Kirtan from my Song-Book - 1965-1973 - Part II

Kirtan from my song-book 1965-1973

Lyrics - title song from "Jheel Ke Us Paar"

Fashion for Housewives over the years

In 1970s and till early 1980's I and women I knew wore cotton sarees and full-sleeve blouse for most of the time.In late 1980s their came this fashion of sleeveless blouses and wearing maxis at home for they were comfortable to wear and airy.Girls wore frocks and as they grew older Salwar-suits.

In marriages women mostly wore Banarasee Sarees.I remember in a marriage in Lalita Hari Montessori School young women wore saree pallu on left shoulder instead of right.My friend Jaideep Ghosh's mom immediately followed suite and she looked so different from her usual self and younger.It was in late 1990s that Henna replaced black dyes as skin-health conscious women stopped using chemical dyes to color their hairs but instead start using Henna mixed with reetha,anwla,some times they would mix an egg or mix Henna in boiled black coffee.

As time passed women were smitten with scents and some with short hairs bought false hairs from the market.My niece Chunu had brought a chunk of false hairs with her when she came for a visit and she hung it up on her bedroom window.Girls did copied a lot of fashion from our Bollywood films.They would instruct the tailor to make a suit just like a heroine wore in a particular movie.In mid 1990s teen-girls started wearing Jeans and Top as they wanted to look hip and parents have less or no objection to it.

My Kitchen in my Old House in Prem Nagar

Earlier it was a simple kitchen just with side and top shelf.My Husband in early 1990s got this medium stone shelf made with tiles in the background.This 4 burner gas stove was bought by Sonu my middle son from Chawla Gas Store in Puran Nagar.Well! it seemed like a wrong choice for it was difficult to place on this shelf of shorter length.

Kitchen may seem on the dirtier side as the picture was taken just after a meal was cooked and eaten.The Glass Salt-Jar,these Rath Containers and that wrought iron 'shamsi' have survived from 1978 when we moved into this house in Prem Nagar.

My Mother Ramjhuri Devi

My Mom was a sweet and caring person.She never forced me to do house-chores but let me free like my brothers to live life and educate myself.In 1960s there were hardly any gas stoves,my mother had to cook on a earthen stove with coals and wood.And in hot summers that was a difficult job.She came from a village in Sultanpur and visited with us to see her brother.Later on my Father built up a house in Chhitwapur,we would spend half the year in village and half in Lucknow.He passed away in 1969.

Mom was very fond of her younger son Radheyshyam and lived with him till her death.He also took good care of her.She had a sweet tooth and especially loved "Jalebi". She knew how to deal with the world,for us she would be soft and caring for outsiders she would be strict and no-nonsense sort. Shukla lady that lived in front of our house would complete her house chores and come and talk with my mother.Her son played "Dholak" really well and was a intrinsic part of any religious function like Kirtan,jagran etc. .Her brother-in-law Dwarka was a learned intelligent person and lived with us on the upper floor.He guided my mother on financial matters and she would ask his advice on important issues.

She lived on to her 80s,she would visit her ancestral village,comeback and say that all her childhood friends are dead only she is alive.She left us after a long illness in 2006.

How I lost my Cooking skills

Women of Bibipur.My Husband's village in Banthara Lucknow.

In early 1990's my husband Shanker got promoted to a LIC branch in Raebareli.As he traveled back and forth by train,many times he drank contaminated water.Soon he had Jaundice and it continued till his death in 1998.He had a attack of it every three months.He would vomit a lot and would be all pale and yellowish.

So for him I had to make a meal fit for a sick person and for my kids a meal for normal person.For him I would make salads,fruit salads and mostly boiled things.It all became really stressful what with looking after a sick husband and making meals twice and seeing after the children too.Soon I lost my sixth sense of cooking,you know what to put in and in what quantities.Later on in life,after Shanker was dead and gone I gave up cooking altogether and hired a cook.