If you are an avid Facebook user like me, you would have probably come across a thoroughly entertaining comic strip (or gag, in the latest terminology), featuring a curly haired little boy Guddu and his gang. These gags, found on the Facebook page titled "garbage bin", have almost become a cult among Indian Facebookers, especially the ones who grew up in the late 80's or early 90's. The reason these strips have gained such a massive following in a matter of months is that they touch a cord with our childhood. The use of daily incidents, situations, brands, shows and other icons of the late 80's and early 90's and presenting them as hilarious adventures of two lovable characters was a stroke of genius which instantly hit its target audience. Most of the comments on these strips by followers gloat over the fact that how much they can identify with these situation or characters, how the exact same thing happened with them in their childhood, and their astonishment on the fact that others went through the exact same experiences. The references vary from obviously common phenomena of that era, such as iconic Doordarshan shows and adjusting the TV antennas to get clear reception and 8 bit games like contra (things today's generation will have no clue about), to some which even surprised me like being asked to rush out and get snacks when guests come over, last ki choti wali roti, the ladoos handed out in assembly during Independence day celebrations in school and so on. All of them are so unique and authentic to that era that you can't help but smile and reminisce. Though the kids of that era did not swear as explicitly like the characters of garbage bin (as far as I know), maybe that's an addition to help the modern youth connect.
According to me, what draws the young, or rather newly adult individuals such as myself, to this strip is our inherent tendency of wanting to escape the troublesome present and worrisome future, and revisit the simpler, happier days of our childhood. Now this may just be me, but I would like to think of it as a wider phenomenon. When life becomes too much to handle, we all tend to seek comfort in the past. A past devoid of responsibilities, one where our actions did not bear consequences - well they did, but the worst was being closed in the dark bathroom or a slap. We knew whatever trouble we got into, our parents would be there to get us out of it. They were there to take care of us. Cut to the present, where the tables have turned.and where we are the grown ups. Our actions, each of our choices, bear major consequences which decide the course of our lives, as well as of those around us. We assume the role of caretakers, rather than the receivers. Its something probably every human being goes through, but while some may never even realize it, others may have a seamless transition. Some might be forced to grow up earlier than their time by circumstances, others because of their natural tendency. But for all of us, at least once in a while, that moment comes when we wish for the security blanket of childhood. As the famous ghazal goes,
( loosely translated as "take away my youth and money and fame, but please give me back my childhood"). I guess one eventually learns how to be an adult, how to fend for yourself, how to keep going on forward when there is no one behind to catch you, and how to make lemonade from all those lemons life throws at you. Ultimately, the onus is on us, whether to use the free-of-cares childhood as an occasional refuge from the harsh realities of life and reclaim our past for a while, or be an escapist, permanently settle down there and refuse to grow up, and live! Because isn't that what life is all about? Constantly growing up (read maturing). But just for now, all my heart is singing is "hum bhi agar, bachche hote...... " !
P.S. - I sincerely apologize if the excessive cheesiness in some portions of this piece made you cringe or gag.
