Remembering the path travelled

There is 'fusion' of music; 'hybrid' automobiles which use both gas and electricity; integrated architecture bringing contrasting features...

I was fascinated by the sight of rows of lanterns of this type on the walls of a retreat centre-Glorious Promised Land, Bangalore, where every lantern was lighted with an electric bulb.

A lantern looking similar to this, with kerosine in the bottom tank and a burning wick immersed in it, was a lantern most village homes had, when I was at school. The electric supply was provided for the domestic use in 1961 in our locality.

It was a ritual in most homes that the oldest child would fill kerosine in each lantern, trim the wick, wipe clean the glass of any trace of smoke and light it at the evening time. Most homes would have had two or three of these lanterns. The lantern was often placed in the central places in the home.

There was scarcity of kerosine now and then. So children from the neighbourhood used to gather together to study, in one home to save kerosine.

These lanterns had a handle to hold, which was handy for use as a torch, while going out at night. 

Those who like to remember the yesteryears,  keep these lanterns in their show case at home. Sometimes there are conversations about those 'primitive' days, although the younger generation cannot imagine that we lived with many such limitations. 

There are some states in India, where electricity has yet to reach many villages. The target of the governments is to provide 100 percent rural electrification by  2020.

I suppose the present generation of children, by the time they reach my age would refer to the 'super slow' computers of the present times. There is a phenomenon of change and modernisation, which continue to modify our lives, environment, technology, etc. 

Remembering our past is one way of growing in gratitude, better consciousness of stewardship of our resources and becoming story tellers of the path travelled. 

The history of our journey is a good conversational subject with children and grandchildren. The other day, someone asked me how, with no internet access, or even telephone, we kept in touch with others! He had not seen a post card, inland letter or  a telegram. He has not been to a post office as yet!

We are privileged to live in modern times; but our elders also lived well, using their resources ingeniously.

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)