Wednesday, November 23, 2022

Learning to swim and other memories..

When we think of our childhood, we become nostalgic. The way you grew up in your home, the day you spend time, your school, the village life etc. etc. 


I was borne in a joint family and we were five children - me the third. I remember even today those early years before I started going to school. We were taught at home - all basic writing, reading, the Gunakoshtam or the multiplication table etc. Sathyalayam - that was the name of our house in Thottekad, Pulpatta about 8 km from the nearest town of Manjeri. We had a beautiful little pond in our home. As children we had to learn swimming and the usual practice is that you are pushed into the water when you are just about 3 years old. You drink a lot of water (of course the pond water was much better in quality than what you get through municipal supply these days) and you somehow start to swim. Thachi (my maternal grandmother's elder sister) had taught all of us swimming. I still remember my sister being pushed into the water and when she came up all frightened and gulping water, Thachi gave her a slap and said it will prevent from being afraid of the near process of drowning.. 



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