SIXTY SIX CANDLES
This was the first canvas painting with oil paints (36"x24"), done sometime in 1995,to coincide with upcoming housewarming .
It is en- face view of our sweet shop, showing billboard, cupboards, showcases,charcoal burning sigari,milk in motion and iconic boards display. There was a sitting arrangement( eatery) to savour sweets, savouries or drink hot milk,cold lassi .
These childhood images , impressions and memories are everlasting baggage ,i treasure.
The family owned sprawling( 25k s.f.) sweetmeat shop ( 1895) was the arena where we spent our most of the single digit age,continuing into teens,seeing us go through primary and secondary schools , university and rigmarole of medical education . Reading medical books and selling sweets were parallel activities. The ghee stained pages in Hutchinson (name of author of medical book) are still testimonial exhibits.
To be truthful, it was not a pleasant situation, as there're anguish, insecurity and despair.It gulped our childhood too.
Like the hot milk cascading from one pail to another ,( as in painting) it was a rollercoaster life of ups and downs.we were witnessing the decline of the once giant and monopolized business of the first half of the last century. The family values,intra family bonding with the stories of glorious past to boost our morale were the lighthouses that guided us through this rough , stormy passage.
The pre mature exposure to the world at large in this milieu shaped us, influenced our mind,psyche, persona and personality.
On the positive, the struggle and hardships were catalysts to ignite the sparks of ambition, cushioning us to dream for the future of semblance of stability and serenity .
All the small and big academic and extracurricular successes along the way helped to grow the self ,siblings and family.It paved our way from KG to PG,from commoner to medical consultant.
My lungs had enough vital capacity to blow the 66 candles ( 12 th June ' 23) but the challenge is keep the onward journey breathful,soulful and joyful.
