Life in India was much different in our time than it is now. Six decades ago, our village town had population of about twenty thousand with different castes, class and religious backgrounds; it also had agriculture-based economy. Just as other cities/towns were dominated by larger population, our town also had its own cultural rhythm.
In our town and nearby villages, people with money who owned land had houses built from concrete. In front of the house, there were small shops that sold groceries, clothes, aluminium and brass utensils, plates and other useful household items.
Village life was just like today's web - defined by groups and communities. Above all, the extended families were also paid full attention. Often families would visit each other on occasions like marriages/deaths and some times on festivals. Moharam and Id were celebrated by Muslims but Hindus were also participating and enjoying both the events. Tajias were made with colourful paper and cloths on Moharam and a procession went through the entire town. On Id children were always enjoying special "samiyan", a sweet made with rice noodles and with or without milk. It was served with barafi (a type of Indian sweet). Hindus were greeting their Muslim brothers and in the same way, on Hindu festivals like Diwali (festival of light) and Holi (festival of colour), Muslims were greeting Hindus. On Holi, Muslims were also playing colour with Hindus. Both communities were living in peace and harmony.
In this town education had its importance. There was a public school but not many students were attending; although village folk tried to send their children, not many attended because they had to work.
There were other schools as well, with good teachers, where the children of traders and merchants were educated. In these schools, both Hindu and Muslim children were educated together. There was a Sanskrit University where Brahmins were taught vedas and upanishads.
