By Chandrasoodeshwar
Amidst city life, have you ever imagined the pleasant sound of birds chirping while feeling the cool breeze as if you were in an authentic village? I recall visiting our village with a lingering memory of my attempt to learn how to swim. This memory reminded me of asking my father to narrate his experience. Now we delve into the story shared by Venkatachalapathi (my father), who was from such a pleasant village.
Playing in the village well Photo credits: 123rf.com
In villages where farming was the primary job, the monsoon season was unforgettable, unlike the present unpredictable weather with the river always full of water. Families in the village would gather at the river during their free time. "When I was in my childhood I used to go with my grandparents, They would take clothes to wash and take baths in the river. The river's depth back then didn’t scare me a lot", says Pathi
Beyond the river banks, wells were waiting to be explored. My Yelder siblings were well known for swimming they used to show their skills by diving into wells. I longed to join them but couldn't swim. Back then there were no modern flotation devices. They used ropes with pears tied around their waists to help float and prevent drowning.
"It took me six long months to learn to swim. At some point, I got better and learned how to dive and swim. This taught me to take our first steps without any fear. I didn't do this alone my friends and siblings helped me. Sometimes, I accidentally used to drink some water from the well and feared it would affect me and my health, but my friends used to laugh at me and my innocence and would console me that it's quite common and assured me nothing would happen to me", said Pathi.
Childhood innocence was present within us. The accidental gulp of water turned into cherished memories shared with laughter. Today, safety concerns prevent children from exploring wells as freely as before. The loss of simplicity now prevails in the modern world. Pathi recollected one of his fine memories and said "I remember when I was learning to swim, I lost a soap bar in the well that our family used carefully for a whole month because we didn't have much money."
This journey says how much it is to nurture courage in young minds.
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