As our life becomes fast-paced, all things and places associated with a relatively slower pace are disappearing, just like our peace of mind.
Be it the friendly neighbourhood grocery shops or the old –style “bazaars”, the massive cinema halls or the little “chai shops” found in every corner of the town — they are all on their way out now as this generation of “tablets”, “I-phones” and fast motorbikes finds it difficult to tolerate anything or anyone functioning in a leisurely fashion.
If a place does not look posh enough, they will not like to be seen there, such is the question of their “esteem”. When we were at this age, we did not care for whether we were seen at a shabby tea stall or a “Mithai Shop” with a couple of tacky chairs. But such “Mithai shops” are difficult to find any longer and this shows our changing tastes and values.
At one time, every market had at least a couple of these “chaat cum sweet shops”. We loved to go there in the evenings with our grandparents to have kulfi or chaat. Any treat that had to be given or taken was done at these shops which were the hub of great activity, specially on summer evenings.
But now, fast-food cafes and exotic coffee shops have taken their place as have Pizza outlets. Slowly and steadily, though we may keep denying it, our own way of life and celebration is being taken away and replaced by “global” trends and styles. It would not be considered “cool” by today’s youngsters to celebrate any occasion by treating their friends to kachoris, dosas, gulab jamuns, idlis, sherbets or kulfi at these little shops which used to appear as a piece of paradise to us. Till people spend huge sums of money at posh looking places, they feel that they have perhaps not achieved the image they wish to in the eyes of their peer group or relatives. Children these days are very much into brands and this makes them look down upon things and services that are not in this “Brand” circuit.
Same is the story of the bazaars which bustled with activity in every town. The bazaars are also losing their identity as most of the shops and showrooms have adopted the glossy look by renovating themselves and changing over to the look of the malls. Everyone is ready to give up his or her individuality and become “sophisticated” at any cost. The colour, variety and vibrance of Indian life is becoming very uniform and predictable and the worst part is that not many people are bothered about this. In fact, we seem to pride ourselves on this!
Every bazaar had its special identity-while one was known for its corner paan shop, the other was known for its row of shops selling glass bangles and yet a third was famous for its utensil shops. One could sit at the shops (they always had ample chairs) and carefully choose what one wanted. Usually, the bazaar trip was more like picnic, especially when women went shopping with a friend or two. The shopkeepers also had all the time and patience to let the customers buy at leisure. But it is not easy to shop like this at the malls. Who has the time to attend to your whims thereIJ Everything happens quite clinically. Shopping under the blue skies and amid a drizzle is such a different experience altogether. There is really no need to capture one’s life in concrete and glass places all the time. Airconditioning is not a bad thing but just to be ensconced in it, we cannot give up all the other things we can experience outdoors.
The rickety chairs in the old time cinema halls could give us the happiness which perhaps the formal appearance of a multiplex can never give anyone. For the new things to come, the old ones need not vanish altogether, I believe.
Some of the old things should co-exist with the new. To let our youngsters remember their roots, to make them familiar with how we grew up. That is, if they care to know.
If they can find time from their lives crammed with electronic devices, their social networking, their I-pods, I-phones and their pubs, their long hours spent at “branded” coffee shops and their “hanging out” at the Malls. If not for them then for people like me, something of the “old World” must be allowed to exist in the face of all these drastic changes. For old times’ sake!
