The last post was in Marathi and got feedback to
switch to English. That's being done but the Marathi translation will also be
available. After completing matric, now the terms SSC and HSC are more popular,
I got admission in one of the most prestigious institute in central India now
termed as Institute of Science. It was known as College of Science or Science
College in those days. In that era in Nagpur we had just four colleges offering
science stream. Those were Science, Hislop, Mohata and National in terms of
preference. Our college was most sought after by students from entire central
India. Students from Vidarbha, Mahakoshal and Chhattisgarh would line up for
the admission. Just a year back before I took admission, there was a change in
the system and 10 + 2 was introduced. Some schools continued with old pattern
of 11 years in school and my school, Patwardhan High School had opted for
the old system. After my 11th matric, as called in those days, I took admission
in first year of three year graduate programme. Those who had passed 10th
matric were admitted to pre-university class for year before they could join
first year of three year graduate programme. I was extremely thrilled to get
admitted to such a prestigious institute that had excellent staff, own cricket
ground, tennis courts, gym and loads of extracurricular activities.
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| Science College Nagpur |
College was about two kms away from my Dhantoli
residence and was 10 minutes cycle ride. I would approach Panchsheel square from
the east and pause for a while to decide the route to be taken on that day. I
had two options either to go straight via Canal Road or take a right turn and
go via Variety Square. The Canal road got its name because Nag Nadi, commonly
called as Nag Nala, originating from Ambazari flows through this canal. The
frequent choice would be via Variety Square for going to the college and Canal
Road for the return in the evening. I had my own reasons for these decisions.
If I go by Canal Road then I would take right at Saraf bunglow, go little
uphill with student's union hall and university library on the right. Cross the
square (north Ambazari road) and it was pleasant ride through farms on both the
sides, till Maharaj baug. After the farms there was a small nursery on right
side down the slope and close to the culvert, the Undri river, now just a
drain, originating from LIT Little ahead on left was a monumental building of
Agriculture College. Riding through the semicircular road opposite this
building, I would come to the huge Victorian style Iron Gate, that would remain
closed in the night. This gate was the southern side of university square, one of the
most attractive, magnificent, gorgeous square in Nagpur. Standing at the
Maharaj baug gate facing north the beauty of buildings made with red sand stone
were amazing. The greenery and contrasting red coloured architecture were just
superb. I wonder if it is still the same or has changed like new names for the
university and agriculture college.
This route was pleasant during winter days but not in late
evenings as it would be fairly cold while passing between the farms. In summer
this route would be hot, arid, and barren associated with hot winds. At times I
would use this route in the evenings even during the summer as Agriculture
College would set up their sugar cane juice center to utilise their own
produce. The fresh juice was sold for 10 paisa per glass of 300 ml. It was a
treat.
The route via variety square was not picturesque but
crowded. On turning right at Panchsheel square I would head north. Shanti
Bhavan on left and Prince on right of the road were great for snacks. Cross the
Nag Nala and pass Dhiren Kanya Vidyalaya and come to Jhansi Rani Chowk.
Opposite Dhiren Kanya Vidyalaya was Ratnaparkhi's Tall (wood and charcoal
depot) that was cl;osed and Kwality restaurant was build there. At the corner
or of Vidarbha Sahitya Sangh, all ST buses coming from south from places like,
Wardha, Hinghanghat, Chandrapur, Jam etc would stop. In the morning large
number of 15 kg tins of homemade curd, mostly sour would unloaded here. Curd
vendors would assemble here and trade, then the curd would be transferred to
earthen pots and mostly ladies would go around various localities selling this
curd. Half part of coconut shell was the measure for selling the curd. The
smell of sour curd was obnoxious. While unloading the tins from the luggage
carrier on the top of the bus the curd would often spill out and spoil the
pavement, remain there to ferment further, part of it would get absorbed and
part would evopourate. I would often joke with my friends that if any time in
future a well is dug here then it will have springs of buttermilk, not water.
There was no road connecting this square to Bank of
Maharashtra square. The area had residential tenements and the cluster was
known as Sangam chawl. The road was developed in early sixties. Moving further
towards Variety square, I would cross Mor Bhavan. Local ST Bus stand was next
to it. Immediately after bus stand across the Undri river, now just a drain, stood
a Hanuman temple facing east. This temple was originally at the Variety square.
This was moved to present location to widen the roads and set up traffic
signals in early sixties. The Hanuman which normally faces south was facing
north at variety square and started facing east when shifted to present
location. There is one thing I always remember about this temple, that’s
related to one chap from our locality. His name was Pande. He used to
religiously visit the temple and we all admired. One day we saw him getting
thrashed by the priest of the temple. We were shocked to see this but were more
shocked when the priest told us the reasons for thrashing. This chap would drop
a ten paisa coin in Puja thali where alms were dropped by the devotees and take
back forty paisa from the thali. His pretention was that he had put fifty paisa
coin in the thali and is taking back forty paisa as he wanted to offer only ten
paisa. This smart chap on investment of ten paisa a day was siphoning thirty
paisa every day. His devotion for Hanuman was over from that day but I am sure
he must have found some other busy temple. Across the temple on the other side
of the road was Jagat restaurant and a Raswanti, a sugarcane juice center. The
Undri and Nag river had a convergence a
little ahead at the north of Patwardhan ground, thus it was called as Sangam. Next
came Regal cinema that was frequented more to enjoy mutton chops rather than
the movies. At variety square I would turn left for my college. The tinned roof
historic Variety theatre was on left. There was no balcony in this cinema hall
and that was unique. The stretch between Variety square and University was
unique. After Maharaj baug Hanuman temple on left there was tall fencing of Maharaj
baug zoo till university square. On right for a short distance were shops,
mostly photo frame guys. Behind this was Moore Memorial Hospital. On the left
side opposite the photo frame shops there were number of make shift photo
studios. Backdrops of various scenes like fountains in garden, aero plane, car
etc would be hanged from the tall fencing of Maharaj baug. The photographers
had ancient plate cameras. Their technology was cheap and different. In earlier
days a film, generally termed as negative was used to capture the picture. This
negative was reverse of the picture thus termed as negative. Exposing this
negative on a positive paper/film would give the real picture. The negatives
were expensive so these photographers developed their own technique. They would
shoot on a positive paper. This would give an image like negative and then
shoot this negative on another positive paper and that would provide a real
picture. It’s like two negatives make a positive. Customers of these
photographers were couples or families visiting Maharaj baug zoo. The subjects
would choose desired background after negations and pose over there. The
photographer would load the a positive plate, rather than expansive negative
plate, cover his head and camera with black cloth, focus on the subject. The
cameras had no shutter, but the lens had a cap. Subject would be instructed to
stand still, the cap from the lens would be removed for a calculated time and
replaced again. Under the black cloth the exposed ‘film’ will be processed,
‘developed and fixed’. On this positive plate the picture would look like a
negative, so as to have a real picture photograph of this plate will be taken on
another positive paper and the resultant was a real photograph. Retouching with
appropriate colours would be done on the plate that was to be exposed and also
on the final print to improve quality of the photograph. The entire process
would take about half an hour and many times I enjoyed watching this. Today every
person even with sub thousand rupees mobile is also a photographer. I admire
those earlier generation photographers and pity them as they are the victims of
innovation and technology.
Little ahead on the road I had a option to take a
shortcut through veterinary hospital, that would take me to the cycle stand in
my college or keep going straight on a slight climb, turn left at the
university and enter the college through main entrance. These decisions
depended on many factors like am I on time, who is with me, how is the climate
etc. If on time I would proceed to the class else go to a hangout, Baburao Tea
Palace.
I am sure everything must have changed now. The
surroundings, landscapes, mode of transport and even the purpose of going to
college.
