Journeying through Early Childhood

I am a 90s kid. Most people who grew up in the 90s have fond memories of it and I am no different. Just like the years before and the years that have followed, this era was truly transformative in it's own way. Cold war and the gulf wars ended and there was a sense of business revival in the country. I say these now but as a 8 year old, these worldly events did not matter to me at that time as much as getting a new cricket bat or this cool new gadget called as personal computers.

Growing up in the heart of Delhi, there was a constant hubbub throughout the day. I grew up in an extended family with my cousins and we constantly had people over from out of town, so home was just as boisterous as school. I was a quiet kid and a dreamer. Being a quiet and shy kid in a crowded household also meant I got to sit around many conversations with grown-ups talking about their lives and providing me with their age-old advice. My grandfather was well travelled and a very versatile gentleman and he LOVED such conversations. So, I grew up listening to a lot of his stories, his escapades, and his love for food. These would fuel my imagination and my curiosity and kept me out of boredom. (As a parent now, I now understand how easily kids can get bored)

As I mentioned travel, the picture on this page shows my favorite mode of transportation growing up. Indian railway system is like no other in the world and travelling in an Indian train meant more than just going from Point A to Point B. I really enjoyed taking in the sights and sounds of all places traversed on the journey. There was an added bonus of meeting new people and old relatives or more specifically, eating new food for me. Travelling in an Indian train was like a short journey through different cultures.

In retrospect, all these experiences rubbed off on me and has been a part of my identity ever since. Unbeknownst to me, embracing change and experiencing different perspectives had become a staple in my everyday life, a much needed catalyst, even back then. These formed crucial pillars in my development.