My Childhood Memories

I often reminisce about the days of my childhood. Whenever I am sick of the present, I seek relief in the past and recall the happenings of the early years of my life. Though everything is not fresh in my memory, still I can remember some interesting events of my childhood days.

I was born in a small village in the district of Chandpur. My father was a school teacher. We had a small house where I lived happily in the midst of my parents, brothers and sister. My mother was very affectionate to us. My father was a saintly man. My grandfather died long before my birth. But my grandmother was very fond of me. Her lap was a cosy place for me. She used to tell tales and sing lullabies to put me to sleep.

My playground was the bank of the mighty Padma. In all seasons the Padma had a great attraction for me. Whenever I was not at home, anybody could find me on its bank. Other children also accompanied me on the riverbank. We used to row in the river, jump into it and swim in it. The village Maktab was another interesting place. An old Maulavi Sahib taught us there. A large number of boys and girls used to attend it. We would learn our lessons with a great noise, but the Maulavi Sahib never punished us. He was in fact a good man at heart.

Another interesting memory is the village hat. The hat used to sit twice a week near the river. My father used to go there to buy things. The hat was a noisy place. I usually went there with some other children. We used to take with us our little savings and buy sweets. After spending some time we would get back home.

But my happy days did not last long. My father got an appointment in a town school. He moved to the town immediately with all the members of our family. I was admitted into my father’s school. I felt that my schoolmates did not like me much. They had no brotherly feelings for one another as I saw it in the village. In the town people seemed to work and move like machines.

I was sorry to live in the town, but gradually I adjusted myself to the town life. But still I cherish the sweet memories of my happy childhood days spent in the charming environment of my village.