What we grow up eating, seeing and experiencing around us has such a big influence on our lives. My memories include so many such defining moments that I can't quite fit them all on one page. Part of my fondest memories will always include the food that I grew up eating in India, the markets I visited and my family recipes which will stay with me forever.
Visiting family & friends for amazing meals or eating Vada pav on the streets and skipping college for that gorgeous masala dosa breakfast or scoffing some rustic food on the platform while waiting for a train. Getting sweet treats from mum, aunts and uncles and spending no more than 50paise (around one penny) on that kulfi or popsicle I so craved. Standing by the street watching sugarcane being churned for fresh juice whilst drinking glass after glass of that thirst quenching sweet juice amidst all the busy traffic & warm weather. There are other things for me which made the '80s and '90s in India so unique and these will stay with me forever.
Do you ever wonder about how life was, what kind of food was served, brands that were a part of our lives or comics that we grew up reading. All this makes for a huge part of our DNA. Some still exist in day to day life but others fade away. Here's my (small!) list of favourites... what's yours?
1. Doordarshan - the only TV channel that we knew of when we were younger in India. It never began much before 6pm in the evening with the starting tune that could almost put anyone to sleep!
2. Kaala Khatta popsicles/ snow cones - A flavour most preferred by all my friends. The popsicles were cheap and so more-ish.
3. Amul Butter - Slightly salty, creamy and buttery goodness. It is something I eat even today. Nothing comes close!
4. Bournvita; malted chocolate drink; in fact the only thing I delved into for a decent cup of hot chocolate.
5. Tinkle and Amar Chitra Katha - Most Indians I know have read both or at least one of these. They had stories for me as an eight year old which were legendary and had me hooked.
6. School always meant after year four was officially when we were allowed to write with pens rather pencils. For me that felt oh so grown up!
7. Lifebuoy; brand of soap that bizarrely promoted good health rather than the soap itself!
8. Fevicol; adhesive/ glue used in schools for artwork.
9. The sound of a pressure cooker was a common thing in your community.
10. Maggi masala noodles.
11. Vicco Vajradanti sold as tooth powder and paste.
12. Our local Milkman/ Doodhwalla delivering milk at 5am at your door step. Milk had to decanted in your own saucepan!
13. All India Radio (the only!) radio station when we were younger.
14. Kit Kat - No this isn't something that was available in India but its always something I craved either on my trips abroad.
15. Maruti 800; the must have car when it was first introduced.
16. Hero Honda/ Yamaha/ Kawasaki; for those hardcore bike lovers.
17. No seat belts/ no helmets; for all those years it was never a prerequisite.
18. Late night food at local dhabas, kebab house or cafes. Also a stopover at my grocers en route for a hot samosas/ kachori fix with lashings of chutney.
19. The world this week by Prannoy Roy - A weekly news and entertainment programme that we always looked forward to.