A chance black and white picture I came across , of a group of riders during the British Raj, reminded me of my days in boarding school in Ooty (now Udhagamandalam). We could choose riding as one of our extra curricular activities. As I loved anything to do with animals, my parents agreed to riding as one of my activities.
We had an Englishwoman as our riding instructor (one of those who chose to stay back after Indian Independence). She had a lovely big, black horse. We learned to ride on the Ooty ponies. As I was just a little over 8 years old at that time and the others with me were all around that age, the ponies were much better for us.
After the initial days going round and round the paddock, we were taken out to ride on grasslands called the Ooty Downs at that time. I wonder how much of the Downs remains now. I loved riding over the Downs. Once I took a toss into some bushes. But that did not dim my enthusiasm.
Our instructor also insisted that each of us learn to take off the saddles at the end of the ride and brush down our ponies. How I loved that bit! We were given carrots to feed our ponies too, at the end of the ride.
Once, the instructor allowed me to ride her big horse, as a special treat for doing well, but of course just around the paddock. That was thrilling for me.
Ah well, that was 58 years ago. I have had only a chance or two after that to ride and that too, not to ride off on my own, and I guess I may no longer be able to control a horse.
But of the two years I was in boarding school, riding was one of the nicest bits.
Saturday, July 27, 2019
Monday, April 1, 2019
A post on Instagram by a friend about World War II brought back memories.
I had an uncle who had fought in WW II, in North Africa mainly, as I remember him telling me. I was 13 or 14 at that time and had read any number of books on the war, mainly non-fiction. I had read 'The Desert Fox' about Rommel and to me the fact that he had fought in a battalion against Rommel seemed romantic.
Once it happened that I wanted to see the movie 'The Great Escape'. I had already seen it once and wanted to see it again. The only person who was free to come with me was this uncle. He first refused to come with me. But finally, being the really sweet person he was, he came very reluctantly. Sometime during the movie, I looked at him and he had his eyes closed. It is only much later that I realised how difficult it must have been for him, though the war had been over almost 20 years by then. Nobody knew about PTSD then. Now that I do know, I realise what a sacrifice he made to come with me for the movie.
I had an uncle who had fought in WW II, in North Africa mainly, as I remember him telling me. I was 13 or 14 at that time and had read any number of books on the war, mainly non-fiction. I had read 'The Desert Fox' about Rommel and to me the fact that he had fought in a battalion against Rommel seemed romantic.
Once it happened that I wanted to see the movie 'The Great Escape'. I had already seen it once and wanted to see it again. The only person who was free to come with me was this uncle. He first refused to come with me. But finally, being the really sweet person he was, he came very reluctantly. Sometime during the movie, I looked at him and he had his eyes closed. It is only much later that I realised how difficult it must have been for him, though the war had been over almost 20 years by then. Nobody knew about PTSD then. Now that I do know, I realise what a sacrifice he made to come with me for the movie.
Much later, after reading more books on the horrors of the War and the concentration camps, I became a pacifist.
Sunday, March 24, 2019
1965
Today my husband and I were talking about the Vietnam war as he has been watching a Netflix series on the Vietnam war. We talked about those years. That awoke memories of 1965 when there was a war with Pakistan.
I was in Calcutta then, in the 10th standard, which, at that time, meant one more year of school. What I remember clearly was that when the war started, all of us 9th and 10th standard students were sent to paste brown paper on all the glass windows and ventilator shutters. As we did not have a hostel in school, it was not for black out, but apparently to prevent the glass shattering inwards, if a bomb was dropped. We of course thought it was great that we got away from classes for quite a few days.
I also remember the air raid drills, sometimes during the day and sometimes at night. If we were in school, the bell would ring when the air raid siren went and we were all supposed to gather on the ground floor in a specific room. If the siren went off at night, at home, all lights were to be put off and we were to gather in the centre of the house, on the ground floor. As our flat was on the ground floor, we did not have to go out. Now I think about it, I can't remember anyone telling us to turn off the piped in gas, used to cook and to heat the water boilers.
Anyway, one night there really was an air raid warning. It must have been around 7.30 or 8 pm. I guess we must have all put out the lights. But what was worrying was that my father had not yet reached home. His office was way over near Barrackpore, on the Barrackpore Trunk Road. There were no cell phones then. So we had no idea where he might be. I think my mother rang the office and found he had left. My mother, my sister and I sat in the centre room and waited for the all clear. We heard planes overhead. The all clear must have sounded after an hour or so. My father arrived sometime after that. He said he had been on the road when the siren sounded. Apparently all the cars stopped, and all lights were switched off--headlights, streetlights, traffic lights, everything.
Next morning we learnt that a bomb had been dropped in Barrackpore on the Air Force base there and there had been air fights. There were more sorties in the East, near and around Calcutta.
During the day, life went on as usual and we went to school. I don't remember getting a holiday due to the war. But then again my memory may be playing false.
What I do remember is that the duration of studies for engineering was cut short, as in, those in their last year of the engineering course had 6 months reduced from the course, so that many engineers would be ready to help the country if the war continued. So my older brother, who was in his last year in IIT in Chennai, finished his course and came back home much earlier than expected and was around to help me with my studies.
I just read up about it on Wikipedia and realised it was quite a big encounter. But, I don't remember feeling worried about the war. All I remember is wishing I could become a pilot.
I was in Calcutta then, in the 10th standard, which, at that time, meant one more year of school. What I remember clearly was that when the war started, all of us 9th and 10th standard students were sent to paste brown paper on all the glass windows and ventilator shutters. As we did not have a hostel in school, it was not for black out, but apparently to prevent the glass shattering inwards, if a bomb was dropped. We of course thought it was great that we got away from classes for quite a few days.
I also remember the air raid drills, sometimes during the day and sometimes at night. If we were in school, the bell would ring when the air raid siren went and we were all supposed to gather on the ground floor in a specific room. If the siren went off at night, at home, all lights were to be put off and we were to gather in the centre of the house, on the ground floor. As our flat was on the ground floor, we did not have to go out. Now I think about it, I can't remember anyone telling us to turn off the piped in gas, used to cook and to heat the water boilers.
Anyway, one night there really was an air raid warning. It must have been around 7.30 or 8 pm. I guess we must have all put out the lights. But what was worrying was that my father had not yet reached home. His office was way over near Barrackpore, on the Barrackpore Trunk Road. There were no cell phones then. So we had no idea where he might be. I think my mother rang the office and found he had left. My mother, my sister and I sat in the centre room and waited for the all clear. We heard planes overhead. The all clear must have sounded after an hour or so. My father arrived sometime after that. He said he had been on the road when the siren sounded. Apparently all the cars stopped, and all lights were switched off--headlights, streetlights, traffic lights, everything.
Next morning we learnt that a bomb had been dropped in Barrackpore on the Air Force base there and there had been air fights. There were more sorties in the East, near and around Calcutta.
During the day, life went on as usual and we went to school. I don't remember getting a holiday due to the war. But then again my memory may be playing false.
What I do remember is that the duration of studies for engineering was cut short, as in, those in their last year of the engineering course had 6 months reduced from the course, so that many engineers would be ready to help the country if the war continued. So my older brother, who was in his last year in IIT in Chennai, finished his course and came back home much earlier than expected and was around to help me with my studies.
I just read up about it on Wikipedia and realised it was quite a big encounter. But, I don't remember feeling worried about the war. All I remember is wishing I could become a pilot.
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