memories of my childhood at satara, pecha kucha night, pune

© Copyright 2010, Dinesh Katre

Memories of

my childhood at

Satara

Sketches & Stories by

Dinesh Katre

Presented during

Pecha Kucha Night, Pune

22nd Januray 2010


We lived in a beautiful house at

Satara. It was far away from the town Satara. It was far away from the town

and located on a hilly terrain.


I didn’t play with plastic toys. I played

with snails, frogs, caterpillars, butterflies

and dragonflies.

Of course, these friends showed up at

different times of seasons.


I didn’t play with plastic toys. I played with

snails, frogs, caterpillars, butterflies,

dragonflies, etc.

Getting a haircut was such a

pain! I hated it the most

during kindergarten years!

Initially, it used to be a team

effort between the barber and

my family members.


It became worst

when an old barber

started coming

home.

We would sit in the

garden and

surrender our heads surrender our heads

in his sweaty hands.

He would take

hours to complete

his craft and then

expect my father’s

appreciative

remarks.


During rainy

seasons, catching

fish in the nearby

streams was my

favourite pass time!

I would keep the

fish in a transparent

bottle and observe

its reflective

colors…

I would secretively

tell my friends

about the place

where I found the

shiny blue fish!

Once, I fed the

pieces of Puran Poli

to the fish and

watched it die with

sorrow….. �

© Copyright 2010, Dinesh Katre We used to go to school by bus. Sometimes we

walked up to the school to save 25 paise required

for the bus ticket. Once, a large Peepal tree had

collapsed near the bus stop. We would go early to

the bus stop so as to climb the Peepal tree.

© Copyright 2010, Dinesh Katre My elder brother used to caution me to watch out

from ants and insects on the Peepal tree.

Sometimes, I missed the bus because I couldn’t get

off the tree quickly. It was such a good excuse for

going late to the school ;-)

© Copyright 2010, Dinesh KatreOur home was far away from the town of Satara. I remember several evenings when we walked

the entire distance of 4-5 kms from the town to our home. If it became very boring my mother or

brother would tell a story to me.


I loved to build

different forms of huts

and shelters using the

branches of trees and

coconut leaves, on the

terrace of our house or

in our garden.

I would sit inside the I would sit inside the

hut and try to get

interested in the school

homework.

Most of my time would

go in raising the huts in

different places than

study☺


I used to weave mats

and make brooms using

coconut leaves sitting

in our garden.


I always preferred sitting under the

tree or on its branches. I used to hide a

packet of Sault and chilly powder in

the branches of a guava tree in our

garden. It was so handy while eating

guavas!

© Copyright 2010, Dinesh Katre Like every other kid, I too

was scared of ghosts,

witches and demons.

I used to perceive the shapes

of demons in the shadows of

trees or in the forms of

clouds.

© Copyright 2010, Dinesh Katre I had a bad habit of running in and out

of our house leaving the doors open.

I remember a day in the summer, a

mad old lady walked straight into the

kitchen and started blabbering.

It was so terrifying! After this

experience, I always closed the main

door of our house when I went out.

© Copyright 2010, Dinesh Katre On weekends, I liked being Ram or Hanuman! I would meticulously

create the bow and arrows. I even tried shooting the lizards and snakes

using my bow & arrows, but it worked only on lizards ☺


I was scared of swimming until

somebody threw me in the well!

I am still searching that person.

I suspect that my elder brother had

asked his friend to do so ☺


I loved observing the people-

their faces, clothes, postures,

talking and moving around.


I liked observing the sparrows!


I spend hours in the reminiscences of my

childhood days, when I am alone ☺

Its a treasure of beautiful memories!


Now I realize that my childhood had nothing in

excess except FREEDOM !

When I look back, I get a sense of something

lost for ever!


Dinesh KatreDinesh Katre

[email protected]

memories of my childhood at satara, pecha kucha night, pune

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