Robinda and his gang in Laxmibai Nagar

During mid sixties we were residents of Laxmi bai Nagar, it had rows of double storied Government quarters surrounding rectangular lawns. The front side had a road which joined Safdarjung airport and INA market. On the other side of the road there were similar type of double storied  houses with smaller lawns of square shape. The lawn diagonally opposite to ours, where Rabinda’s father or may be uncle had a flat. The family controlled the Durga Puja. Rabinda had 3-4 followers and had a great personality , few people would dare to talk to him.

Incidentally my uncle had come to Delhi with the hope to continue his college studies. He took a fancy for Rabinda and took me one day for introduction. Rabinda was always meticulously attired wearing latest terylene shirts. That time terylene shirts were very costly and few could afford. After the initial introduction, I was discarded in the sojourns of my uncle and he vanished with Rabinda’s gang for the next few weeks my uncle stayed in Delhi.

I was not privy to their activities , but I remember seeing Rabinda and his gang engaged in flying kites , which were of the size of a  man in height and and required great skill for their control. The colourful sight of the kites of different shape and size is still embedded in my memory. I could retrieve some of them from the internet, I hereby upload them for the viewing pleasure of my friends in FB.

The Vintage Lambretta

During sixties (1964-66) we were residents of Laxmibai nagar (New Delhi)  earlier known as East Vinay nagar. In our Block there was a Sindhi family they were the proud owners of a lambretta which was rare to be seen even that time. They used to take intense care of the scooter. It was in a very good working condition and they used to go to office regularly on it. Their ladies of the flat were very advanced and were all working women.  They were always highly made up and used to pillion ride on their male members when ever they went out. They tried to sell the scooter once but couldn't, may be because the right price was not being offered. I still remember the vintage lambretta and retrieved it from the internet for the benefit of all my friends.

Lupuri innovative breakfast

Luchi Aldam or Puri aluchokha is  a favourite  item as a breakfast. I have improvised the soft non crispy Luchi or the thicker Atta variety i. e., the ubiquitous puri of North India.
Take maida flour three cups add a quarter cup suji add a pinch of baking soda and a pinch of baking powder add salt to taste.
Add three table spoon of white cooking oil mix them thoroughly add Luke warm water make the dough keep it for 2hrs. Then roll Luchi making sure it is not very thin, fry in oil. You get your Lupuri which is crispy and less on oil uptake as you have added baking soda. It is better than Luchi or Puri. Once you taste Lupuri you will forget Luchi or Puri. You can take with tea, alumatar, channamasala or Ali combat or aludam.

The Iron Clip that survived the ravages of time

During 1962-65, I was in class III-V in SPV H.S. School. My youngest sister was just born , my eldest sister had passed Hr. Sec. Exam with Ist Class from SPV H.S. School. My father was the Librarian in Rail Bhawan. We were residents in Laxmibai Nagar earlier known as East Vinay Nagar.During those year my father decided to go to office in a bicycle. Being a man of short height I remember him riding the cycle , where his toes would hardly touch the paddle when it came to the bottom. He some how managed his way to the office which was quite a distance of about 10 Kms. Those days many people used to go to the office but for a man with a short height with a big cycle it was a fearful journey in the heavy traffic. He was a cautious man and used to ride the cycle as if in slow motion with toes hardly touching the paddle every time it made a round. He used to wear an iron clip that would fasten his pants and save it from being entangled in the paddle chain.The iron clip (oval shaped) which is no longer available has survived the ravages of time. But it is strong enough to withstand the tension till today. My father expired at the age of 91 on 28th April 2011, as a tribute to his memory I am uploading the Iron Clip.

My days in RKPuram( New Delhi)

It was in the year 1966-67 I was in class VII in SPV Hr Sec School in New Delhi, when we shifted to R K Puram Sector IV. It was a newly built Government Residential Colony. Our flat was on the border of Sector III and IV, IIT delhi was at stone’s throw distance also newly built. Munirika Gaon was on the other side of the road also bordering Sector IV near the Bus terminous of Sector IV which was practically the end of the city and bordering Munirika Gaon. Near the bus stand where the Munirika Gaon starts were few Kirana shops and surprisingly a Homeopathy shop owned and run by a Bengali Doctor, Dr Bhakta, it was his residence cum chamber, who was from Andamans to be precise.
The scene inside the Munirika Village was very surprising to us. Wild peacocks would be seen roaming around unlike in the city of Delhi. There were few big wells where the women folk would be seen gathering for collecting water for drinking purpose. Some of our relatives from Kolkata who visited our flat also visited the village for fresh drinking water.

We were the initial inhabitants of R K Puram Sector IV. There was a dry nullah which we had to cross to go to Sector III. During monsoon it became filled up with water which had high current. There was a metal pipe which criss-crossed the nullah over it , one could cross the nullah over it with little balancing. During one monsoon season, I along with my friend whose name I don t remember any more went there to cross but the high current made us step back. My friend encouraged and some how forced me to cross against my will. After going half-way I wanted to come back, I was in a catch 22 position, then the worst happened I slipped. But some how I came back. After 50  years I still think I was a big mistake I agreed to my friend.