While I was growing up ( 70's /80 's) almost all my friends were learning typewriting and shorthand.
I wanted to learn typwriting hoping to get a better job ( Just like the rest). So I went and enrolled myself in a typing school. It used to be fun. One hour sessions in a small room with about 10 typewriting machines aka typewriter. The fee was 10 Indian Rupees a month ( Those days 1USD = approx. 15 Rupees).
Some of the famous brand names those days in India were Halda and Remington. Our typewriting Institute had a mix of these 2 brands. My favorite was a Halda.
The first typing lessons were A,S,D,F,G,F ;,L,K,J,H,J. The lessons lasted 6 months a piece for Lower and Higher grades.
I passed the Lower grade and Higher grade and I remember my typewriting teacher coming home to congratulate me when I got a I Class in the Higher grade. I think the test speed was 65 words per minute.
After Higher grade there was one more called 'High speed'. A few of my friends did try it, but I didn't.
Though I didn't end up as a typist, I am very happy that I learnt typewriting. It is helping me a lot in my profession.
Today, when I code ( I am a Computer Programmer), I can see my friends wonder how I can type so fast.
These days we have a lot of computer software to help kids learn typing. My daughter uses one.
But there is nothing to beat the fun we had while learning to type with my friends.
God bless my Typewriting Institute in Perungalathur, Madras, India (OM VIGNESWARA those days) and my teacher Mr. Raghavan and his wife for their dedicated work.
16 comments:
i too wanted to but somehow never learnt............
but chatting helped a lot to improve my skills :)
Nari, Learing typing is fun indeed. The few days are a real bore. The teacher comes cover with a white fullscape paper, tells you how to do it and vanishes away for a few days ... just to make sure that you are really interested in typing before he / she spends more time with you.To think of those days... it is very nostalgic.
Narayanan,
Many people go to typewriting classes in their 10th holidays, esp in tamilnadu. I too completed my higher grade and like you, it helps me a lot!!!! Still remembering my typewriting inst Lakshmi Inst at Trichy!!!!
For me also, typewriting helped a lot...in my profession. Now, for blogging and typing these comments fastly ..it helps a lot.
Me - I forgot chatting. Yeah it is really useful to improve.
Venky - I agree 100% with you. A lot of people drop out during the first few weeks. In the end its all fun..isn't it.
Sundaresan, Thanks for stopping by. Glad to know that the tradition is still continuing. Is it still the typewriters? What machines do they use now?
Ram - Your thoughts about fast comments are right. Same here.
I get reminded of the same feeling as Venky about typewriting classes. I learnt a bit of typewriting but most of my typing uses just my index fingers.
Dear Narayanan...so grateful to you for this post that revived a lot of bitter-sweet memories about my typing classes a long time ago. Those were halycon days and I'm grateful to my neighbourhood friends in dragging me along for those typing classes; thanks to which I can type away today with blazing speed. Unfortunately, one of those friends met an untimely death and the mere thought of him ( he had just married; his wife was pregnant) threatens to bring on an avalanche of tears. RIP, Ramesh...
Ravi,
Glad that you liked it. Sorry to hear about your friend's death. What happened? Was it an accident?
Very much an accident - at Mahabalipuram. Funny thing, he never liked water and swimming, like the rest of us.....
I knew a few people who bragged that they were well qualified for the IT industry because they could type fast! i must admit i was extremely worried back then... anyways thanks to chatting and e-mail I now am "well qualified" for the IT industry :-P
Thats a pretty interesting account of typing. Infact my mother too used to attend typing classes during when she was in college. the entire evolution of keyboards owes it to the type writers.
Anand,
Typing with Index fingers? Why not buy some software and learn.!
Amrita,
What about you? Can you type?
Lalith,
people bragged about typing? as a qualification to IT?
LOL - reading the qualifications ( email / chatting).
Ravi,
Sorry to hear about Ramesh's death. I pray for his soul to rest in peace. And for his pregnant wife as well. Sometimes I feel God is cruel.
Narayanan,
Now its more with Godrej and one more make, i forgot the name. In our inst, very few Remington machines were there. I have not seen Halda!!
Narayanan Sir,
Brought back old memories. I am from perungalathur too. Went to OM VIGNESWARA some time. I do remember Raghavan Sir and Mami.
OM VIGNESWARA is not opposite Surathamman Kovil anymore. They have changed it to a new place.
Sad that I didn't continue learning typing completely. Me typing only with 3 or 4 fingers.
Where r u from, in Perungalathur ?
Sundaresan,
Thanks for the info.
Freeyavedu,
Amazing, ..this world is too small.!
Buy? That too software? You must be joking! :-)
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