When Ifs and Buts were candies and nuts
Indian kids of the last quarter of the twentieth century [we sound quite like the historic heroes, don’t we?] were gifted in a way, especially in matters of chocolates, candies and toffees. And I take great pride in saying that I belong to that fortunate group who have had the chance to relish on them, no wonder the ones of these days never match my standards of confectionery I find now.
Chocolates to us never meant Snickers, Hershey, Lindt, Ferraro Rochers or Toblerone. We had a completely different and simple set of criteria and definitions. Dairy Milk, Amul Bar, Five Star or Milky Bar was given when we topped the class or only if we won a competition. Sometimes we were blessed with these lavish treats if we accompanied the birthday boy or girl to distribute chocolates to teachers in the school. The birthday ritual in my school was to bring a big bag of candies and walk up to each student’s desk offering it in lieu of a “happy birthday”, “thank you” exchange. The more candies you gave to a person was directly proportional to how tight friends you were.
Speaking of school- there was once a party wherein I was assigned to buy chocolates [I forget the name now] for it, I ended up eating a big chunk of them the night before the party day because… well, they were there! of course I was chastised and made feel guilty of depriving everyone of chocolates, but if I can betray my siblings for it then I certainly will walk over my friends for a chocolate.
Eatables in the family were considered as properties for an equal share between the number of kids at any given point of time and place. Be it with the sibling, the cousin, the friend, the neighbour’s kid or any kid staring at me and my chocolate on the road. When I was very little I encountered my middle sister, Deepti in the mohalla streets looking suspicious, walking clandestinely. She had this long purple skirt with pockets which was probed to discover remnants of Dairy milk or Amul chocolate. I disliked her for hiding it from me and would walk away perplexed. Now when I look back at that act of betrayal, I think I understand. I should’ve had more chocolates when I could without thinking about calories. However, in later years, we grew up believing the ’Half-Half’ policy, you see. The intake limit set by the maternal department and we were given a grant of an exact 2 Rs daily for chocolates after school.
When most of the kids chose Mango Mood among the mango flavoured candies I loved the Nutrine Aam Ras, simply because it had a sweet syrup filling its core. The Naturo mango bar was a must after school, my Cycle Rickshaw walla Uncle used to buy it for me because he was paid an extra amount every month by my father to do so.
A box of Gems, another favourite was always kept hidden in the refrigerator. I think I could survive for a whole day eating just them, without any food and water. The addiction somehow till date prevails. Another special of the lots was Percy goli, it came in a dozen odd flavours. I used to walk around the local shops on reconnaissance missions staring at the jars for new candies and old favourites until I was given one, or so my mother says.
Coffeebite, the first of its kind was loved by kids and adults alike, it shall always stay as the king of toffees for me. Ravalgon candies were every shop’s essential, I loved the red one. I can’t stress how much I was full of self-pride when I introduced my mom to Lacto King. It quickly became her go-to candy. We’d share a few every other day or so and I felt I had brought a real change and joy in her life. Feeling a strong emotion of accomplishment was a little easier, I think it still is, I guess we have just redefined what accomplishment is.
Coconut till date remains a personal favourite flavours. So naturally, Lactoking or Mahalacto and Kokanaka with caramel and coconut in toffees became and stay as good friends with my taste buds. The Kismi Bar, a more affordable cheaper version of chocolate bars which was loaded with elaichi was coveted for the same reason.
While Melody was the only toffee in my father’s toffeectionary, there was an another one which tempted us. It came in a red and green wrapper, with Pan Pasand written on it in glittering gold.
We were told that it contained substances which are too strong for kids and it could be eaten only by elders, the good story makers that our parents were, but it did not stop us from trying! And believe me this is one of the best toffee ever made.
Swad was meant to ease digestion but we would not leave that too, for it was sold like a toffee and we would often end up with burning tongues. Also I preferred Hajmola’s Albela Aaam over Chulbuli Imli because the tangy taste of the latter made me gulp countless glasses of water. Chocolates of those times were never just sweet. That’s the way I like most things in life. Closet desi cousins to aam candies was Aam papad. Wrapped in non-decrepit plastic wraps which left the fingers sticky but that was a good thing, you gotta lick all 10 once you finish that gooey goodness!
Local thela/rehdiwalas outside the school at 2PM with their goods displayed was pretty astutue marketing strategy. Those introduced me to imli, unprocessed and 5–6 nuggets sealed in plastic sachets. The true joy was walking back while enjoying the tangyness of imli, one eye squeezed shut and throwing imli pips at your sisters. The inhabiting pips came out so clean once the imli was polished off.
Phantom sweet cigarettes felt forbidden, the first time I bought them in Paschim Vihar, I felt I was doing something wrong, but a badass for sure. They were cigarette-looking sticks of sugar and Phantom was staring in respectable approval from the box. They were meant to be hidden and tucked away in a dingy pocket of the school bag, never to be found or else you risk getting scolded and beaten with jhaadu or chappal depending on what’s more accessible to mom.
The rainbow coloured round candies of Poppins were a puzzle, every time I bought them eight out of ten in the packet were yellow and my mother always succeeded in convincing me that they come in special rolls of your favourite colour. Googly came in two flavours- lemon and orange if I am right, both equally gave a heavenly feeling. And finally among the chewing gums, long before Big Babool’s tortoise sailed up in the air with a balloon and boom boom Boomer’s superhero could coil and twist himself there was the king of gum called Chiclet, the taste still lingers. Not be be left behind the little story line in each Boomer packet where he makes the world a better place by causing a morally rightful explosion with his bubble gum pop!
The twenty five paisa lemon candies, packets of jeerge mitai[fennel candies], kobri mithai [coconut burfis], groundnut chikkis, pepper mint and many more from Kakana Angdi were always in demand, they were the most devoured of all. I buy them even now when I find them. The supreme satisfier of all times for me is the home made lollipop of tamarind, jaggery and cumin seeds, every grandma’s speciality. Nothing like it.
Times have changed,and so have the toffees.Whenever I see any of these brands I make sure I buy some and give it to the children in my apartment, the ‘THANK YOU’ they say no cheque or card can buy. Wonder why we give up these priceless little joys as we grow older. Blood turns saccharine and bonds more bitter. Remember Mr.Forrest Gump saying “Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you‘re gonna get”, well most of us rather chose the contradictory and can consider this funny statement I found somewhere-“Life is not like a box of chocolates, it is more like a jar of jalapenos, what you do today might burn your ass tomorrow!”. I do not refuse to agree.
PS: Excavated, brushed and pasted from drafts dated July 5th, 2011.
