Chawl residents cherish a lifetime of memories

MUMBAI: Four generations gathered in Girgaum’s Kranti Nagar on Sunday to raise a toast to the camaraderie that was unique to the rapidly vanishing chawl life in Mumbai.

“We played games that we all played in our childhood. We also recreated the silly fights we had while playing or the squabbles the women had while filling water from a common tap. All these were recorded so that we can replay them when we no longer live here,” said Prashant Haryan, who is a member of the building’s mandal that used to organise festivals like Ganpati and Dahi Handi.

Many residents who no longer live in the chawl have been visiting it and taking pictures of their old homes, with neighbours and even local vendors. Some brought their children along for the get-together to experience life in a chawl at close quarters. “These were people who stood by us in our bad times and in good times. It was just a matter of one phone call and the entire floor would come to help. It would be nice if we can all get homes together again,” said Sunita Haryan.

The chawl was initially called Sarkari Tabela as Britishers would keep their horses there and even had some of their servant quarters; it was only in the early sixties that the chawl was renamed.

Last April, the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC) intimated the residents that the chawl would have to go for Metro. The chawls have different sizes of tenements with the smallest being 202 sq ft. As per the MMRC agreement, the tenants will get 400-plus sq ft homes in four years. Till then, they will get 11 months’ rent, which works out to Rs 25,000 for this year, and will be revised by 10% subsequently.

“We are happy that we will get bigger houses, but we are most sad about leaving this building. During Diwali we would make the lanterns for the building. The maushis (aunties) would make prasad for poojas,” said Sanjay Parab, who lives on the ground floor. “Every Sunday we would play cricket in the courtyard in front of the chawl and Sanjay dada would fill 10 bottles of water extra, knowing that we would need it while playing,” said Vedang Mhatre.

A neighbouring building was demolished by Mhada 15 years ago, but not a single new brick has been laid. That adds to the anxiety of the residents. “We are all trying to rent houses in Girgaum itself because our children go to schools here. But we are not sure when we will get our new homes,” said Timir Mhatre. Residents are in talks with MMRC to ensure they get homes in the same building and their maintenance is waived for the initial years.