Kabuliwala, Oh... Kabuliwala.....

During my school days, the only entertainment was Doordharsan's two channels; the National one and Regional one. Telecasting was not like that of today's schedule. Both channels were not of 24 hours continuously telecasting the programmes. Yet we wait for the programmes without any haste because as said earlier, it was the only entertainment channel at that time ! Kids of todays generation will laugh while reading this.

Every Sunday afternoon, the National channel will telecast a regional language feature film. Viewers show the patience to view that without having a knowledge in that language; whether it is Punjabi or Tamil; Assamese or Malayalam; Bengali or Kashmiri.... having to watch a film is more important than to knowing the language for most of us. Thanks for the subtitle too which help the literate to translate the same to their co-viewers. TAM rating was not heard at that time. Yet these films have a good viewership rating.

One of the films that still in my mind is Tagore's famous story ; KABULIWALA. I still remember the words of little Mini calling her huge, tall Afgan friend : " Kabuliwala, Oh, Kabuliwala !! ". Time had changed very very lot. From one single channel, my living room is now flooded with more than 100 channels to view. Yet I love and have some nostalgic feeling about that old days where there is only one channel to view and the patience to view it without any complaints.

Sure, the present revolution in channel flooding will never quench generations like me. I think.