We all stayed together in a big house-grand mom, grand dad, mom, dad, even my Uncle & his kids. Mango parties at India Gate, and being allowed to stay up late were the best things in my life at that time.
I used to love it when, Grandma used to stop my mother from shouting or telling me off. Grandma was the undisputed Boss of the house.
Grandma had come to Delhi from Peshawer after the Partition, and still used to talk Punjabi in a ‘funny’ way (Hindiko??). We kids used to laugh and make fun of her.
Grandma & Granddad were very religious and every Tuesday used to fast the whole day - after Pooja were used to get Ladoos and also distributed them around the streets. Even Thursdays were auspitious days for them and again we kids were forced to listen to the ‘religious stories/morals’- soon they devised a way to get us there(bribes), by giving us money after the pooja.
As kids we used to criticise parts of the religious texts-to annoy our grandparents. Mom & Dad used to support us, by telling Grandparents-let it go, things are changing. Dad was a bit Arya Samaji (meaning not beleiving everything he’d hear-only take the good parts & leave the rest)
In school , English and Hindi were taught from Kindergarten. No religion is taught in schools. Everyday , going to the bus stop at 6.30 am and attending school at 7.15am was a struggle. After returning from school, all the kid would meet at the local park-and play cricket.
Oh god!! every grandmother is like that..
I never had the chance to see my grandmother, but my chotu’s grand mother i,e, my saas does the same Oh come on grandma its for their own good.
aaah aaaah
india gate india gate :::
boating, bread pakoRa, jamun trees and ice cream carts
but where was that big house? in what locality, was it in old delhi ( walled city ) or in new delhi or was in it in outer delhi. ( remember after sarai rohilla on rohtak road and after isbt ( ritz cinema) and after bhogal on ward is outer delhi for ppl like me staying in Sadar bazar) LOL
Aaapka shahar badaa pyara hain. Every time I go to Delhi, I had a great time. Of course it helps to have a friend's luxurious house in the Friends colony to live in. We never leave Delhi without going to Paratha chowk (umm 200 years old dukans) and Chandani chowk. Delhi craft centre has such good programs. The whole Delhi is steeped in history. Lahore guppies, please post something about aapka shahar. I have heard Lahore is like old delhi. Also some pics maybe?
This is a spin off on malhot's post "Growing up as a kid in Delhi" Guppies tell us how was it growing up as a kind in aapka shahar. Some pictures if you can find them.
Seems like you had a great time growing up malhot. I didnt live in such an extensive joint family system but my childhoods full of such fond memories too. I will post some soon.
Oh come on grandma its for their own good.
