WOW, Five generations !
Posted 13th July 2008 at 10:29 PM by Chitvish
Over the years, I have lived with two older generations and now, I live with two younger generations. So, I can proudly call myself a witness of five generations.
The first was that of my grandmothers. Both could just read and write their mother tongue. One of them had five children and the other a whopping twelve! But they took it in their stride and went about their lives happily, managing to feed all children and educate the boys reasonably well.
They lived without vehicles of their own; walked daily to the temple at the end of the street; ground idli batter in the stone everyday without fail; cooked on stoves using firewood, handwashed all their clothes and had three hearty square meals a day.
The words career, overweight & dieting were unknown to them.
In their time, special goodies meant laddus, polis and palpayasam.
They read weekly tamil magazines without fail, to keep them from becoming idle. I now feel, they lived quite a contented life!
Next my mother’s generation. She had passed SSLC and could speak English very fluently even in “those days.”. To be frank, I got over the complex that Amma’s language was far superior to mine, only very late, after I reached graduation. Since my father was a doctor, amma used to keep his accounts, fix up his appointments with patients, besides learning from radio programmes about how to make cutlets, chappathi etc!
We lived in Madurai and till I got married, there were no ice cream parlours in our town. We used to relish the chappathis amma made on Sundays. The term sabji was unknown to us! We would relish the chappathis smeared with sugar-ghee mixture & rolled! Those days, refined oils were not known. Gingelly, coconut, groundnut oils and ghee were the cooking mediums. We were thrilled when amma made gulab-jamuns successfully for the first time. Bisibela was her speciality, which was less common in those days.
I do not remember having eaten out even once though there were a few “hotels”. Well, that was not the done thing. We used to go to concerts or movies once a month. That was our only outing besides going to temple regularly and attending family functions. Listening to the radio was a favourite pastime. Radio Ceylon, Binaca Gitmala were all favourite topics discussed in school and college. My father owned a car, a luxury in my younger days.
After I got married, I came to Chennai. For one from Madurai, this looked a big city! Believe me, I tasted bread for breakfast in my in-laws’ house and was amused that healthy people ate it! In Madurai, only if we were sick, we used to have bread and milk! From kerosene stove, my generation switched over to the newly introduced gas-stove, started using pressure cookers and mixis came late along with grinders.
I learnt baking in polytechnic, relatively less common in 60’s and 70’s. I started baking at home regularly and learnt to make sweets like badusha ,doodh peda and rosogolla. Eating out was just a once in a month routine. I loved to hear cricket commentaries, over the radio. Non-stick vessels made their appearance only in 70’s and believe me, the quality was so good that I still have one bought in those days, without a single scratch. TV came to Chennai in 75 and only Doordarshan played monopoly.
My daughter’s generation is the career-generation, though IT jobs were not known till recently. Microwaves & washing machine are here to stay. Varieties of parathas, North Indian dishes besides fast food are becoming popular. Going out to eat at least once a week has become common.
Ladies of her generation drive even big cars effortlessly since most of them have power-steering. An affluent family has minimum two cars.
Every house has broadband connection, definitely. Annual holidays are generally to a foreign country and well within the reach of many.
By the younger generation, I mean my grand daughters, 23 and 20. Both are employed & drive their own cars. Each has her own laptop and they are always seen only with their ipods and ofcourse, mobiles.
They have their own set of friends, boys included. They party on weekends and are fastidious about going to gym without fail. They have their own favourite International Cuisine eateries. They learn western dance and are still fond of carnatic music.
What I love about the younger generation is their right blend of values. They go to office in executive wear, love jeans and t-shirts at home, wear lovely salwar kameez for functions, but only sarees for weddings, festivals, temples and pujas. They are ready to adjust to whatever is the demand of the occasion. They can cook a simple meal effortlessly, though forever they are dieting to maintain an hour-glass figure.
They are very obliging to this old grandmother, who gets all her computer-related doubts cleared by them, on their weekly visit. Their modern approach of greeting me is always with a hug! I wriggled for quite sometime, but now reciprocate their hugs gracefully with kisses!!
Love,
Chithra.
The first was that of my grandmothers. Both could just read and write their mother tongue. One of them had five children and the other a whopping twelve! But they took it in their stride and went about their lives happily, managing to feed all children and educate the boys reasonably well.
They lived without vehicles of their own; walked daily to the temple at the end of the street; ground idli batter in the stone everyday without fail; cooked on stoves using firewood, handwashed all their clothes and had three hearty square meals a day.
The words career, overweight & dieting were unknown to them.
In their time, special goodies meant laddus, polis and palpayasam.
They read weekly tamil magazines without fail, to keep them from becoming idle. I now feel, they lived quite a contented life!
Next my mother’s generation. She had passed SSLC and could speak English very fluently even in “those days.”. To be frank, I got over the complex that Amma’s language was far superior to mine, only very late, after I reached graduation. Since my father was a doctor, amma used to keep his accounts, fix up his appointments with patients, besides learning from radio programmes about how to make cutlets, chappathi etc!
We lived in Madurai and till I got married, there were no ice cream parlours in our town. We used to relish the chappathis amma made on Sundays. The term sabji was unknown to us! We would relish the chappathis smeared with sugar-ghee mixture & rolled! Those days, refined oils were not known. Gingelly, coconut, groundnut oils and ghee were the cooking mediums. We were thrilled when amma made gulab-jamuns successfully for the first time. Bisibela was her speciality, which was less common in those days.
I do not remember having eaten out even once though there were a few “hotels”. Well, that was not the done thing. We used to go to concerts or movies once a month. That was our only outing besides going to temple regularly and attending family functions. Listening to the radio was a favourite pastime. Radio Ceylon, Binaca Gitmala were all favourite topics discussed in school and college. My father owned a car, a luxury in my younger days.
After I got married, I came to Chennai. For one from Madurai, this looked a big city! Believe me, I tasted bread for breakfast in my in-laws’ house and was amused that healthy people ate it! In Madurai, only if we were sick, we used to have bread and milk! From kerosene stove, my generation switched over to the newly introduced gas-stove, started using pressure cookers and mixis came late along with grinders.
I learnt baking in polytechnic, relatively less common in 60’s and 70’s. I started baking at home regularly and learnt to make sweets like badusha ,doodh peda and rosogolla. Eating out was just a once in a month routine. I loved to hear cricket commentaries, over the radio. Non-stick vessels made their appearance only in 70’s and believe me, the quality was so good that I still have one bought in those days, without a single scratch. TV came to Chennai in 75 and only Doordarshan played monopoly.
My daughter’s generation is the career-generation, though IT jobs were not known till recently. Microwaves & washing machine are here to stay. Varieties of parathas, North Indian dishes besides fast food are becoming popular. Going out to eat at least once a week has become common.
Ladies of her generation drive even big cars effortlessly since most of them have power-steering. An affluent family has minimum two cars.
Every house has broadband connection, definitely. Annual holidays are generally to a foreign country and well within the reach of many.
By the younger generation, I mean my grand daughters, 23 and 20. Both are employed & drive their own cars. Each has her own laptop and they are always seen only with their ipods and ofcourse, mobiles.
They have their own set of friends, boys included. They party on weekends and are fastidious about going to gym without fail. They have their own favourite International Cuisine eateries. They learn western dance and are still fond of carnatic music.
What I love about the younger generation is their right blend of values. They go to office in executive wear, love jeans and t-shirts at home, wear lovely salwar kameez for functions, but only sarees for weddings, festivals, temples and pujas. They are ready to adjust to whatever is the demand of the occasion. They can cook a simple meal effortlessly, though forever they are dieting to maintain an hour-glass figure.
They are very obliging to this old grandmother, who gets all her computer-related doubts cleared by them, on their weekly visit. Their modern approach of greeting me is always with a hug! I wriggled for quite sometime, but now reciprocate their hugs gracefully with kisses!!
Love,
Chithra.
Total Comments 65
Comments
 |  Dear Mami, At last the wait is over with a bang ! Mami I tell you, you have got the knack of taking us back in the memory lane so effortlessly. Seeing (rather reading) your write up I wanted my child hood back. You have written as if yo have seen me growing up.......... Though we didnt posses a car and money was very frugal but we used to go out for movies, dance, dramas etc with a packet of home made pakodas. Special was on Sunday as family was there....... bisibela bath with pachadi or small vengaya sambar (as we don't get the variety in plenty here) and we kids used to have our weekly oil bath and eat to hearts content and that was the day we could think of getting something for evening snacks like bajji, pakoda, Mangalroe bajji, bonda. And amma is a great cook and sweets I still love made by her. What you have related about your grandchildren is missed but I am seeing the same with my cousins and colleagues. Hence taken that in stride and enjoy that also. |
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| |  Dear Chitvish, That is really great to have seen five generations... At the advent of new generations, more technology keep coming in... Whether it is a boy or a girl, if the parents teaches them the values of life, they can adopt to any situation with ease and grace... I will add to the extent, that it is the Values which has been imbibed in us over the generations and how we accept and adopt... shows the maturity and value of each individual... For a person who has seen so much and has such a vast experience... I can only say Wow!!!... and all salutes  to the great lady.... May GOD bless you with more joy, happiness and good health to enjoy you time with DGD's & DGGD's/DGGS's....So, I am of your GD's age group.... Oooops.. let me not talk of age... there are people who dont like me being young...  ....Have a Nice Day.... Veda |
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| |  Hi Mami.... Its great that you have witnessed 5 generations....I pray that you get to witness the 6th also....with same good health and spirit. It was nice to read about the food and routines of those good old days....I was recalling all that my parents told me about their childhood.. Mami, you know...I too have witnessed 5 generations.....My mom was brought up by her paternal grandmom who lived till the age of 96 or 97..I was about 10yrs of age, when she passed away. I vividly remember her doing all her works, slowly. She was bedridden only for the last 3 days of her life.Then, of course, my grandparents and parents. Now, I m yet to be a mom, but have seen my akka's kids....so it makes 5 Gs for me. And another one thing...........my BIL(sister's DH) is from a huge family....He has cousins and brothers who are in there 50s....one of their daughters got married and has delivered a baby few months back...that makes my sis a granny...so i am also a granny   before becoming a mommy...6 Gs for me...Don't no how many more in my life time .. |
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| | Quote:
So, I am of your GD's age group.... Oooops.. let me not talk of age... there are people who dont like me being young...  ....
So, Veda.... you started here also....about your age  ...now you discovered that you are in Mami's GD's age group eh?Sorry Mami...to come in between....he always wants to confuse as to which generation he belongs....  |
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| | dear chithra mam, that was an excellent blog...u being a witness to 5 generations...enjoyed what u had to say about todays youngsters...True most of them have a lovely blend of the modern and the tradition...and just loved the way u accept your GD's hugs and kisses so gracefully...one who moves in with the times will always be happy.... Mindi |
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| | hi chith, being a part of one of the generations!!!i can definitely say you have adapted very well according the change each generation has gone through!!!!its great to hear from a person like you that you appreciate modern lifestyle of youngsters. As you said a blend of modern and traditional values is defintely what most of us follow!!!!!! regards pavi |
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| |  That was a lovely blogDear chitra, I enjoyed reading your blog about the five generations.Took me back to the good old days,when I used to wear pavadai,thavani to school and graduated to sarees when I went to college. My mother would yell at me for listening to cricket commentary on the sly with my brothers"cricket is going to give you food?Go and study!".The same mother enjoyed knowing about cricket legends like kapil dav. in later years. Even my daughters hug me and kiss me when they meet me after a couple of months and when I squirm my younger one makes fun of me. My little grand children,they are four years old,show their love for independence and they do have their choices in clothes. Life was is and always will be wonderful if we learn to accept the changes and theyonger generation learns to appreciate the good in the olden ways of living. I also feel that our rich cultural heritage is safe in the hands of the younger generation. love mithila kannan |
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| |  Lali, thanks for promptly sending the first FB! When I think of my childhood, I really feel we had a more relxed ife as a child than my grandsons who are 15 & 8! Sunday lunch was standard - small onion sambar, potato roast, lemon rasam & tomato pachadi. Thiffin was masal dosai. Where is the concept of tiffin at 4 PM, now?? This is just to make you all recollect your life with generations!! Love, Chithra. |
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| | Veda Boy, are you happy, my addressing you thus?? May be you are an in-between generation - my chilfren are in 40s & GDs & GSs are much younger! But, I will not translate in-between generation as " Rendungkettan generation" for obvious reasons because that word will reflect badly on you, my boy!! Yes, today's parents have to pay more importance to imparting right values to children, given the conditions of life today! They must know where to be lineant & where to draw a line. Love, Chithra. |
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| | Saras, you write kindly that I must witness the sixth generation! First my GDs want to wait till they are happy with their career graph before setlling down to married bliss. They are likely to plan their families also, as is today's trend! Oh, I am ready, to leave, when I am surrounded by so much of love in IL - I prefer to pop off at the height of my glory!! Love, Chithra. |
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| | Saras, have you not seen Veda? He is so young that when he came home, he was sucking his thumb! Shanthi was chiding him regularly not to do it!! He is a real "chinna paiyan", Saras!! Love, Chithra. |
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| | Thanks, MIndi, when you are thrown in water you have to swim! Hugs & kisses in open are like that for me!! You must be knowing that we were all brought up on "no touch" lifestyle.But, I keep adapting myself that when I see an ILite for the first time, I hug them whether they expect it of me or not!! So, when you come home, come ready!  Love, Chithra. |
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| | Pavi Babes, why do I call you babes? Because you are younger than Thanu!! It really surprises me when you send FBs for my recipes & that too with photos, living outside India. That only shows, how valu-based your bringing uo has been! Your responsibility is commendable, Pavi! Love, Chithra. |
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| | Dear Mithila, you took me back to my pavadai-davani days with two plats, well oiled of course. I love flowers & we have a big garden in Madurai. We had varieties of kanakambaram & Dec flowers. In the morning my athai will string flowers for me, matching my dress, including roses, green leaves, nithyamalli etc. Madurai kovil kadai is famous for bangle shops & I was crazy after bangles! Even now my huge bangle collecion is sleeping safely in Ruby's house. Yes, Mithila, I just wanted to imply, times may chane but cultural vaues will not, ofcourse, if in safe hands!! Love, Chithra. |
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| |  Dear Chithra, You made me homesick..... I too have seen 2 generations before me....and remember the binaca geetmala days and the advent of TV ....and from where to where.....we are the best generation i think,having seen it all....that's what Roshini says always. She envies me when i see my cousins and we go back to our childhood summer get togethers in athai and paatis houses! Those were the fun days of being together .... But what will you and i do if we don't have our broad band and laptops and Tv channels....i wonder!  Just waiting for the time when i will see the next to next generation....like you said these girls want to settle down, have a career and freedom and enjoy and then settle down or get tied down! So a long wait indeed!Bah.....want to go back to those carefree days.....booh ooh....  |
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| | Dearest Sudha, me too Bah.....want to go back to those carefree days.....booh ooh....  !I used to go to to maternal grandmother's house in Trivandrum during summer holidays. My patti used to feed atleast 30 mouths for lunch & dinner. But looking back, I now feel, she did it effortlessly! I learnt all shlokams from my grandfather in the evenings. There were no fans in his house, leave alone AC. But life was bliss, Sudha - who ever missed comforts? They were not even known to us then!! Love, Chithra. |
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| |  Dear Chithra ma'am, Its such a lovely pleasure to read the wonderful topics you come up with to kickstart our week .Wow!! Loved this blog. I went to the times of my childhood and a lot of memories resurfaced. A lot of the scenes here are straight from the vacations at my Ammummas place in kerala. You know Ma'am you are one person who is adaptability personified.Though you went through all those generations I 'd still say you are a very contemporary woman, a perfect combination for these times.We each of us can relate to your posts irrespective of the generation. Kudos to you Ma'am for this lovelyblog!! Love, Your Mol |
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| | My sweet Mole, ours, I feel is a "sandwich generation"if I can use such a term.Our in-laws were extremely traditional & orthodox, my grandchildren are typically modern in their outook. I think, adaptability came to us naturally, since we flowed with the tide. Because, I used to go to Trivandrum, Kottayam etc during holidays, a wee bit Malayalam language got stuck to me & now Asianet Idea Starsinger is developing it further!! F Y I , my gds call me Ammamma!!  You are such a sweet-worded person, Mole, God bless you for praising others generously. We know, not everybody is blessed with this trait!! Love, Chithra. |
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| |  Dear Chitra mam,Hai mam, it was great to read ur post i think even i can call u granny. it is wounderfull to know about old styles of living and they survived without tv etc but now a days generation cannot live without them they say these r compulsory gadgets. hooooo' u had taken me to my child hood at that time there were very few tv's etc only timepass was radio as u said. thank u very much mam for a beautiful post. hope u will do some more like this. I pray to god to give u all happiness and long life to see 6th generation also. madhumathi. |
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| | Dear Madhu, I love your feedback! So, I guess, you are in your early 20's ! Now, who listens to the radio, tell me? Thanks for all your wishes, Madhu. Love, Chithra. |
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Recent Blog Entries by Chitvish
- The joy of growing old! (5th October 2008)
- Do I sound narcissistic? No way! (28th September 2008)
- The Kaleidoscope called Life (21st September 2008)
- Silence outside, but violence inside ! (14th September 2008)
- Keeping them happy, but at what cost? (7th September 2008)
