Syed Majid Gilani
Today, I cannot recreate those conversations. But I can revisit those days in my memory, and that, in itself, is a beautiful feeling. Sometimes, all it takes is the recollection of an old computer room and a few pairs of slippers to bring back a whole chapter of one’s life.
Some memories remain with us for a lifetime. We may get busy with our daily lives, but certain moments never really leave us. Sometimes, a small thought takes us years back, bringing before our eyes places, faces and incidents that once formed a part of our everyday lives.
Yesterday, a memory suddenly took me back to 1997, when I had begun working in an office. Even after all these years, those days remain remarkably fresh in my memory.
I still remember the atmosphere of that office. Big steel almirahs stood against the walls, heavy registers occupied the tables, and files were piled up in different corners. The sound of typewriters was familiar throughout the day. The typists remained busy with papers, carbon sheets and handwritten drafts, while others moved between tables, exchanged files and discussed routine work.
There were busy moments, tea-break conversations and little incidents that made our working days memorable. Little did I know that these ordinary moments would one day become precious memories.
In late 1998, the news reached us that computers were going to be installed in our office.
I remember the curiosity I felt when I first heard about it. The word computer sounded new and rather mysterious. I had heard people talk about these machines, but I was eager to see one with my own eyes and understand how it worked.
The news soon became a favourite topic during our tea breaks.
“Have you ever seen a computer?”
“Is it really so powerful that it can perform all our tasks?”
“Does it work like a typewriter?”
Although we had a few colleagues who were knowledgeable about computers, I cannot recall every conversation word for word. What I remember is the excitement surrounding those discussions. Sometimes, a colleague who knew something about computers would explain things, while the rest of us listened with interest.
A separate room was being prepared for the computers. We were told that the machines were expensive and delicate and needed protection from dust. The room was therefore kept particularly clean.
But what I remember most vividly was something quite unusual.
A few pairs of slippers were placed inside the room. Anyone entering had to leave their regular footwear outside and wear those slippers.
Even today, this little detail brings a smile to my face. Imagine changing your footwear just to enter a room where computers were to be installed! The arrangement gave the place a special importance in our eyes. We began calling it the Computer Room, and I often wondered what it would look like once the machines arrived.
Finally, the day we had been waiting for arrived.
The computers were brought into our office. I can still picture the bulky monitors, the large CPU boxes, the keyboards and the bundles of wires. The technicians unpacked the equipment and carefully placed everything on the desks.
I watched with great interest as the machines were arranged. Several colleagues gathered around the room, eager to see what was happening.
The monitor looked impressive, and the keyboard seemed familiar because of its resemblance to a typewriter. But the big box placed beneath the desk was a mystery to me. I wondered what it contained and how all those wires worked together to make the machine function.
When the computer experts finally switched on a computer, I fixed my eyes on the screen.
And then, something appeared.
I cannot recall every thought that crossed my mind at that moment, but I remember the feeling of wonder. Around me, colleagues were equally curious, sharing the excitement of seeing this new technology come to life before our eyes.
Perhaps we were all wondering the same thing: How could this machine do all this?
In the days that followed, the computers gradually became an important part of our working routine. A few of our colleagues were already familiar with these machines and knew how to operate them. Their knowledge and experience proved valuable as others became acquainted with this new technology. They readily shared what they knew, guided their colleagues and made the learning process easier and more enjoyable.
Colleagues exchanged ideas, asked questions and learned from one another. Those early days were not just about getting familiar with a new machine; they were also about cooperation, sharing knowledge and experiencing something new together.
Looking back, I remember that atmosphere of enthusiasm and mutual support with great fondness.
I sometimes wish I had taken a few photographs of those moments. It would have been wonderful to see those pictures today and recognise the faces of the colleagues who shared that experience with me.
When I think of that old office, I can almost picture it as it was in those days: the steel almirahs, the heavy registers, the files piled on the tables and the familiar faces of colleagues moving about. Then my thoughts return to that specially prepared room, the computers and, of course, the pairs of slippers waiting outside.
What a lovely memory it is!
Time has moved on. Offices have changed, technology has advanced, and computers have become an ordinary part of our lives. Yet, for those of us who witnessed their arrival in those early days, there was something special about seeing a computer for the first time.
I often wonder whether my former colleagues remember those moments as I do. Perhaps some of them will recall the same room, the same machines and the excitement we shared.
For me, the memory is not merely about the arrival of a computer. It is about the people with whom I shared those days, the colleagues who shared their knowledge and the little experiences that seemed ordinary at the time but have grown precious with the passage of years.
Life moves quickly. We go about our work, share a laugh with colleagues and take part in everyday conversations without imagining that one day we will look back and miss those very moments.
Today, I cannot recreate those conversations. But I can revisit those days in my memory, and that, in itself, is a beautiful feeling.
Sometimes, all it takes is the recollection of an old computer room and a few pairs of slippers to bring back a whole chapter of one’s life.
And I am grateful that this little memory has stayed with me.
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