IndiaOn

Culture >> Browse Articles >> Moving to India

The Times They Are A-Changin’

“There is a garden in every childhood, an enchanted place where colours are brighter, the air softer, and the morning more fragrant than ever again.”

Last week, with the closing down of Appu Ghar, a part of me died (sorry, I couldn’t resist using the cliché).

Appu Ghar is (was!) an indelible part of the consciousness of any 80’s Delhi child. It was no Disneyland, yet it was a landmark for those of us who grew up in the capital during those times. The amusement park symbolized the tentative steps that India was taking towards modernity – Rajiv Gandhi was Prime Minister and his youthful optimism and exuberance (along with the vision of ‘computerising’ India) drew all of us in. I remember talking about the roller coaster there, and being politely reminded by ‘cousins from abroad’ that better rides awaited me at Disneyland – “man, the Matterhorn is so cool and amazing” (to be said out loud in an 80s Yankee accent).

As I was lamenting this ‘loss’ (of Appu Ghar, not the accent), a flood of memories from that era came gushing back (the writer begs the forgiveness of the readers for this unsolicited reminiscing):

• The antics of Vinod and Sudhir in Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron – till date, on top of the ‘Best Hindi comedy’ list of most people.

• Going for a post-prandial ice cream to India Gate (even Rajiv Gandhi was famously photographed doing so).

• The endearing mannerisms of Farooque Sheikh in countless movies – the good guy who usually got what he deserved (apart from an occasional short end of the stick).

• The lights on Safdarjung Airport flyover that irritated everyone who passed that road at night (but in retrospect, I miss those blinding lights).

• Running off to see the Republic Day Parade or Beating the Retreat without any one giving us a It’s-not-safe-there-might-be-a-bomb warning.

• The soaps on TV – Hum Log and Buniyaad – not to mention the slings and arrows of Ramayana and Mahabharata.

• Mile Sur Mera Tumhara – that still gets a lump in the throat.

• Ghungroos at Maurya.

• Ice Creams at Nirulas (still better than the ridiculously overpriced Baskin Robbins or Häagen-Dazs)

• Watching a year-old (or perhaps more) English movie at Chanakya (and playing a Video game at Fantasia before that).

• Boarding a DTC bus without fear of being crushed.

• Masala Dosa at Dasaprakash in Ambassador Hotel

• Vada or Idli at India Coffee House. The quality of the food might have changed now but not the waiters or their colonial-era head dresses.

• Cassettes made by cousins abroad and sent to us with music we didn’t get to hear on radio (80s music – happy and peppy – reflecting the optimism of the times).

• 1 channel of Doordarshan – from 6 in the evening to 11 at night – What’s the Good Word on Thursday nights at 21:00.

• Cars that refused to start in the cold winter mornings despite the curses and pleas of our parents.

• Drinking Thums Up – still preferred by many over the ‘MNC’ colas.

• Wide empty roads – the Delhi roads are still wide but have to handle traffic that is twenty times more in number and variety, and hundred times more in a hurry.

This list is by no means exhaustive. Most people I know can come up with their own list in seconds, after all, looking back is an essential prerequisite for moving forward. And there is always a tinge (if not more) of sorrow, if one ‘item’ of that list ceases to exist. But it is fitting (in more ways than one) that part of the land freed by the closing down of Appu Ghar will be used by that other symbol of India’s confident growth – The Delhi Metro.

Have your own nostalgia list? Add a comment below!

---