Lost in 90s Summer, Found in Nostalgia
A little trip down memory lane to remind us how simple joys once shaped our most cherished memories.
It’s a two-month summer vacation…
The school just announced it, and you are filled with mixed emotions—excited but also curious to see which division you’ll be in next year and whether your friends will be in the same class. At the same time, you’re excited to make plans, from going to your mama’s home to playing the whole day.
Meanwhile, your mom is at her peak, ready to teach you a new skill or enrol you in summer camp or classes.
Those were the moments to be cherished.
Childhood’s Summer Formula
₹1 chilled Pepsi.
A board game of New Business (Naya Vyapar)…
… and a bunch of friends playing cricket in the evening!
That’s all it took to complete your day and relax you to the max. Fun part? You were lucky if you spotted a gola wala & got to sip an ice gola in your favourite flavour.
You had time to explore the city — visit the museum, the zoo, the aquarium, and calm gardens, or dive into water and adventure parks, based on your taste of interests.
One of my personal favourites?
We have a family-run stationery shop, and I loved spending my summer days there — travelling for nearby deliveries (quick comm or Blinkit didn’t exist back then!). I learned real business — figuring out which brand to prioritise for selling based on profit margins, roaming the busy wholesale markets, and carrying all the stock back in the evening. It was perfect entrepreneurial live-training.
The Mango Season Magic
And oh, the mangoes.
The true kings of Indian summers.
This is the same time and the most awaited part of the year when one can have the juicy mangoes you looked forward to all year — it gets even more special as you tend to attend family functions, just with the hope you’ll get many bowls of mango juice, haha.
Gaav Ki Kahaniyan
Some of the best memories are associated with visiting your native place! For me, it was a cherry on the cake, as I used to spend time with my grandfather at our very own bungalow. We’d travel between different villages using whatever mode of transportation was available — passing by truck, autorickshaw (popularly known as chakda), camels, or sometimes just walking under the open sky.
Early mornings meant walking to the nearby tabela (cattleshed) to watch cows being milked — and if we got lucky, we did sip fresh milk as well.
After some rest, we’d head to the quiet, peaceful, vast farms of our relatives. We’d stroll around the farms, pick fruits off the trees, and see the ancient farming techniques in action — right there.
Evenings were spent roaming around the local market or heading to the beaches. And no trip was complete without a plate of spicy Dabeli, which originated from our hometown. Usually, people even bring back the OG Dabeli masala from Kutch, along with the famous sweet, Peda.
Nights had their own charm.
People would gather under the HUGE banyan tree to talk about life. I personally used to stay back at home, get ice-creams for everyone, play cards, and finally relax on the big swing on our terrace.
From up there, we could spot peacocks and parrots, camels, herds of sheep, goats, cows & buffaloes, and even cute puppies all around the village. It’s all a wonderful experience.
Kaha se laaye Masti? Here’s a New-Age Vibe!
We live in a tech-savvy world of digital social experiences, startup culture & AI platforms. But what if you could hit a ‘reset’ button — and time-travel back?
Today, educational experiences have evolved, blending learning with play. For instance, shows like Shark Tank India are the perfect example — a mix of drama, dance, emotions, and startup ecosystem jargon, streaming on OTT platforms. It’s as fun as S for Startup, my favourite strategy board game. In this game, you can buy startups (just like you used to buy cities in Monopoly), trade resources, and build your unicorn, for real! It’s not just a fun escape from social media — it sharpens your mind, brings people together, and helps you disconnect from the digital overload.
Another hit? UNO Flip! — a modern twist on the classic OG game, with more than just +2 & +4 cards. Btw, games are a synonym for cheating, haha, so it’s a clear sign you’re having fun if your friend cheats in a game ; )
To replicate the experience of a village, there’s even a board game based on Panchayat, which helps you think about how to build and grow a sustainable village ecosystem while fine-tuning biodiversity.
The startup culture boom post-COVID-19 led to an awareness of healthier eating habits. Snacks that are natural and packed with fruit and veggie extracts are now all the trend.
Gone are the days of ₹1 Pepsi. Today, you’ve got Skippi Ice Popsicles — larger, fruit-based, and still pocket-friendly. Or Utopian drinks, which blend health and taste using superfoods like Tulsi, Amla, Ashwagandha, and Honey, all with zero refined sugar.
But hey — I’m not all about the health angle. Summer’s meant to be lived fully. And there’s one drink that defines it for me: Neera — a chilled, non-alcoholic, sweet sap from coconut palm flowers.
You’ll spot local vendors with ice boxes at the roadside, selling fresh Neera. It’s pure summer in a glass.
To wrap it up, imagine an artistic touch to the summer canvas. The arrival of flamingos in parts of India during this season adds colour and grace to the skies. Back in the day, BNHS used to organise the Flamingo Festival near Sewri Coast for locals to spot the birds and participate in fun, awareness activities.
And just like that, the summer days slip away, leaving behind the sweet taste of mangoes, the sound of cricket balls hitting the bat, and the adventures of exploring new places that made every moment memorable. Maybe we’ve traded in our ₹1 Pepsi for Skippi Ice Popsicles, but some things never change — the nostalgic joy of classic board games.
So, even as AI and technology continue to shape our world, let’s take a moment to pause and remember the days when all we needed was a gola, the laughter of childhood friends, and the simple memories of the ‘90s.
Summer will always feel like home.
