What’s a thing you were completely obsessed with as a kid?
The narrative reflects on a man’s childhood memories of train journeys, contrasting them with the modern pace of life. These childhood reflections provide insight into simpler times when travel was slower, and families were larger yet emotionally distant. The article highlights the restrictive upbringing of children in the past, emphasising their lack of autonomy and the pressure to conform to societal expectations. Despite these constraints, the protagonist found solace in reading comic books and stories, which nurtured his imagination. The piece concludes with hope, noting how parenting has evolved to be more nurturing, allowing children to express themselves and pursue their interests.
Table of contents
Key Takeaways
- The article reflects on childhood memories of train journeys, contrasting them with today’s fast-paced life.
- It highlights the restrictive upbringing of children, emphasizing lack of autonomy and societal pressures in the past.
- Despite constraints, reading comic books nurtured the protagonist’s imagination and offered solace.
- The piece concludes with hope: modern parenting allows children more freedom to express themselves and explore their interests.
- Overall, ‘Childhood reflections’ reveal a shift from strict traditional roles to a more nurturing environment for children.
The journey
Travelling in the cosy compartment of a superfast train, he was enjoying tea and a few wafer chips. The train was roaring as it sped past, leaving everything behind. He looked outside the window. Unaffected by the speed of the train, the sun was running along with the train. It occasionally changed its side as the train moved on the rails. The sun was on its downward journey, and the shadows started becoming elongated. After less than an hour, it would go down the horizon. He kept sipping the tea in a pensive mood, occasionally watching the whirling and dancing trees as they passed the train. He slipped back in time and dived into childhood reflections when things were different.
Old scenario
Seven decades ago, things were simple, slow and frugal. The world was not as fast-paced as it is today. Bullock carts were the most frequent mode of travel, and the fastest was the rail train. Steam locomotives would haul a few skeleton compartments fitted with simple hard bench-like seats. The train would move comparatively slowly, halting at almost every other station or at alternate stations. Electricity was not common, and even the railway stations used lamp posts fitted with kerosene lamps for general lighting. The semaphore signals operated with levers and wires, controlled by cabin men. The signals had a glowing kerosene lamp placed behind the big “Eye” of the signal. Signal down meant the green “Eye” was before the lamp, which would glow green in the darkness of the night.
Thrilling and romantic
While digging deep into the childhood reflections, he realised that train journeys were a thrill. They provided romanticism, which seems lacking in present-day luxurious superfast trains. Dragging the row of compartments, the steam engine would run at a moderate speed, leaving a trail of smoke emitting from its short chimney. Train journeys become an inseparable part of the child’s life, engraved in their impressionable mind. Sitting beside the window, staring at the swiftly changing scenes, and many more are the cherished childhood memories. The occasional whistle of the engine, amid whirling and dancing rustic scenes, gave a certain je ne sais quoi, bringing a long-lasting sensation of sweet pain. Akin to a train, life is also linear and compartmentalised, with the family head like its engine.
Childhood reflections
The joint family used to be big. There used to be a single kitchen where mothers and aunts would cook food for all. Parents felt ashamed to show affection for their children. Mothers would occasionally hug their children hurriedly. There was no scope for the show of love and affection for one’s own children. Little ones used to play with their cousins with whatever frugal things they could get. Considering uncivil, things like toffee, lollypop or hard candies were strictly no, except for home-cooked products. (Parent circle)
Old vs new
Comparing today’s atmosphere, the old times used to be strictly binding. The thrust was on scoring good marks in examinations. It used to be the parameter of their intellect and a certificate of their worthiness. A child with first-class marks in examinations was presented as a beacon to other children of the family and neighbourhood.
Callous attitude
Children were not the responsibility of parents. The uncles and aunts had full authority over them. People gave no attention to their development, their psychological condition, mental health or any other problem. Children would grow with their problems. A few lucky ones could overcome their complications on their own in their own way, but most of them express their suppression differently. Children were treated as the property of parents or occasionally of the household. The male child, especially the eldest, was groomed to become the heir of the family business, beget children and groom them like themselves. Clearing examinations, earning money for their parents’ family, taking care of younger siblings, and marrying their parents’ daughters was the duty of the male child. A child’s personal wishes, likes or dislikes were not considered. Those who wanted to do things differently faced stiff resistence.
Family clash
Anything other than the routines had no meaning and was discarded as worthless. Considering it a waste of time, works of art, craft and other extra things a waste of time, children were heavily discouraged from taking them up or even scolded. Barring a few who got encouragement and could do off-beat things, the majority of children could not get what they wanted. Tiff, commotion and arguments were common between growing children and their parents, especially their fathers. The clash was natural, but instead of finding the root cause, the elders of the family often try to ostracise their children. The general scenario was incongenial for creative growth and the proper progression of a child. The mind of a child used to be caged and not allowed to think beyond the barbed wire fencing of customary regressive outlook and suppressive tendencies of the family members.
Brief halt
After a brief halt at a mediocre station, the train was back on its track. He noticed the absence of the peculiar “Chuk…Chuk…” sound of the train which was closely linked with his brain. The train, he was on, was pulled by an electric locomotive. These locomotives are clean, efficient and fast which do not produce smoke, ash and the peculiar sound. Their operation is comparatively silent. He cast a cursory glance outside the window. The sun had sunk on the horizon painting the sky with a pink hue. It was a lovely sight. The sun, with all its glory and glamour, had vanished to come again with a new vigour the next morning. This is the life, he said to himself. After a few more minutes, the shroud of silky soft darkness started spreading. It was crepuscular. He could see the flocks of birds flying back to their nest.
Linear thought process
His chain of thoughts started as the train picked up speed. In his childhood reflections, he found that the pressing conditions didn’t allow a child to express their wish. No matter how talented they were, it was useless for the family to become government clerks. One of the great achievements of the colonial period is the evolution of a special class of clerks under the disguise of the “officer” tag. It is a privileged group of government servants often grouped under the term “bureaucrat”.
Changing attitude
Childhood reflections allowed him to realise the change. Nevertheless, it took a whole generation to change the regressive and confined mindset. Except for a few affluent or resourceful families whose children had the leverage of doing things of their choice, most of the youths ended up toiling to earn a few pennies to survive. It was a time when even reading magazines and books was not accepted easily, except for the course materials and books.
Ray of hope
Despite many adversities, a ray of hope and expectations did not die completely. He liked to read comic books which were not available to him. Therefore, he used to spend hours at the residence of one of his friends who had a good collection of old comic books. Sitting outside his house in an open field under the shade of a dense Ficus tree, he used to read the comic books with involvement. Back home, he would get scoldings or sometimes slapping as a bonus.
Liking for reading
He has had a liking for reading books. While in childhood reflections, he endearingly remembered his liberal grandfather, who worked as a head clerk in a government office. The child used to sit in his grandfather’s room, reading comic books or sometimes other books. He finished reading “Alice in Wonderland”, a book which still stays among his favourite books. Apart from these stories and books, reading suspense and thrillers was his favourite genre. Some of the works are still in racks at the back of his mind. At matured age, he started searching for these books again and collecting them in his personal collection. He often reads them and dives deep into the nostalgia of his past.
Let children explore
Children are precious. They need to grow and bloom. With time, a lot has changed. Parents treat their children with utmost care and love. It is good that children now have a say. With the able and seasoned guidance of elders, they are coming with flying colours. Let children explore new things and fly high in the sky. The string of the kite should be in the parent’s hand to steer, not to bind them.
Further reads:
-END-
Kamal Kishore Srivastava
A retired government officer turned writer and photographer, Kamal Kishore Srivastava is a regular blogger and essayist who explores life’s deeper meanings through immersive reflections on nature, impermanence, and happiness. On his blog Nature’s Narrative, he blends philosophical storytelling with practical insights. Writing 1,200–1,500 words or more regularly, Kamal is committed to refining his craft, expanding his audience, and building a sustainable space where thought and feeling intersect.
Leave a Reply