Old memories and new

Musings from a visit to India, Dec 2024

Almost four weeks after our visit, I finally sat down and listened to the little voice in my head that kept reminding me to jot down and capture the nostalgia, the wonder and the love that filled the short and memorable trip!

The December morning air was a chilly 9° Celsius (48 ° F) but as we walked a kilometer or so on the green belt, we started warming up. We had company – it was a mixed crowd, some old and sprightly, some young and heavy, a few women dressed in salwar-kameez with athletic shoes! Some folks jogged past, many speed-walked and overtook us – they probably had to get back home soon and ready for work/school that Monday. We were in no rush, we were on vacation and taking it slowly! My cousin was sharing with us about how his pursuit of fitness during the COVID years had morphed into a program to train runners, gaining popularity simply by word of mouth. They now even had an app that made information sharing easier and got more people connected.

As we reached the end of the trail and turned around to walk back, I noticed a man standing still in the distance. We continued walking and further saw even more folks paused as if a spell had been cast over them.  Some had their hands on their heart – and I knew then – and soon enough the sound of school children singing “Jana Gana Mana….” (the Indian National Anthem) wafted through the air. We took a pause as well and as the crescendo rose my heart swelled with pride and a sense of belonging. Met hubby’s eye and saw he was as moved as I. Oh, the immigrant soul – leaving one home and finding another – cherishing one and admiring the other. As we resumed walking, he nudged me, “This moment is for your blog!”. I had already soaked it all in.

We stopped at a local popular restaurant for hot filter coffee and on the drive home chatted about the science, law, commerce, management colleges in the area. This was not simply “a University town” but an education powerhouse with multiple academic institutions including my alma mater!

As is common for old buildings in most large cities in India, my college hostel (dorm) building was slated for ‘redevelopment’ in the coming months. On the last day of our visit, we were up early and walked over to my college campus. The low, single lane pedestrian causeway across the river (more a stream) had been replaced by a larger bridge that allowed vehicular traffic. The college and hostel buildings looked the same as they did in my early 20’s and now I was back with my 20-something-year old! We both (ladies only, mind you!) were allowed to go inside the hostel after I introduced myself as an ex-resident from years back. I took the chance and knocked on my senior year room on the top floor and the young occupant cheerfully let me in! Stepping into the balcony brought back memories of whistles and hoots from the adjacent boys’ hostel, late night coffee and study sessions listening to All India Radio and songs on cassettes!    

Driving back to Mumbai that evening, I mused how in less than three days we had wonderful meals and conversations with six sets of family and friends. In a city with innumerable two and four-wheelers cramming the roads and where traffic is a bedlam, we spent quality time with cousins and friends who drove us around town in their cars, along the way pointing out historic sites and modern structures.

We were carrying back with us gifts, bakarwadi, home-made masalas, ayurvedic medicine and a whole bunch of warm memories from my favorite city Pune!

~AK Irvinekar