SWARNA YUGA (THE GOLDEN PERIOD)

A famous Hindi authour Munshi Premchand once said, "Ateet Kitna Bhi Dukhad Ho Uski Smritiyan Hmesha Madhur Hoti Hai". Yes, today in the lunch hour we all were discussing our Smritiyan, sweet memories of our past life. It was the Swarna Yuga of our life. My heart was bubbling with energy. I was also remembering my old days. Although we are not unhappy in our life but how we people are calling our past a Swarna Yuga.

The first chapter of the Swarna Yuga opened when we talked about the kitchen of old days. It was totally different from the modern kitchen. No gas, no pressure cooker. 'Angithi' was used in place of gas. The way food was cooked was different from the modern food. All the family members used to sit in the kitchen on floor. The taste of food was totally different from the food cooked in the pressure cooker. Dal was cooked in earthen pots on Angithi on slow flame. Though this process was very slow but the taste of dal used to be amazing. No need of spices only desi ghee ka Tadka was enough. Sometimes tandoor ki roti, chatani, achar enhanced the taste of food. In summer Namak-Azwain ki roti, lassi and lots of Aam, Bhai Vah!

The second chapter of the Swarna Yuga started from entertainment channel. In the name of entertainment we used to play indoor and outdoor games. Although we all are from the different states as some are from Haryana, Punjab, Himachal, and some are from Delhi itself. But most of the indoor and outdoor games were the same. In the days of Ramlila we used to go for watching Ramlila everyday. That Ramlila was also quite different from the modern days' Ramlila. We used to feel the character as we see it on the stage. If the scene was of Ram Janam, we used to feel that Ram had takan birth in real.

The third chapter of the Swarna Yuga was our 'schooling'. How dedicated we were to our stuides, and how we respected our elders and teachers. There was a small garden in my house. I used to do my homework there. In the garden there was a pomegranate tree. I used to talk to that tree and relate to it all my subject after learning. Being a tree, it could not reply my talks but it could make me realise what it wanted to convey me. Now, I am really missing that tree. To me it always looked like my teacher. In return it used to give beautiful and juicy pomegranates for my good health. At night we used to sleep in the open air instead of cooler or air condition.

Although in the modern days we all are leading a luxurious life full of amenities, yet we do not have the feeling and satisfaction like the Swarna Yuga. We feel that we are missing something important in our life. What is that important thing?

When we move speedily, we miss the small things coming on our way. When we look back, we are not able to see the things left behind. The same thing is happening in our life. We are running so fast in our life that we are missing the real essence of life, as moving fast is the requirement of the modern world. Sometimes small things give much happiness, which we could not see while moving fast and we keep on feeling that something is missing.

But while moving fast, we should not miss one important thing, praying the Almighty. We should feel His presence in every moment of life, that will give the real happiness in life. As in Shrimad Bhagwad Geeta Krishana had assuared us:

ANANYASH CHINTYANTO MAM YE JANA PARYUPASATE

TESHAM NITYA ABHIYUKTANAM YOGKSHEMAM WAHAMYAHM

I take care of welfare of those persons who, to the exclusion of all other thoughts, are devoted to me always.

So, always remember Him and feel the important thing which we are missing in our life.

Kusum Acharya