One Rupee. I know what you’re thinking: I had the same thoughts as well. “You’d need a LOT of those to buy anything of value. Just one will get you nothing and nowhere.”

“Do they even make those any more?” “They’re nothing more than collector’s items now.” There was even that song ‘Aamdani athanni, kharcha rupaiya’, which implied that spending one whole rupee was definitely living beyond your means. Was it really that long ago? I couldn’t immediately think of anything obtainable for a single rupee. I’m well aware that in days gone by, a rupee was a big deal: I’ve often heard my parents talk about it. In fact they even mentioned there was a time when their entire monthly electricity bill was less than a rupee. I remember having a super amused expression on my face. A rupee. One. Ek. A solitary rupee. That was simply too long ago.