfortable in that arrangement.
There was an almirah with the net on its doors, in which we used to keep cooked food or milk after boiling as we didn’t have a fridge at that time. Food was cooked fresh in the morning and evening.
In those times TV was not there to keep us entertained. It was just Radio which we used to listen to songs or other radio programs. So after finishing my homework I used to visit my Nani’s( maternal grandmother) home. She lived just one street next to us. My Mama’s(maternal uncle) family also lived with my maternal grandparents. So I went there whenever I wanted or when I wanted to play with my cousins.
My Nani had a strong influence on the family and was a very strong lady. We got scolded by her if we fight or shout. But we loved her very much because she pampered us with toffees and small gifts.
My aunt (Mousi)also lived in the same street as my Nani and all my cousins were very close to each other. I had one younger brother Chintu(name changed). My aunt had three sons and my mama also had three sons. So I was the only sister for all seven of them. That’s the reason I was pampered by everyone and I felt like a queen all the time.
To be continued…
Anita's Perspectives on Life. 
Mes souvenirs gardés de Delhi restent attachés au besoin d’en sortir…
N-L
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What happened so bad when you were in Delhi? You can share with me. Why did you wanted to get out of it and when did it happened? I am so sorry to know about it.
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My city has changed too…Toronto was called “people’s city” when I was a kid..a “city of neighborhoods.” Now most of that civility is gone, after being “open for business” for 40 years. It is a city of the rich, a city of highways, condominiums and shopping malls…almost dead, spiritually 😓😓
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With so many years gone by, things and cities are obvious to change. We still remember those old days when we were kids and enjoyed so many things, which nowadays are very difficult to find. But all those memories are still alive in our minds like they just happened. You are right …the feel has vanished and just dead materialistic things are there which can be seen with eyes and not felt by the heart.😇😇
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thanks dear 🤗🤗
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🙏🏻🌹
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What is your site about? Anyways, thanks for liking and sharing my story on your site.
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Reblogged this on My Blog and commented:
http://www.lifeisgodsnovel.wordpress.com
Good evening Anita
Thanks for the like(s(
Happy blogging/writing and all the best with your blog
“early bird sleepy-head” craig
https://craigsbooks.wordpress.com/2022/01/13/and-as-imagination-bodies-forth-the-forms-of-things-unknown-the-poets-pen/
http://www.craigsblogs.wordpress.com
http://www.craigsbooks.wordpress.com
“It always seems impossible…
until it gets done!”
– Nelson Mandela
http://www.mandelamadiba.wordpress.com
http://www.craigsquotes.wordpress.com
You CAN…if you THINK you can
“Put your fears behind you and your dreams in front of you…always.”
Best wishes from the First City to see the light
PPS
Don’t worry about the world ending today
it’s already tomorrow in scenic and tranquil ‘little’ New Zealand
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Thank you so much Craig for reblogging my post. I am glad that you liked it.😊😊
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hi
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One Sister to seven brothers!
Shaat Bhai Champa!!
Wonderful narrative of your story. In reality, it is fact not a story.
The most beautiful thing is that your style of presenting a factor story is very lively.
Through your post one can easily visualize the situations, conditions of the then time.
Our experiences in our childhood are almost same. Thank you so much Anita Ji for projecting the facts of mid sixties in Delhi.
You have initiated a fantastic topic of your time. Many will enjoy your story.
Will be happy to read the next at the earliest.
Take care.
Have a nice Sunday.😊
Happy RAM NAVAMI.
🙏JAY SHREE RAM🙏
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Thank you so much Arun Ji. This is not a story actually, this is my life story which I wanted to write since so long. I was born and brought up in Delhi. Sharing the details is just a visit down my memory lane. I am liking it. 😊😊
Life back then was almost same for everyone. That’s why you can resonate with so many things I will share. You too have a nice Sunday and Happy Ram Navami. 😊🙏
Your post is published on my site today please check.
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Thank you Anita Ji for your beautiful comments.
I understand, I resonate with your thoughts and views in this world of blogging.
I enjoy each and every lines of your contents.
I will check your blog site.
Thank you so much for your support and encouragement 😊🙏
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Reblogged this on AuntyUta and commented:
Thank you, Anita, for sharing these very interesting memories about your growing up years. Three of my four children were growing up in NSW, Australia, during the sixties. Soon after migrating to Australia we
my husband and I started living in a garage with our three children
under three years of age! 🙂
Today, I live in a three bedroom house all by myself! 🙂
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Thank you Auntyuta for reading liking and reblogging it on your site. Life is the name of change. It brings many changes during the course of life. My childhood years were in a rented home although today I own several properties which are on rent in India and abroad. So my story will gradually unfold how those years were spent and how I am at this place today.🙏🏻 🙂
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