OUR maternal grandparent’s eight-decade-old Monkey Top building in Fraser Town, Bengaluru, is a unique architectural structure. Intricate designs and decorative elements adorn the house’s facade featuring red-oxide flooring, Madras roofing and Mangalore tiles. This charming heritage building even bagged a special award from the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH). My gifted maternal granduncle, RK Thyagarajan, created beautiful wood and stone carvings that hung on the walls and gave the house a cosy family atmosphere. Women often performed kitchen rituals using brass, copper, and earthen vessels. We dined, sitting cross-legged on the floor while dining, creating a sense of unity within the family. Back then, electric fans were not available, and we rarely used even those made of bamboo.

I have many pleasant recollections of the early days here. The sepia-tinted picture of my grandparents hung on the wall in the living room. My grandfather M Dharmalingam, a World War II veteran, was one of the few people in the area who read an English newspaper. The living room featured a gorgeous wall clock (which had to be wound daily), a turntable, and a radio - all luxurious items from that era. When India achieved freedom from British rule, my uncle MD Umapathi hopped to local auction houses in search of stunning wooden and brass pieces that Europeans who had returned to Europe had abandoned. This memorabilia enhanced the house’s appeal. Gathering with family and friends was a popular activity. Conversation flowed endlessly, relaying news and stories. Street games, watching the night sky, and counting stars were simple joys children experienced. The family relied on a horse-drawn jutka or a cycle rickshaw to get around. Multiple service providers and vendors would come by to take care of our home needs.

A wood-fired stove made up the family’s conventional kitchen. The smouldering heat from the furnace meant the kitchen was off-limits for children. Grandma employed a blower to keep the embers aglow and maintain an even temperature for cooking. The smoke and ash were often too much for her eyes. The chickens, ducks, and other poultry raised in the backyard gave a regular supply of eggs and meat.

Grandpa barred the main door with an iron bar to guarantee a safe and peaceful sleep. We used a kerosene lamp that was lit as a light source if someone had to get up at night. A glass of water by the bedside enabled us to remain hydrated. The nets draped over the cots prevented insects from biting and transmitting deadly diseases. Grandma filled the carved slot at the entrance with traditional earthen oil lamps, making the home look beautiful and warm. Earthen pitchers, or Gurgurette, filled with cold water, added a captivating and decorative flair. Grandparents kept their prayer room immaculate and conducted special religious ceremonies on festivals. The calming, fragrant atmosphere of sandalwood, brass lamps, camphor, incense sticks, and flowers enhanced the spiritual experience. Elders in the family always put a copper tumbler full of Tirtha in front of the deities. Grandpa would spoon us the ‘holy water’ and put vibuthi (sacred ash) on our foreheads. Upholding these traditions helped us to keep our spiritual convictions alive. That was a different time, though!