It was with mixed emotions that I stepped down from the train that very late evening of October 3rd. I was visiting the city that I had grown up in. Jamshedpur or the 'steel city' as it is known as holds memories aplenty for me. My husband being a true blue Mumbaikar was curious to visit the city where I had made memories. He was not disappointed.
Work brought my father to the city when I was just 3 years old and we went on to live there for 22 years. Childhood was fun. With no mobile phones, there was plenty of time and space for good old-fashioned outdoor play. College was also fun. The happy, crazy gang are still in touch with each other.
Almost every place stirred up a memory and I happily travelled back in time. Visiting old neighbours reliving the good old days sure brought back so many smiles. As I stood outside the cottage that I once called home, more memories came flooding back.
I must mention the hospitality shown by the friends and neighbours who yet live in the city was more than generous. We spent the first 5 days in a club, courtesy a friend and the next 3 days at the Boulevard, now a heritage hotel. I first stayed at the hotel as a 3-year old when mom and dad moved to Jamshedpur.
Jamshedpur is basically a private town-owned and run by corporate giants Tata. It houses the Tata Iron and Steel company and the automobile plant - Tata Motors and a host of other sister concerns. People from all over India come to work in these companies and for all practical purposes, Jamshedpur was, is and will remain a cosmopolitan city. I left the city when I was 24 years old in 1989, returned to it for a couple of days in 2010 and then revisited it again this year after a span of 8 years. wAS I surprised?
The tiny, quiet town is still minus an airport but the traffic can now give traffic in any other big city a run for its money. 8 years ago I recognised many of the shops that I had grown up with but this time I found that most of them had disappeared to be replaced by brand outlets and jewellery showrooms. I was thrilled to find New Kangan Stores, a general store from where mom and I purchased numerous hairpins, ribbons, needles and thread still standing in a quiet corner as ramshackled as ever. The fish cum mutton mart desperately needs a few coats of paint while many of the streets remain the same. I successfully found my way in and out of the market area.
A large number of hotels and high rises have mushroomed all over the city and the High Tech city mall - the first ever mall in the city remains the showstopper. I was amazed to see so many new structures on the XLRI campus. Having worked briefly in the library, I was once again submerged under a tsunami of memories. An old colleague took us on a tour and even treated us to lunch in the student's mess.
The Jubilee Park where I spent many a Sunday evening and enjoyed quite a few picnics looks as beauteous as ever.
Technically I belong to Maharashtra but this quiet little town in a faraway state of the county will always hold a place in my heart.
Work brought my father to the city when I was just 3 years old and we went on to live there for 22 years. Childhood was fun. With no mobile phones, there was plenty of time and space for good old-fashioned outdoor play. College was also fun. The happy, crazy gang are still in touch with each other.
Almost every place stirred up a memory and I happily travelled back in time. Visiting old neighbours reliving the good old days sure brought back so many smiles. As I stood outside the cottage that I once called home, more memories came flooding back.
I must mention the hospitality shown by the friends and neighbours who yet live in the city was more than generous. We spent the first 5 days in a club, courtesy a friend and the next 3 days at the Boulevard, now a heritage hotel. I first stayed at the hotel as a 3-year old when mom and dad moved to Jamshedpur.
Jamshedpur is basically a private town-owned and run by corporate giants Tata. It houses the Tata Iron and Steel company and the automobile plant - Tata Motors and a host of other sister concerns. People from all over India come to work in these companies and for all practical purposes, Jamshedpur was, is and will remain a cosmopolitan city. I left the city when I was 24 years old in 1989, returned to it for a couple of days in 2010 and then revisited it again this year after a span of 8 years. wAS I surprised?
The tiny, quiet town is still minus an airport but the traffic can now give traffic in any other big city a run for its money. 8 years ago I recognised many of the shops that I had grown up with but this time I found that most of them had disappeared to be replaced by brand outlets and jewellery showrooms. I was thrilled to find New Kangan Stores, a general store from where mom and I purchased numerous hairpins, ribbons, needles and thread still standing in a quiet corner as ramshackled as ever. The fish cum mutton mart desperately needs a few coats of paint while many of the streets remain the same. I successfully found my way in and out of the market area.
A large number of hotels and high rises have mushroomed all over the city and the High Tech city mall - the first ever mall in the city remains the showstopper. I was amazed to see so many new structures on the XLRI campus. Having worked briefly in the library, I was once again submerged under a tsunami of memories. An old colleague took us on a tour and even treated us to lunch in the student's mess.
The Jubilee Park where I spent many a Sunday evening and enjoyed quite a few picnics looks as beauteous as ever.
Technically I belong to Maharashtra but this quiet little town in a faraway state of the county will always hold a place in my heart.
