On “Top”
………….of
Lasting memories
In a world engulfed in touchscreens and digital gadgets of all kinds ,
the simple joy provided by a traditional
wooden spinning top from the bygone era.might
seem silly Yet, for those of us like me
who grew up in the mid-20th century, the “BUGURI” was a mandatory toy of our childhood playgrounds. Sixty years later, the thrill of getting that accurate
spin remains as strong as ever, a testament to the timeless appeal of
the simple, hand-crafted toy.
My encounter with this memory from
the past happened quite unexpectedly a couple of days back at the Barachukki
falls in shivasamudram. I
stumbled upon a few wooden tops in a small, plastic sheet covered toy shack selling
cheap toys. Impulsively I picked one.
The moment I held it in my hand a
flood of memories returned: the dusty school grounds where we'd compete, the rough texture of the cotton
string, calloused hand trying to master the art of winding the string . The real skill, however, lay in winding the
string tightly around the body of the top , securing the knotted end between
wrapped little finger & palm , and
the final, flicked release—it
required a specific kind of coordination
that the modern world would rarely notice.
The spinning top was more than just a toy;
In those days it was a lesson in patience, and a source of
intense competition. We would gather
with friends, each armed with a
different type of ,top. The aim was ,to spin the top for the longest time or, sometimes
engage in "battles" where
the objective was to knock over.the
opponent's top .
Picking
up the top , I found my fingers,now
sixty years older and stiffer, still
remembered the basic movements. I wound the string, a little awkwardly at
first, and aimed at a clear spot on the tarred road . All set to
throw, I felt myself trembling in excitement. Will The Top Spin? Or will it
slide away on its side towards the valley and into the waterfalls? All the same
I threw it with a nervous but firm flourish,.
The top hit the ground, wobbled for a split second, and then found its bearing,
spinning with a, satisfying whir . Yes! I succeeded.
A rush of pleasant
satisfaction swept over me.
In the present age of instant
gratification, a wooden top reminds us of the value of focused play and the
simple pleasures of natural physical activity..
Rediscovering the spinning top was more than just a passing distraction.
It was a reminder that some thrills never age, and that often, the simplest
toys provide most fascinating experiences. My new wooden top now sits in my cupboard
a small, yet tactile object of
nostalgia, waiting for the next perfect
throw down .
Personal Note: I was so engrossed with the toy that I didn’t notice what was
going on around till I stopped Top
Spinning. Three of my Co- Passengers were already waiting in the car .I noticed
one in
the back seat banging the palm of the hand against the forehead, while
the other sported a sarcastic smirk on the lips and yet another gave a royal
Ignore.The silence in the car lasted till we stopped over at a café.Over
refreshments I was advised that this whimsical Ecstasy could become my new
blog.entry…… Blogaaa? So here it is! The Bloguu
