Wristwatch: A Monologue.
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Mr. Indranil Sarkar M.AWristwatch: A Monologue.
Uploaded by
Mr. Indranil Sarkar M.AA monologue on Wrist-Watch!
Indranil Sarkar
The new encyclopedia Britannica traces the history of the word "watch" in
the Old English word woecce which meant "watchman". It was used by town
watchmen to keep track of their shifts at work. A wristwatch is one that is
designed to be worn in a wrist with the help of a lace or bracelet which has
been substituted by watch-bands.
Though some people say the world's first wristwatch was created by
Abraham-Louis Breguet for Caroline Murat, Queen of Naples, in 1810, the
history of the wristwatch dates back to the 16th century, perhaps
1570s.According to Guinness Book of World records the first wrist-watch was
made for a woman, Countess Koscowicz of Hungary, by Swiss watch
manufacturer Patek Philippe in 1868.
Whatever may be the correct historicity of the origin of wristwatch, it is no
doubt saying that it was created as an ornamental jewelry for women. Men
preferred to carry an attractive pocket watch as a status symbol. The first
reported person to actually wear a watch on the wrist was the French
mathematician and philosopher, Blaise Pascal. With a piece of string, he
attached his pocket watch to his wrist.
The idea of watches existed even before Leonardo Da Vinci. Leonardo Da
Vinci (1452-1519), the Renaissance Polymath had designed a congenial and
easy to understand watch, though his idea like that of a mechanical-lion (i, e
a robot) was simply theoretical.
Fashionable youths as well as old people used to keep a watch in the upper
pocket of their shirts. It was at that time a sign of aristocracy and status. The
commoners did neither have the capacity to purchase nor social privileges to
wear a wristwatch. In some countries including Colonial India, people had to
secure license for keeping a wristwatch. This is because wristwatches were
initially treated as war equipment. Wrist-watches were first given to the
soldiers during the WWI as war equipment. The soldiers of almost all
countries
were
provided
with
wristwatches
to
keep
harmony
and
synchronizing their different segments and also to watch the timings of an
artillery shot. It was found easier to use than that of a pocket-watch. Initially
the wristwatches were taken back as soon as the army was dismantled.
However, in the latter part of the War, the soldiers were permitted to take
the wristwatches to their home as a token of bravery in the battlefield.
Thus, the military men started wearing wristwatches even in their civilian life
because it was more convenient than carrying around a pocket watch.
Officers in the British army were provided with wristwatches as early as the
1880s, and in 1893, the Garstin Company of London filed a patent for a
"watch wristlet." The British War Department started issuing wristwatches to
soldiers in 1917, and by the end of WWI, most enlisted men had one. It is
also said that like many innovations in war-weapons, it was Hitler who first
introduced wristwatches for the Nazi soldiers.
Whatever may be the case, seeing wristwatches on the arms of war heroes,
public opinion dramatically changed and by the 1930s, wristwatches had
virtually substituted the traditional aristocratic pocket-watches.
The wristwatches became a symbol of heroism and bravery on the one hand
and modernity on the other. The phenomenon may be compared with the
Shavian concept of Military Uniforms. Anyway, by the end of the War,
wearing wristwatch became a fashion. Mechanical sophistication made it
convenient and rapid industrialization minimized the prices as well. It
became affordable even to the lower-middle class people. Like rest of the
world even in India there was hardly a single youth who did not wear a watch
in the seventies. In some communities presenting a wrist-watch to a boy in
his first birthday became ritualistic. Surprisingly, girls were not so much
privileged of having a wrist-watch in their teens. They only got one at the
time of their marriage.
My nostalgic Hmt Avinash: Hmt created a history in the world of
wristwatches in India in the seventies. Its low cost, durability and fancy as
well as eye-candy designs made it immensely popular among the youths. I
still feel nostalgic about my first wristwatch that I got as a present by my
father just after the announcement of H.S.L.C examination Result in 1975. It
was just Rs. 275.00 at that time but was invaluable to an adolescent mind.
The comfort that it provided could not be supplemented by even a watch
valuing twenty times more than that I use at present.
It was just like falling in love at first sight. The very first glance at the
coveted thing made me enchanted. The salesman showed a few more
models but I couldnt find them wearable. For couple of months I could rarely
part with it; always wore it and cleaned the dial at least 300 times a day;
sometimes by water, sometimes by petrol and what not.
It was at that time my most costly possession as I did not have any gold
figure -ring to wear. So, I was always afraid of losing it and like a miser took
special care to keep it safe. A single scratch on the dial would cause me to
shed tears. Very often I looked at the dial and try to guess the mechanical
activities inside the small machine. It was a watch of 17 jewels; I tried in vain
to understand the meaning of 17 jewels. Ultimately I consoled believing that
it was something very costly. Its non-stop mild rhythmic sound gave it the
status of a human companion. The mild sound used to become much more
distinct as night advanced.
However, in 1994 I got another costlier wristwatch as a ceremonial gift. This
was a beautiful, light and golden coloured Titan watch. Naturally its lusture
fascinated me and neglecting my old friend, my first love, my richest
possession, I started wearing it. My old worn out watch was kept at a corner
of the desk. Very soon dust covered it and its brilliant lusture started fading
away. It felt sorry but remained mute .Then one day I felt something missing
in my desk and looking carefully detected that my old watch was not there.
Probably her heart felt agony was heard by the deaf heaven and as such
rescued by some body. I searched every nook and corner of my small room;
but no, it was nowhere. It was gone. Even today it makes me nostalgic.
[1070]
Reference:i.www.wikipedia.org
ii. Encyclopedia Britannica article on wristwatch---
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