Painting and Pondering- Reminiscences

              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.