How green was my Bandra

The bugs and birds edition

I have my favourite trees in Bandra. The rain tree at the start of Chimbai Road extension. The baobab tree opposite the Bandra post office. The 90 year old mango tree in front of A1 Bakery. The big mango tree at Landmark building, where I once spotted a kingfisher. The spindly custard apple tree that’s long gone in the side compound of one of the houses at Ranwar square.

I’m also lucky that the building in front of mine is an old fashioned mid 70’s building, with a tiny bit of lawn in front and at the back. And flowerbeds running along the building. What this means is every morning in summer and winter, if I wake up really early, I am rewarded by the sound of a long and jaunty bird’s whistle. I used to think it’s the Malabar Whistling Thrush which is also called the Whistling Schoolboy, but now know that it’s the White Throated Fantail that’s so chirpy in the morning.

But then, in the process of documenting the oral history of the senior generation in Bandra, I landed up on Convent Road, at a beautiful sunshiny cottage called El Dorado. Built in 1932, it has a garden in the front. And what a treasure that 6000 X 8000 mm garden is. Yes, Brian D’Souza who lives there measured it and added the ‘approximately’ disclaimer!

That garden attracts so many creatures. Plus they have a bird feeder at the window, and a small water pedestal made out of scrapped sanitaryware fittings. I also met a fat snail that wanders around their property, and realised it’s been ages since I saw a snail.

Every time I visit El Dorado, or look at the building in front of mine, I wonder why the new buildings can’t have flower beds and trees intact on the side. Why can’t my Bandra remain green. Also, just to clarify, ornamental palms are not real trees that birds or bugs are likely to get excited about.

Till then, here’s what’s seen at El Dorado. All pictures are taken by Brian.

If you’d like to read about the lived history of the D’Souza family and El Dorado, click here - Finding Sunshine On Convent Road. Also maybee, you’d like to subscribe to this newsletter.