NewKerala.com Logo

Shekhar Kapur recalls childhood nights under the stars in an unpolluted Delhi

IANS April 15, 2025 239 views

Renowned filmmaker Shekhar Kapur recently shared a deeply personal memory of his childhood in Delhi, painting a vivid picture of nights spent under clear, unpolluted skies. His Instagram post transported readers to a time when summer evenings meant sleeping on terraces, gazing at breathtakingly bright stars and the Milky Way. Kapur's recollection beautifully captures the innocence of childhood curiosity, particularly his philosophical musings about the concept of 'forever' and how storytelling helped him make sense of the infinite. The nostalgic narrative serves as a poignant contrast to today's polluted urban landscape, reminding us of the environmental changes our cities have undergone.

"There was a time when Delhi was not a polluted city. Not even light pollution." - Shekhar Kapur"
Shekhar Kapur recalls childhood nights under the stars in an unpolluted Delhi
Mumbai, April 15: Filmmaker Shekhar Kapur has reminisced about his childhood, recalling nights spent sleeping under the stars in a Delhi that was free from the heavy pollution it faces today.

Key Points

1

Kapur remembers peaceful summers sleeping on terrace

2

Childhood fascination with infinite space and stars

3

Exploring imagination through storytelling

4

Reflecting on pollution's impact on urban living

Reflecting on a simpler time, Kapur shared his memories of peaceful evenings in a city that once offered clear skies and fresh air. On Tuesday, the director took to his Instagram handle and shared a heartwarming memory of summer nights spent sleeping on the terrace of his one-storey house. He shared a captivating photo of the starry night sky, offering a glimpse of the vastness he once gazed at as a child.

For the caption, Shekhar wrote, "There was a time when Delhi was not a polluted city. Not even light pollution. In summer we would sleep on the terrace of our one storey house. Beneath the open Skies. The stars were so bright, they would cast their own shadow. I was about 9 years old. I would gaze at the stars endlessly .. and the Milky Way fascinated me. I asked my Mother .. 'How far does Space go? 'Forever' She said .."

He added, "I was the age where education had started control my mind. I was taught that for something to be anything it had to measurable. It had to be definable. Defined by the quantifiable Distance Length, Breadth, Weight and the one other dimension we are still grappling with. Time. But 'Forever' ?? As a 9 year old I would lie awake at night. Trying to imagine 'Forever' stretching my imagination as far as it would .. trying to touch that realm called 'Forever."

His post further read, "Of course it was emotion turmoil for. I would lie there. Unable to sleep. Tears of frustration and anguish streaming down. For if something to be anything, it had be definable, so what was this cauldron of magic called 'Forever' where I the definable, existed inside the undefinable ? That's when I discovered the magic potion. The magic of stories. Each night I would turn the infinite into a Story. A different one.. The great Axe Man. Swinging his celestial Axe. Through Time. And at the tip of the Axe was my Universe .. in which I existed , lying in my bed staring out at the Celestial Axe Man. One day the Axe would hit the Celestial Tree. .. but not just yet.. a long long time away .. soo long away that I could sleep now ..So I turned something indefinable into definable .. Time .. suddenly comfortable enough to sleep. All stories are our attempt to find our finite selves in the undefinable infinite .. find ourselves in 'forever' ... As is all Mythology."

Reader Comments

P
Priya M.
This brought back so many memories! My grandparents used to tell me about sleeping under the stars in their village. Now we're lucky if we can see two stars in Delhi's sky 😔 We've really lost something precious.
A
Amit K.
Beautifully written! Shekhar Kapur has such a poetic way of describing childhood wonder. Makes me want to take my kids camping somewhere with clear skies 🌌
R
Rahul S.
While I appreciate the nostalgia, I wish he'd also talk about solutions. As a filmmaker with influence, he could help raise awareness about pollution control measures. The romanticism is nice but we need action too.
N
Neha P.
That story about the celestial axe man gave me chills! What a creative way to process the concept of infinity as a child. Makes me wonder what stories today's kids are creating in their heads 🤔
S
Sanjay T.
I'm 62 and remember those nights well. The sky was so clear you could see satellites moving across. Kids today will never know that magic unless we make serious changes to our environment.
M
Meera D.
This is why I moved to the hills! Every night is a star show here ✨ Though I do miss Delhi's chaat and bookstores... but not the pollution!

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Your email won't be published

Disclaimer: Comments are the opinions of users and not of this website or it's staff. News stories are provided by news agencies. We do not guarantee their accuracy. Inappropriate content may be removed. By posting, you agree to our terms.

You May Like!