Monday, July 26, 2010

KISSA KURSI KA



            The other day my friend and I had been to a restaurant.  The seats were rather low–almost touching the floor, with bamboo slats lined up and bound together which made an uneasy backrest and seat.   My friend, unaccustomed to the seating arrangement had to struggle a wee bit to squat cross-legged on the low seat.  He realized how unwieldy his legs were-they just refused to remain tucked up!  To add to his woes was his slight paunch, which was getting in the way and jammed too much for comfort in the yogic posture that he was bravely trying to adopt.  I am sure he would have, or rather, could have only half-filled his stomach that day.
            That made me wonder about the vast variety of chairs that are available in the market these days.  Earlier, the types of chairs could probably be counted on the fingers of a single hand.  A few rattan (cane) chairs, wire chairs, steel chairs, wooden chairs were all that you could choose from.  But these days in the name of ergonomic designs, we get to see metals, fibre, plastic and many such stuff twisted into all shapes imaginable, not always easy on the eye (and the behind too, at times)!
         Mention chairs and it immediately brings to mind my father’s armchair.  During my childhood, father’s armchair was the centre of attraction in our sit-out.  It is a family heirloom beautifully carved out of shining teak wood.  I would wait for father to finish his morning papers accompanied by piping hot tea.  When he left for his bath, it would be my turn to enjoy the comfort of the armchair.  Even now, it is a different experience altogether to relax on that chair.  It lulls me to sleep in no time!  It is not just about ergonomics, it has a lot to do with nostalgia, probably.

16 comments:

DIGITAL WORLD PAGES ARCHIVE said...

Oh, I am the first....

DIGITAL WORLD PAGES ARCHIVE said...

I have been in so like restaurant...
I think to set in so like chair is very interesting..............

subu said...

It is very essential to have a good and comfortable chair so that one can occupy the same for long!

Within a day of occupying the chair, in my office, I bought a 'spine support', to strengthen the back of my 'kursi'!

People in Kerala, esp. old men, are used to 'easy chairs'. I bought one entirely made of bamboo, when my father visited here.

I must tell you that it has a very nice massaging experience, that you can never expect to get from the usual stuff with canvas.

Well, who is not attached to chair!

The Rain Crab said...

Interesting! Now i miss my granpa's rocking chair :(

SG said...

Nice post on chairs. I have nostalgic memories about those old arm chair my grandpa used to sit.

Joseph Pulikotil said...

Hello Latha:)

I am surprised that the restaurant had a low seat which was uncomfortable to sit. As you said there are many good comfortable chairs available in the market. I wonder if this is a popular restaurant.

Most of us, both men and women, I believe have one comfortable chair in the house where we can sit and relax in our spare time and snooze for a while forgetting the world around us. The chair in which I sit to read the news paper also makes me automatically sleep for a while and I find my tea has invariably gone cold.

I do not see see why women can't sit in reclining chairs or rocking chairs and have a peaceful quiet moments communicating with their inner selves.

Very interesting post.

Have a nice day:)
Joseph

Rama Ananth said...

Even I love the Kerala type long easy chair. I have a cane rocking chair, and love rocking in it while I watch the rain and listen to some good music :it is really wonderful.
Some of the so called modern furniture these days resemble the sofa sets of old tamil movies in color.I hated those sofa sets and to think the same style today are sold as modern furniture.

Neena Sharma said...

Hey my grandfather too had a favourite armchair/rocker. I think most pater familias used to have one.

Chandrika Shubham said...

Sitting on grandpa's armchair in childhood days was a craze.

R. Ramesh said...

haha wonderful post yar...easy chairs always lure us..my bro-in-law has one but feels too possessive..when v sit, he waits for us to get up hehe

RGB said...

What's a seat for, if it ain't comfortable! Wonder what the interior designer was thinking when he ordered those chairs!?

My dad loves those reclining easy chairs. I like rocking chairs better!

DIGITAL WORLD PAGES ARCHIVE said...

I think this is first post about chair in my blogging experience...

DIGITAL WORLD PAGES ARCHIVE said...

Extraordinary post.

DIGITAL WORLD PAGES ARCHIVE said...

There are a lot of so like interesting posts in Your blog!

R. Ramesh said...

thanks ji:)

Readers Dais said...

the truth is chairs in olden days did take care of our health too, dint u feel from your fathers armchair.
btw how did u manage at the restaurant..had ur fill?? :)