A typical office during the earlier days was a bit stuffy, and hot and humid in the summers and cold and clammy in the winters. There used to be files and documents all around, many gathering dust over years of storage in the office. Windows used to be generally kept open during summers and tightly shut during winters. The lighting was often dim and inadequate. Furniture used to be just any tables and chairs that were locally available for office use. Ventilation used to be through noisy ceiling fans or pedestal fans. It was customary to have attendants hanging around for all the minor chores like passing files and documents from your desk to other desks, or for getting that refill of water in your glass.
The noise levels inside the office were usually a bit high and prevailed through most of the day, since it was customary and quite okay to be gossiping while also working. The lunch hours was blissfully long and could even extend to a couple of hours. On some days, return to office after lunch was not mandatory if there was urgent work at home. Stepping out of office for the routine household shopping was also acceptable. Eager colleagues were always willing to guide any visitors properly in your absence, so that they can come on the next day, or after a few hours when you will be back at your desk.
Smoking was quite an official thing too. People who did not smoke in office were not really into the office culture. Office meetings used to be great occasions for collective smoking, with everyone offering to light up the others’ cigarette. With everyone lighted up, and after the usual round of chit-chat, some official discussions were also held through thick clouds of smoke. Somewhere along the way, somebody changed all that, and the office of today!