Born on 09.09.1958 in an ordinary family in Navsari, Gujarat. I was the only child. No brother no sister. There were only 4 members in the family including myself. Father, Mother, Grandmother and myself. Inspite of ordinary family, I was not deprived of anything. I got lots of love from Parents and Grandmother.
Father was working in a clothes shop as salesman cum accountant. There was a hospital of the family member of the owner of the shop. Father also used to maintain account of the hospital. Ramaben Kapadia Maternity Hospital. I was also born in the same hospital.
We did not have any house property. But, staying in the house owned by the owner of the clothes shop.
My mother was housewife. Grandmother used to stitch some clothes mainly being used in the hospital. In addition, both used to cut betel nuts for additional income.
Food was cooked on chulha (fire wood). Subsequently, it was upgraded to Coal. (sagadi). Thereafter, it was further upgraded to LPG.
During that period, having radio, phone, bicycle, motor vehicle were being considered as luxury. We did not have any of these things. The transistor radio was first purchased when I came in 8th standard. A bicycle was purchased when I was working in Industry in Navsari.
Education wise, father had passed 7th std. However, he was fond of acting on stage in drama. He had worked in many dramas and that too in main role. Surpirisingly, during that period drama was considered as hobby and not profession. Hence, he was required to pay member fees to the institution instead of earning anything out of his work in drama.
When I was 9 years of age, father arranged a show of a drama "Lal-Lili" in order to meet expenses of my thread ceremony. Mine and Harenbhai's thread ceremony was done together.
When I reached Pre-Science (present 12th Science), I fell sick. Tuberculosis of Lungs. However, I could clear the exam and got admission in Degree Engineering college. But, I had to take around 100 injections over a period of one year.
I used to get financial assistance for studies from Dr. Ramaben Kapadia. The cost of the treatment was also borne by her. I shall remain highly obliged to her throughout my life.
Games
We used to play a lot in the street. There were different games which are to be played only in street/ground. like Gilli Danda, Seven stones, cricket, bhamardo, marbles etc. In addition, empty boxes of cigarettes, match boxes and also marbles were played on playing cards in addition to different games of cards. Most of the games used to provide physical exercise to body unlike games of computers, video games presently.
Festivals
The festivals were being celebrated jointly by all friends / relatives.
Holi : A pit was to be dug on center of the road wherein woods were kept and ignited in the evening of the first day i.e. Holi. After igniting the Holi, people used to do pooja with coconut and other samagries (items). The fire used to be kept continuing for five days. The continuous replenishment of fire wood was being maintained. We used to roast potatoes, sweet potatoes in slow fire of Holi and they used to be so sweet and tasty which I still remember.
Navratri : A festival of Garba. During that period, there were neither such musical instruments like D.J., nor professionals were engaged for celebration of Navratri festival. There were devotees only who used to sing garba and also play all musical instruments like tabla, harmonium etc. There never used to be compulsory traditional dresses. The Garba of our street i.e. Golwad was performed on the main Road itself in the evening and was very famous in Navsari. There used to be hardly any space for walking. There used to be "Bhakti" in Garba unlike today's filmy songs.
Ganesh Chaturth celebration : A good decoration was done without much show off. People used to go for darshan at different places. Ganpati Visarjan was done in Dudhiya Talao after 10 days.
Kite Festival : My favourite festival. Makarsankranti used to come on 14th January. However, I used to start flying kites one month in advance from our roof top. It was extremely joyful to cut somebody's kite in the sky. On the day of Makarsankranti, I used to go on roof top early in the morning @ 06.00 AM when there used to be slightly dark. There were 5 roof tops where I used to run to catch an already cut kite. The actaul image of one of such roof tops is given. At present, I wondor, how I could survive such risky activities.
Diwali : Five days starting from Ekadashi is considered as Diwali. During Diwali, there used to be Laxmi pooja. i.e. on Dhanterash - we had very old coins- Pai, Ana, coin with holes, silver coin etc. My grandmother used to do pooja of laxmi on Dhanterash. On next day i.e. on Kali chaudash, it was the belief that if you get up late i.e. after sunrise, your beauty will be taken by crows. Therefore, everybody used to get up early and take bath before sunrise. Next day used to be Diwali. On the eve of of Diwali, there used to be pooja of Goddess Laxmi and people used to fire crackers. Also, there used to be competition of "Saanthiya" on the ground just outside the house of participants. Some volunteer organisation used to arrange such competitions / judges and Prizes were given to Merit No. 1,2 & 3. Next day is Hindu New Year. People used to get up early and go to temoples in the early Morning, take blessings of elders and wish "Happy New Year" to each other.
Rakshabandhan : There used to be cllebration of Raksha bandhan for which I used to go to Ashwinikumar, Surat. 4 sisters used to tie Rakhi to me also along with Chinubhai
Janmastami : Birth of God Krishna used to get celebrated every year in our house. Also, in Navsari, in the night, people used to visit temple for Darshan.
At School
Tata Boys High School is one of the most prestigious schools for Gujarati Medium in Navsari. Even Now. Had spacious class rooms and also had big playground. Teachers were devoted to their profession. There used to be assembly every saturday morning in the playground which also had stage. It used to start with prayer followed by light exercise. In addition to all normal subjects, there used to be the subject of "Sewing" in the standard 5th, 6th and 7th, which was not normal for boys school but very useful.
In addition to class room study, there used to be a separate period - normally last / second last for play. We used to play different games. Further there used to be competition once in a year also. :
During Vacation
I used to play a lot in the street during vacation. At times, we used to go to see movie and normally to Ashapuri Mata Mandir every sunday evening for darshan. In addition, there used to be visit of few days at maternal uncles' house and also Chimubhai's house at Ashwinikumar in Surat. I used to play with sisters at Ashwinikumar. There used to be many trees in the campus. We used to climb the trees. Further, I also used to go to Bilimora (@20 KMs from Navsari) and stay at the house of Mukesh. I used to play with Mukesh, Bankim and also with Gurubhai (he was also residing at Bilimora earlier). During that period, I had not learnt riding a bicycle. Therefore, once, my father told me that he would not allow me to go to Bilimora till I learn riding a bicycle. So, I learnt bicycle within 10 days. The bicycle used to be available on rent for 1 or 2 hours etc.
In College - Grown up child
The Engineering college (now NIT) is situated in Surat. Being Regional college, the admission of 50 % students was from Gujarat and balance 50 % was of the students out of Gujarat. This college was known as "Notorious". The distance between Navsari and Surat is 30 KMs. After getting admission, I started staying in the college hostel. This was the first time I ever ventured out of the Home. It was totally different experience. I used to go to Navsari atleast once in 15 days. In the First year, there was a major strike and Final exam for students of all the years was boycotted. Subsequently, all the students (except final year) were mass promoted to next year with the condition to clear all the papers in the next year. This has resulted in huge burdon on all the students. I also could not clear required subjects and failed in 2nd year. Thus, I lost one year in study. Thereafter I did not lose any year and could clear B.E. (Mechanical) in the year 1981. None of my parents had seen this college. In the last year, I participated in the game "Chess" and was University Runners up. It was my favourite game at that time.
