In a senior citizens’ association, members were discussing the present day’ inflation. All had become nostalgic – in the memories of their childhood. They were vying with one-another in describing how cheap the things were in their childhood. Their chat was something like this –
- When I used to go to the school, my bus fare was five naye paise! Since I was a regular ‘passenger’, occasionally conductor-uncle left me just like that! No ticket.
- Minimum local train fare was 30 naye paise! My father used to travel from Mumbai to Pune in just seven rupees!
- When I got married, the gold was 30 rupees a tola!
- In my college canteen, vada was 15 naye paise for – two pieces and tea was 10 paise!
- Minimum taxi fare was less than one rupee. I think 80 naye paise. That was a luxury. Taxi was hired only when we went on a long travel in a train, since there used to be big luggage with us.
- In our school picnic, the contribution per student used to be 3 to 5 rupees which my parents felt to be on higher side!
- With chilly and coriander, they used to give pieces of ginger free!
Likewise the discussion was go
