From Village Wells to Virtual Worlds: A Journey Back to a 1980s Childhood
There’s a certain magic in the memories of a bygone era, a time painted in hues of sepia and vibrant simplicity. For those of us who grew up in the 1980s, especially in the heart of a village, childhood was a tapestry woven with experiences that feel almost mythical to the generation of today. It was a time before the digital dawn, where our joys were analogue, our playgrounds were vast, and our connections were forged under the open sky.
The Splash of Summer: Swimming in the Wells
The soundtrack of our summer holidays wasn’t the notification chime of a smartphone; it was the gleeful splash of water from a village well. The well wasn’t just a source of water; it was our community swimming pool. The raw, earthy smell of the wet soil, the echo of our laughter bouncing off the stone walls, and the exhilarating chill of the natural water on a scorching afternoon—these are sensations etched into our minds. There were no life jackets or chlorinated water, just the watchful eyes of elders and the unspoken camaraderie of friends, learning to stay afloat together in the cool, dark depths. It was an adventure, a daily ritual that taught us courage and connected us to the very earth we lived on.
The Real Playing Fields: Cricket and Kabaddi Afternoons
Once we had our fill of swimming, our energies would spill onto the dusty, uneven grounds that doubled as our cricket pitches and kabaddi courts. A couple of bricks for a wicket, a worn-out tennis ball, and a makeshift bat were all we needed for an international-level clash that lasted until the sun dipped below the horizon. Games weren’t scheduled events; they were spontaneous eruptions of joy. We played lagori, gilli-danda, and countless other local games that required nothing more than teamwork, agility, and a spirit of friendly competition. Our knees were often scraped, our clothes perpetually dirty, but our hearts were full. We learned negotiation, teamwork, and the art of bouncing back from a loss, right there in those open fields.
A Taste of Tradition: The Era of Festival Food
In the 1980s, treats were not an everyday affair. The concept of walking to a bakery for a slice of cake or grabbing a packet of chips was alien to us. Our cravings were tied to the calendar of festivals and family celebrations. The aroma of freshly made holige during Ugadi, the crispiness of chakli during Diwali, or the sweetness of payasam during a family function were the flavours we eagerly awaited all year. Food was an event, a celebration of culture and togetherness. These dishes were prepared with love in family kitchens, using recipes passed down through generations. Every bite was a taste of tradition, a far cry from the instant, processed snacks that fill our pantries today.
A Different World Today
Fast forward to the present, and the landscape of childhood has transformed entirely. The village wells have been replaced by pristine, blue-tiled swimming pools with structured coaching classes. The open fields have shrunk, giving way to screen time, where virtual battles have replaced the dusty sprints of our youth. The special, occasion-based traditional foods now compete with a dazzling array of bakery products, fast food, and instant snacks available at our fingertips.
This isn’t a lament, but a reflection. Today’s children have access to information and opportunities we could only dream of. They are global citizens in a way we never were. Yet, in this rapid evolution, it feels like we’ve traded some of the raw, unfiltered experiences for a more curated, convenient, and digital existence.
The joy of a shared, sun-drenched afternoon, the taste of a sweet made only once a year, the thrill of a simple, unorganised game—these are the memories that shaped us. While we embrace the future, it’s worth pausing to tell our children the stories of the wells we swam in and the games we played, hoping to inspire them to find their own simple, unplugged adventures.
