Lovely. Feel so wistful thinking of what was lost as the city kept expanding. Loved the photo of them floating on barrels and jumping directly into the sea from their wall. This article really brought reclamation to life for me. How everyday peoples lives changed overnight.
Shormishta, thank you for this. I see Francis Dharmai signed on the 1 anna stamp. I am a Dharmai and my great great grandfather was a Francis Dharmai (he did carpentry though). I wonder of there's a connection. We have only two branches of Dharmais, one in Chimbai and one on Chapel Road. I belong to the Chimbai one so I doubt it's the same Francis. I will come back to this when I begin working on my larger family tree. Thank you!
Hi Britney. Such a coincidence. I just met someone from Chapel Road, who said his surname was originally Dharmai, and he was from Chimbai. I'd love to know who was the person who signed the document. Hopefully, somewhere it'll connect to something, and we'll know.
This is priceless! Thank you for sharing. Jazzman Joe was telling us about bathing in the sea, back in the day, at these spots and was wondering what the water and the views would've been like.
. This was forwarded to me by Fr Aubrey Fernandes SJ. Aubrey, Tucky and I were class mates in St Stanislaus. Later National College/ MMK.
Yes Tucky would take us for a boat ride and anchor somewhere opp Mahim Church. All 3 of us would then swim in the open sea. Fortunately JAWS had not released then, so we were ignorant of any danger lurking below!
Tucky also had a cowdung Badminton Court in his compound. It had a beautiful aroma! Cspt Melville too would join us in playing.
These memories give me goosebumps and bring tears to my eyes. I was born in '78 in Bandra, and what we experienced then compared to what we see now is truly disheartening. Our children no longer have open spaces to play. The green and blue Bandra we once knew is gone. I believe my generation was the last to truly enjoy Bandra and play freely in the open. The fun and spirit that people had back then are hard to find in today’s Bandra. Now, the lost love of Bandra lives on only in our hearts and memories, until we walk away from this life."
I just documented someone in my lane and they spoke about all the games they used to play on the road. How all the neighbourhood kids knew each other. Now it’s impossible to walk in my lane without looking over your shoulder for a speeding vehicle.
You're doing amazing work documenting these lives and places! :) Big fan, always looking forward to your work! Please never stop writing, you're great at this!
Lovely. Feel so wistful thinking of what was lost as the city kept expanding. Loved the photo of them floating on barrels and jumping directly into the sea from their wall. This article really brought reclamation to life for me. How everyday peoples lives changed overnight.
So well said. Wistful is the word I was looking for. And yes, it really was that, lives and a way of living changing overnight.
Loved this blast from the past.
Thank you :)
Shormishta, thank you for this. I see Francis Dharmai signed on the 1 anna stamp. I am a Dharmai and my great great grandfather was a Francis Dharmai (he did carpentry though). I wonder of there's a connection. We have only two branches of Dharmais, one in Chimbai and one on Chapel Road. I belong to the Chimbai one so I doubt it's the same Francis. I will come back to this when I begin working on my larger family tree. Thank you!
Hi Britney. Such a coincidence. I just met someone from Chapel Road, who said his surname was originally Dharmai, and he was from Chimbai. I'd love to know who was the person who signed the document. Hopefully, somewhere it'll connect to something, and we'll know.
This is priceless! Thank you for sharing. Jazzman Joe was telling us about bathing in the sea, back in the day, at these spots and was wondering what the water and the views would've been like.
Shared part of this with Tucky, Halcyon days
. This was forwarded to me by Fr Aubrey Fernandes SJ. Aubrey, Tucky and I were class mates in St Stanislaus. Later National College/ MMK.
Yes Tucky would take us for a boat ride and anchor somewhere opp Mahim Church. All 3 of us would then swim in the open sea. Fortunately JAWS had not released then, so we were ignorant of any danger lurking below!
Tucky also had a cowdung Badminton Court in his compound. It had a beautiful aroma! Cspt Melville too would join us in playing.
Lovely memories
Edwin Fernandes
haha! Love the bit about JAWS had not released. Thank you for sharing your memories. So lovely to imagine a peaceful, easy Bandra.
These memories give me goosebumps and bring tears to my eyes. I was born in '78 in Bandra, and what we experienced then compared to what we see now is truly disheartening. Our children no longer have open spaces to play. The green and blue Bandra we once knew is gone. I believe my generation was the last to truly enjoy Bandra and play freely in the open. The fun and spirit that people had back then are hard to find in today’s Bandra. Now, the lost love of Bandra lives on only in our hearts and memories, until we walk away from this life."
I just documented someone in my lane and they spoke about all the games they used to play on the road. How all the neighbourhood kids knew each other. Now it’s impossible to walk in my lane without looking over your shoulder for a speeding vehicle.
You're doing amazing work documenting these lives and places! :) Big fan, always looking forward to your work! Please never stop writing, you're great at this!
Thank you :) You made my day