Childhood Now & Then!

(A poem written while travelling on Steel Express)

Gone are those days of innocent wonder,

playing with friends on holidays,

doll’s wedding with granny’s made rag dolls and maa’s old saree borders as sarees;

and dresses & sweaters and bedding all made by grandma , aunts & others –
Feasting on “ luchi,

alurdam,

begun bhaja,

Sujir Borfi or

homemade kalakand !
Eye spy,

pitto,

gulli danda,

hopscotch,

carrom,

ludo,

snake ladder,

monopoly,

Chinese checkers or bagatelle!

Getting wet in the rain,

floating paper boats,

– Birthday party meaning

payesh,

pastry,

singara,

aluchop or

jalebi .
Vast syllabi wasn’t intimidating, none got complexes, or felt suicidal !
Everything was taken in stride !
Didn’t get vitriolic, if compared to friends or cousins, believed and accepted whatever elders advised.

Adolescent tantrums and,

endless psychological theorems and,

hypotheses didn’t rule our lives .

We played, studied, sang or danced without feeling stressed or tense.
Stolen moments of listening to Binaca Geet Mala.

Where picnics or gifted books were more priceless than diamond earrings

or pendants presented to kids on birthdays these days.

Going to cinema halls was something like winning a gold medal;

Waiting for lengthy blue Air Mail envelops from pen pals.

Sharing chocolates – even half or quarter bites without thinking of germs or bacteria or equal rights!
Giggling, laughing, singing, pillow fighting,

getting angry but making up with a smile or a hug

or a rose or a cherished gift in exchange of a “not angry anymore” nod & no trace of guile!

Any gift was a wondrous surprise .
Malls and brands never existed and nothing was judged on its price!
Copying notes, visiting libraries, sharing books … didn’t care for admonishing looks!
Pickles, chaat, pani puri, phuchka or jhalmuri,

licking from the same candy floss,

reciting aloud to learn poems and rhyme,

when stealing tiffin wasn’t a crime !

Now everything is added or deleted with the click of a button –

confirming or blocking friends as common as Sunday rice or mutton!!

Virtual world overshadowing the real. 

Connected but no contact.

No longer a fear but proving to be an alarming fact !

Google, ipads, tabs, and FB or Snapchat have replaced playgrounds and games,

with obesity and unwanted fat!

Even pictures sent to friends need to be filtered or photo shopped.

Facade more appealing than the truth you’d prefer to be cropped.

When likes and reactions are more meaningful than actual hugs or concern!

Where smileys or emoticons seem cool as compared to real emotions and tears!

Is technology overpowering us ?
Are we headed to prove right, Einstein’s fears ?
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(Wrote it from Inside Steel Express yesterday)!

Poet: Mitali Mukhopadhyay

A retired teacher of English literature and language .
Has a passion for creative writing and occasionally dabbles in paints – Afro style and abstract painting . Speaks up for a cause and always stands for justice and equality .
A graduate from St. Xavier’s , Ranchi , post graduation and further studies from Jadavpur University and CIEFL , Hyderabad .
Can be contacted on
Instagram: @huesbymitali & @mitalimukhopadhyay
Email: mitalimukh22@gmail.com/mitali_m@hotmail.com