Growing up in Skyroom-era Kolkata holds fond memories for many of our surfers. In a previous story (
You Did These 20 Things if You Grew up in Kolkata and You Are Over 30), we asked you to share your stories from the City of Joy as it was in the '80s and '90s. Here's some of what you told us:
Joy said:1)Play cricket and Football at Maidan in the morning and the chai and snacks at Bhawanipur, near Gurudwara
2) Watch art movies at Nandan and stroll around academy of fine arts
3) Jogubazar snacks shop & those hot cutlets and Kabiraji
4) A full plate of Sukhiya street's sweets for lunch!
5) Nehru Cup at Eden gardens -.first of its kind International football tournament in India
6) Going around Victoria Memorial on a horse cart, that too on a rainy evening with lots of friends!
7) Sneak into Tolly Club to play a game of football and see people play golf!
7) Visit the very first so called mall "Charnock City"
8) Catch 9.20 am Metro from Tollygunj and look for the same face you adore!
9) Go to Sheorafuly for a walk down to Shiv Temple with water buckets
10) Morning walk around the Lake and Bijoli Grill eatery in Rashbehari
11) Durga Pujo celebrations in South Kolkata, specially the Maddox Square Pujo. Cheers!
Deepti Chibber said:Thank you for reviving old memories - of Flury's, stick jaws, Jetsons, adjusting antennas, dress circle, second hand National Geographics andn some more...Oh! Calcutta!
An anonymous surfer said:Also who can forget
a) the kathi rolls at Gariahat Mode
b) walking down the road from Gariahat to Kalighat Metro station admiring the myriad stuff on display at the box shops that occupied the footpath!
c) bunking school to go and play video games at India Hobby Center
d) eating puchkas and jhaal muri from the roadside "bhaiyya" vendors -germs (whaddat?) and all!
dmrdas said:Even though I am a Telugu from Chennai my school days were spent in Calcutta way back in 1957 to 1963. Wah, those were the days when I really enjoyed my childhood what a city. It is rains it rains cats and dogs , no school, but would always want to wade through waist deep water in Gariahat. How can I forget, puchkas and muri? Pani puri today is not even shade of puchkas. How can I forget rossogollas? In early 2000, I visited Calcutta en route to Darjeeling, I tasted rossogollas and singadas. They taste the same as they did in the '50s. I cannot forget the days of grand Durga Puja and Kali Puja. Maximum community gathering ever. Cannot forget playing football in monsoon in Lake area.
An anonymous surfer said:I remember going to buy movie tickets for my family when 'My Fair Lady' was released. For Dress Circle, the tickets cost Rs 1.50p each, considered in those days a handsome amount. We were so excited for a week before, as the Elite Cinema had been specially refurbished for the release of this movie. We arrived well in time and I can still feel that excitement as children when we entered. My parents treated us to pop corn and chips during the interval, which was the ultimate treat for the evening. It was an evening we remembered and recalled for weeks. I wish those simple joys would just return and life could go backwards sometimes.
Singhikulam Vishwanathan said:Who can forget cricket at the Maidan or the tram rides to nowhere, the noon shows at Basusree or Navina or wherever, the Cricket in the middle of the roads on "bandh" days
Navin Jhingan said:Everyday 'adda' with friends in the evening, visiting Pujo pandals across the city from Sasthi to Navami, playing cricket/football on the 'bandh (strike)' day. Born and brought up in the city but left 16 years ago. So many fond memories. Feeling nostalgic. Love you Calcutta.
Haaris said:New Market - true. Globe - Miss you (New Empire, glad you are still there), Nat Geo (Rs 8), Reader's Digest and Tinkle (Rs 5 a piece) - mine used to come from Calcutta University campus footpath. Scoop - ahhh. Nizam's - still my first love. Miss you my dear city. Alas, you're not the same anymore