The City as it was in 1960s.: Small enough to walk through in minutes

My mental Map of my little city should really start at that heady slope that descended from mathura road down on railway road past Ojha Niwas with its letters of OM. The rickshaw would gain speed and we would feel so exhilarated, almost liberated. The narrow road with its jagged edges would go past Jaipur Golden, Mango trees on both sides and then, the Mango orchard. A wide turn to the right and there was the Kakkar Saw Mills. There to the left beyond the pulia was the way to masjid that we hardly took because in the rainy season it was often under water and scary. HUGE Talaab, the biggest of all in any nearby towns or cities one would see. A few fields on either side of the road. A huge teela on the right, a tiny yellow primary school building and a pagdandi going to Daultabaad village. The road continued into town, Choudhry Dev Raj household on left and Huge Faridabad Dal Mill Shed on the right: Functioning as an Atta Chakki and Tel Chakki for most part.

A 90 degrees left and One straight road into town called, MAIN BAZAAR. Here I would give you a feel as if one is walking A reference to left and right as one walked up the street. That unmistakable small city smell of sweets, baking, spices, smoke of baking matkas, naaalis all combining to make a complete collage. Ch. Bihari lal home on left, A couple of tea shops, Tulsi Ram- Milawa Ram Kiriana shop on the right. Jai Lal Halwaai, Gajjak Waale Bharbhoojas on right. with a lane going to the Kumhaar Wara with its unmistakable smoke and scent.The Iconic Vohra Commercial College on left, Shaaru Naai and with his brother's cycle repair shop on right. Then followed the Bhatia residence and Ration Shop next to it, A shoe store on left side with its unique projection advertising machine. The side lanes to the Sarai on left side and the Subzi Mandi on right side followed. At this crossing was the "shop" of legendary Hakim Tek Chand Ji. I must add Ji because of the father figure that he was. Then came Tikaaya Ram with his famous daal and pakoras at sharp 4 PM. Krishna Beej Bhandaar facing it on the right. Another Bhatia operation on the left side, with Famous Ved Hotel, The wood, bamboo, and jute / Baan store on right side, Very popular Shaam Lal Pansaari on left along with Dr. Lakhkha ( Lakshmi Dutt) clinic, andThaana Ram's electrical shop. Everyones favourite Prahlad book store on the right side along with the only bakery in town. Ah !! the sweet smell of baking buiscuits. The beauty was we could bring our atta and ghee and get our own biscuits made. As we went further, the Bijli Daftar on left and a fcatory on right ( I never knew what they did. !!) . The aroma of kachori, puri alloo, jalebi floated morning, evening from shop of Raghuvar Dayal Halvaai on the right. Now I have only covered half of the Bazaar and hopefully not confused you. Journey up the street to continue. JOIN IN WITH YOUR COMMENTS.