Slate to Stylus

Straw pen to stylus is the journey that I experienced and enjoyed. The time frame has been little over six decades and the pace of change was slow to start with but gained momentum in last few decades and still continues. There have been changes in all aspects of life, from social to technological, political to economical. For many there was no choice that these changes could be ignored. The ones who chose to ignore or ones who couldn't keep pace with the change are unfortunate.

Boru and Stylus

After graduating from slate and slate pencil, to pencils and later ink pens, my first encounter with writing instruments was a straw pen, commonly called as Boru (बोरु in Marathi). The pointed straw is dipped in ink and the absorbed ink flows down while writing. The fountain pens had the same principle. Occasionally the tip is sharpened for smoother and sharper writing. For me the ink stained fingers was a proof of having completed the home work (the current generation call it as home play for reasons best known to them). Days changed the dip pens with detachable nibs was the next step. Similar to straw pen, in these pens the nib was dipped in ink bottle. Over a period of time these became extinct but are used by calligraphers. The more convenient form of fountain pens was the next advancement, first with ink chamber and later on with cartridges. These stayed for many years even though ballpoint pens were launched in India. For many years we were not allowed to use ballpoint pens for writing our exams and banks insisted on use of fountain pens for banking instruments. Eventually ballpoint pens ruled supreme and replaced the conventional yesteryear's implements.  

For many years I enjoyed all these writing implements, for official communications as well as personal writing from official memos to love letters. In early 1980’s when I was assigned a stenographer cum personal secretary, a Malayali male,  the use of these implements got reduced. Pens were used just for signing documents and bank cheques. Then came the era when emails emerged and there was further decline in use of pens. With the digital advancement the use of pens will further decline. Laptops, tablets, iPads and mobiles with stylus have changed the life. Many messages are typed or written with stylus and transmitted.

The technological advancement has impacted various aspects of life and these changes are memorable. I never had a chance to own a new bicycle in my school or college. The old unused ones would get repaired and used. New bicycle was always envy. In college days some friends born to rich parents would ride a scooter and few would come on bikes, those were relatively less in numbers.

Lambretta 48 and BMW Coupe

My first encounter with this category of vehicle was with two geared Lambretta 48. My cousin had that model and he at times would oblige me to ride. Late 60’s and 70’s were dominated by Lambretta and Vespa (Bajaj at a later date). Among four wheelers the imported cars declined sharply due to post 50’s government policies that gave a free hand for indigenously manufactured Ambassador and Fiat (Premier Padmini at a later date) to dominate the market. 1983 was a turning point when Maruti 800 rolled in the Indian streets and rest is history. I enjoyed riding Lambretta 48 that would touch 20 kmph and now a BMW that touches 200 kmph. That’s the journey I enjoyed.

Goti ka Soda and of course Blue Label

Indian currency lost its strength. The Baraf ka Gola (बरफ का गोला) that I enjoyed for one paisa may be available today for five rupees, I haven’t had it for long. I am not sure but guess so. It was fun to drink flavoured soda water (Goti ka Soda, गोटी का सोडा so called as the bottle has a marble to trap the aeration) and also fun to drink Blue label. What a change but enjoyable.

Two scoops of Dinshaw’s ice-cream would cost two annas (12 paise) now two scoops of ice-cream is over fifty bucks. The price I paid few months back for a relatively simple bicycle could have bought me two Vespas (Bajaj) scooters in seventies or cost of Vespa scooter today is equal to five Fiat 1100 cars in mid sixties. What a change that has taken place. I am enjoying it. A four figure salary was a dream salary in that era; now couples of smiling Gandhi face thousand rupee notes in your wallet mock you.

Vanishing coins 

 One anna was the lowest that I paid for a local call for unlimited duration. We had no telephone connection at our place and the closet phone was across the corner with a practicing lawyer. He was kind enough to allow us to make calls, of course on payment of one anna, that over a time became two annas and later on 15 paise when coinage changed from anna and pice to naya paisa. Majority calls were made to railway enquiry to know the running position of train. There were hardly any personal calls. For long distance calls that we called trunk calls we went to the nearest post office. Wait for call getting connected was uncertain. If any of our relatives had to call us from outstation they would book a PP (particular person) call to the post office and a messenger would cycle down to our place to summons us to the post office to take the call. The long distance calls were always associated with an element of anxiety. Today mobiles are like a part of the human body. One can call and receive calls from any part of the world at relatively negligible cost and with loads of convenience. I have enjoyed this transition and the equipments used. From dialing the number on a rotary dialer to voice activated calling on mobiles has been a great advancement that I enjoyed.

On social front, there has been a major change in culture and associated aspects. The language has changed, many dialects have gone. Use of four letter English to express disgust has become common and no one fills odd to use it in public. Morality has drifted low. Eve teasing was seen in my younger days but those incidences were less far less than rape incidences reported as of today. In music I have travelled from Man tarpat hari darshan ko aaj (मन तरपत हरि दर्शन को आज) to Havan karenge (हवन करेंगे)  and from Ina mina dika (इन मीना डीका) to Chikani chameli (चिकनी चमेली). Watched movies from Har Har Mahadeo (हर हर महादेव) to PK. Change is welcome but what should be limit for that? The question remains unanswered. Am I enjoying the change on this count? Certainly not, our culture deserves better treatment.