Sometimes, a talk about a place triggers a memory long forgotten.
Yesterday, it was about my first recollection of Delhi. We were travelling by car and crossed the new flyovers of Delhi around the ISBT and dad was talking about the delhi of old. My grandfather's house used to be in Mori gate.
I remember the scene quite vividly. It was on the banks of the yamuna in the early morning. The ghat steps led down into the water. Behind was a jamun tree and I remember eating those jamuns. The month would have been summers as the tree usually gives the fruits around that time. In the morning light the soft rays of the sun beamed through the branches and the leaves.
The water at the ghats was quite clear. People were throwing in bits of aata for the fishes. I remember seeing a gang of eels there. I am not sure if I identified them as eels ( due to the wildlife books dad at home) or if dad was with me. But I quite clearly remember the eels writhering in the water fighting over the aata pellets.
I dont remember who was with me on that morning. I would probably be my bua or my dad or my dadi. No recollection of that. But the etherial beauty of the place I remember.
This is the kind of Delhi which the old people remember when they talk fondly of Delhi. This is the Delhi which we can never leave to our children.
Sadly, there are not many pictures of Delhi as a place as most of the pictures seem to be of politicians and british people. The one below is the closest to what I felt ( without the palace )
(Picture from 100 years of Delhi at IbnLive )
Now , my question to you - what were your earliest memory of Delhi ( or your city ) that you can recollect ?
Yesterday, it was about my first recollection of Delhi. We were travelling by car and crossed the new flyovers of Delhi around the ISBT and dad was talking about the delhi of old. My grandfather's house used to be in Mori gate.
I remember the scene quite vividly. It was on the banks of the yamuna in the early morning. The ghat steps led down into the water. Behind was a jamun tree and I remember eating those jamuns. The month would have been summers as the tree usually gives the fruits around that time. In the morning light the soft rays of the sun beamed through the branches and the leaves.
The water at the ghats was quite clear. People were throwing in bits of aata for the fishes. I remember seeing a gang of eels there. I am not sure if I identified them as eels ( due to the wildlife books dad at home) or if dad was with me. But I quite clearly remember the eels writhering in the water fighting over the aata pellets.
I dont remember who was with me on that morning. I would probably be my bua or my dad or my dadi. No recollection of that. But the etherial beauty of the place I remember.
This is the kind of Delhi which the old people remember when they talk fondly of Delhi. This is the Delhi which we can never leave to our children.
Sadly, there are not many pictures of Delhi as a place as most of the pictures seem to be of politicians and british people. The one below is the closest to what I felt ( without the palace )
(Picture from 100 years of Delhi at IbnLive )
Now , my question to you - what were your earliest memory of Delhi ( or your city ) that you can recollect ?
A very good read, brought back some memories from my childhood. We lived at Pragati Vihar, near Nehru Stadium and during 90's there were lots of green fields around that area where our whole family would go out at night for a walk and play for some time. I don't see families doing that in today's time. Guess, the Delhi I knew is changing and the fields have become a part of my memory forever. And, who can forget Appu Ghar which is no more now? Many more such stories about apni Dilli! :)
ReplyDeleteEvery kid who grew up in the 80s,90s in Delhi will miss Appu Ghar. My favourite was the dragon train !
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