MADURA COATS COLONY VK PURAM /BEST PLACE -62
I have had the good fortune of being brought up and later lived in a gated community all my life . My early remembrances of having lived in the railway colony at varoius places by virtue of my father having been a senior officer at Kharagpur , Garden Reach Kolkata , Chakradharpur and Bhilai bring back nostalgic memories of the many Diwali , Durga Pooja and other festivals . Being a small and almost a closed community , every family was on very intimate terms with others and lived almost like an extended family .
Having done my college in Mumbai and after being in service there in a Textile Mill there , the transition to the Madura Coats Colony at VK Puram was not something which was easy . The temptation to call it quits and board the next train back to Mumbai was always a lingering thought .
I got over it slowly and today i can proudly say that it was the BEST , WRONG decision i had ever made in my life .
I do not want to dwell on the quality of life at the workplace , the fact that i spent nearly 30 years of my more than contented working life is a statement in itself .
Nestled as it is on the foothills of the Western Ghats or Pothigai Malai , this colony of 100 + houses is a drawback to the British Era . This colony is almost 130 + years old now .
The tiled houses with neat tree lined interconeecting pathways would connect not only the people living in the colony but also the large stock of Rhesus and black faced Langoor monkeys who were the original inhabitants of this habitat .
The Colony Club and the Tambarabarani Club were places where everyone let out their strain after their hard day at work . The Tennis and Badminton Court , The Swimming Pool , Billiards and card table were always a great draw both for the schoolgoing youngsters , the lady folks and ofcourse their husbands .
The colony club celebrations of Diwali , Pongal , Christmas , Onam and the New Year Celebrations still remain etched in perfect memory .
The bimonthly screening of the latest movie at the colony club every alternate weekend was an event in itself , apart from the movie , the CHOLE BHATUREY being the master attraction especially for the kids during the interval break .
The VIKAASA SCHOOL was by all accounts one of the best schools in and around the place and was one of the primary reasons for the decision of many to stay put in the place inspite of better lucrative offers elsewhere . Today , my Daughter and Son are well placed in life largely due to their Education at Vikaasa .
The hoot of the siren at 5 , 6.30 , 7 , 11 and 11.30 AM and 2 , 3 , 7 , 7.30 and 10 PM will never be forgotten as being shift going persons our body clock was attuned to these hoots .
This colony was the first one to be provided with the Cooking Gas Connection and the TV Dish Antennas in each and every house of the colony even as others in the area were just beginning to hear of the same .
The Monthly Trip to Tirunelveli from the colony and back on a saturday by a bus of the then KTC found favour with all for the purchase , movie , eating out opportunities .It gave the colony residents an excuse to seek an evening out with their family .
The afternoon hoot of the Ambulance Van to transport both the firm and not so infirm residents of the colony to the Mill Dispensary just a short distance away was always a boon .
Lastly , the security was so good that in my whole 30 years of stay in the colony there was not even a single case of any theft or pilferage save for the occasional outreach by the Monkeys and Langoors .
Tell me , how many places can proclaim to have all such facilities.
Thanks to everyone , both on land and to the Heavenly for making this possible for me and my family .
PS : I WRITE THIS SOME 17 YEARS AFTER I HAVE LEFT THE COLONY , PLEASE IGNORE OVERSIGHT IF ANY
Having done my college in Mumbai and after being in service there in a Textile Mill there , the transition to the Madura Coats Colony at VK Puram was not something which was easy . The temptation to call it quits and board the next train back to Mumbai was always a lingering thought .
I got over it slowly and today i can proudly say that it was the BEST , WRONG decision i had ever made in my life .
I do not want to dwell on the quality of life at the workplace , the fact that i spent nearly 30 years of my more than contented working life is a statement in itself .
Nestled as it is on the foothills of the Western Ghats or Pothigai Malai , this colony of 100 + houses is a drawback to the British Era . This colony is almost 130 + years old now .
The tiled houses with neat tree lined interconeecting pathways would connect not only the people living in the colony but also the large stock of Rhesus and black faced Langoor monkeys who were the original inhabitants of this habitat .
The Colony Club and the Tambarabarani Club were places where everyone let out their strain after their hard day at work . The Tennis and Badminton Court , The Swimming Pool , Billiards and card table were always a great draw both for the schoolgoing youngsters , the lady folks and ofcourse their husbands .
The colony club celebrations of Diwali , Pongal , Christmas , Onam and the New Year Celebrations still remain etched in perfect memory .
The bimonthly screening of the latest movie at the colony club every alternate weekend was an event in itself , apart from the movie , the CHOLE BHATUREY being the master attraction especially for the kids during the interval break .
The VIKAASA SCHOOL was by all accounts one of the best schools in and around the place and was one of the primary reasons for the decision of many to stay put in the place inspite of better lucrative offers elsewhere . Today , my Daughter and Son are well placed in life largely due to their Education at Vikaasa .
The hoot of the siren at 5 , 6.30 , 7 , 11 and 11.30 AM and 2 , 3 , 7 , 7.30 and 10 PM will never be forgotten as being shift going persons our body clock was attuned to these hoots .
This colony was the first one to be provided with the Cooking Gas Connection and the TV Dish Antennas in each and every house of the colony even as others in the area were just beginning to hear of the same .
The Monthly Trip to Tirunelveli from the colony and back on a saturday by a bus of the then KTC found favour with all for the purchase , movie , eating out opportunities .It gave the colony residents an excuse to seek an evening out with their family .
The afternoon hoot of the Ambulance Van to transport both the firm and not so infirm residents of the colony to the Mill Dispensary just a short distance away was always a boon .
Lastly , the security was so good that in my whole 30 years of stay in the colony there was not even a single case of any theft or pilferage save for the occasional outreach by the Monkeys and Langoors .
Tell me , how many places can proclaim to have all such facilities.
Thanks to everyone , both on land and to the Heavenly for making this possible for me and my family .
PS : I WRITE THIS SOME 17 YEARS AFTER I HAVE LEFT THE COLONY , PLEASE IGNORE OVERSIGHT IF ANY
Indeed - I wish I had come there and spent more time when you lived in the colony Anna
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