Barh mohalla, a locality closest to our house. So naturally we knew it the most or at times knew it at its best. My father's best friend and associate, Dr. Lakshmi Datt lived there so we did venture into it quite often as children. Sunil. his son was one of my best childhood friends. My memories about the 60s-70s and its famous residents is aided by my friend from Nursery- KG classes, now a well established, well respected, Dr. N. K . Goyal,. Nindo to us little ones. My other friends from illustrious families of this neighbourhood, guddoo, came from the numberdaar family. Mool chand or MOOLA !! my classmate from Faridabad high school. There were other famous boys and men who put Faridabad bad on Haryana and National wrestling map, I clearly remember Rohtas Pehlwaan and his younger brother. (will check and see who else continued with the tradition after them). Dr. Lakshmi Datt's medicine legacy was followed by Dr, Soni Parasher, who likely was The First MBBS, ,MD physicians in old faridabad who was FROM the city. His younger brother Dr. Suresh Parasher later started practice too . The third generation doctors of the family are now practicing in United States.
The mohalla map of those days not being available, I would venture using my description skills. Imagine the railway road entry into the city (right past our house) intersecting with main bazaar road. A by lane slightly to the right going into Barh Mohalla. It seems that this road is now called Pt. Brijnandan Marg,. Memorable landmark for us into the lane was the New Style Tailor and Halwai shop right at the intersection. As one went into the lane, Faridabad Public School functioned over Birju's Atta Chakki for some time. Later on, it moved to Sheikh Wara. House of Lala Ram Chand on the left and House of my Friend Shakti, his brother Bakshi ( Gurbaksh, a classmate of my eldest brother Vas Dev Choudhry). Adjacent to that on the right was Verma Electricals, a work shop of my high school class mates, Ram Kishore and Raj Kishore Verma. The next memorable land mark further down the lane was the comforting sight of the peepal tree, a clean well or Kuaan. A street on the left went to the Dhobi Wada. But my dear friends, Narinder and, Mahender Goyal lived there so we did go there quite often. Back to describing the lay out beyond the Kuan was the Barh Mohalla Chaupaal. Quite a fun place, with a huge tree giving shadow. Bylanes to the right went deep into Barh Mohalla. This section will likely get a lot more modified after my interviews with Dr. Soni, Dr. Goyal and with my friend Mool Chand, who I am sure is a Grand Father of a few by now. Here is a map of the area that was Barh Mohalla.
ICONIC CHAUPAAL NOW IN A STATE OF DISARRAY
Dr. Soni Parashar, Son of Dr. Lakshmi Datt, seen here with his son.
Dr. Narinder Goyal, my friend from Nursery-KG to high school.. Now a great resource in completing historical gaps.
The historic landmark Peepal Tree. Its medicinal, ecological value is highlighted by its religious status. Yet !!, We let concrete grow all around it.
Gali (lane) leading into Barh Mohalla
Ancestral Home of Dr. Lakshmi Datt. We attended many Daawats here and in the Nauhra. A few weddings, including Dr. Soni's.
Outer Barh Mohalla
Commentaires