We often hear stories of fairylands when we are children. Of places where everything is picture-perfect and all the people are happy. For me, this fairyland existed not just in these stories but all around me. I was really fortunate to have spent my childhood in a place which closely resembled the description of these wonder lands in books.
It was a small world which we inhabited when we were residents of a place called Race Course in the Doon Valley. The entire place was like a big house and all residents were like a big family. Neighbours were close to each other and shared all joys and sorrows. They spent a great part of the day with each other. As far as the children were concerned, there was a toli (team) of each age group and we would stick to the group to which we belonged.
The older boys played cricket, the younger boys played marbles, the older girls played kho-kho and pitthu (seven tiles) while the little girls like me played with dolls and geettaas (little colourful wooden cubes which we would throw in the air and catch before they touched the floor). However, one thing which all the children, little or big, took part in were the sly summer afternoon visits to the fruit orchards that were part of almost every house.
The litchi, mango, mulberry and plum trees that were abundant in Race Course homes were our destination and light. Despite them being closely guarded by maalis and caretakers, we managed to have our fill of these luscious fruits. The maalis, mostly old men, used to give up after a point and we would plunder the fruit trees while the adults enjoyed their siesta. Those were amazing days. Pure joy!
The Doon Valley was at the height of its natural splendour and its seasons were extremely beautiful. The summers were so mild that they were hardly felt, the rains were always more than abundant and the winters were extreme! The snowfall in Mussoorie was not as it is now. It used to be heavy and stayed on for some days. From Race Course, the snow covered peaks could be clearly seen and this gave a lovely dimension to that area. Even today, Race Course has a charm that has vanished from most places of the Valley. The wide curving roads, the trees on the roads as well as within houses, the pretty houses and affectionate people can still be found in Race Course, if not in other parts of the Valley.
It is built in a way (as it was actually a Race Course during British times) that one can come back to the same spot after travelling the entire circular road of the area. So, every house can be approached from either side of the circle. In the middle of the colony is the Gurdwara which binds all people together as a picturesque meeting point.
The celebrations of Guru Parvs in this Gurdwara are elaborate and looked forward to by the entire city. There is a touch of grandeur to all things in this colony. It is not the gated type of colony but a widespread, huge part of the Valley where all are free to walk about and enjoy its ambience. The market is small but well-organised and attractive. When I lived there in my early years, there were just three or four shops which were adequate for the small number of residents. One of the shops was our favourite as the gentleman there sold and exotic variety of toffees and chocolates like Mars, Dollars, Fruitex and Fruity.
Fruity was a brand of colourful toffees with delicious fruit flavours like orange, strawberry, raspberry, peach and lemon. Fruitex was also the same but a bit difficult to chew! Postage stamps came packed in the fruitex toffee and pictures of animals from all over the world were found inside fruity. Things were far simpler and choices were so limited. However, happiness was unlimited and aspirations reasonable .
This circular world provided us with all we could ever ask for. It was the entire world to us. Even today, when I go to Race Course, I can feel the same emotions. The pace of life has not changed much in this world of leisure, affection and peace. The house where we had then lived stood there all these years. Only a few years ago was it broken down and now a new building stands there.
Many of the old houses remain. And of course, the view of the Himalayas is very much the same. That will never change. Thank God for mountains!