A place called “Saade Road”
………
Always buzzing
Unearthing raw sporting talent has been a pastime for many years. Friend Kaleem recommended an expedition to Mandi Mohalla ,an extention dominated by people of one particular religion. ahead of Bakrid, when hundreds of kids would be playing Tennis ball cricket on the maidaans . So immediately grabbed the opportunity,for old time’s sake ,though with some trepidation & requested him to make plans . Thus began an expedition which was not confined to “Talent hunt ” alone but took us on an insane romp which was not in any way relevant to talent scouting yet offered significant insights into various expressions of human nature and activity.
Navigating the bustling Sawday Road in Mandi mohalla (popularly called “Saade Road “), the maze of by-lanes and its unending rows of shops is a bizzare yet interesting experience The road is crammed with hawkers calling out prospective customers to come and check out their wares : , dry fruits, fake jewellery, towels, books, plastic bags,cosmetics, safety pins, metal idols refurbished electronic goods, …( “psst”.: & occasionally pilfered items too), name it, they’ll have it ! . If one dares to venture into the narrow lanes he is sure to find a shop that will have just what he’s looking for & at vastly slashed down prices .If a hard bargainer can keep haggling he is sure to hear a price that will excite him
“Saade Road “is truly bewildering.
There’s business on the street, business in the innumerable shops lining the
street and there’s business in the tiny
by lanes , gullies and on footpath. From Artificial silk Sarees to bolts
of garishly printed synthetic fabrics, dress material, imitation jewellery,
cutlery,& cosmetics , you can find everything under the sun here..
……….And it’s a place where you can even be killed if a stampede occurs. The heavy jostling and the sea of humans pushing from behind will ensure that you will reach your desired location without an effort
On the footpaths Smoke from huge woks sizzling with coconut sized samosas fills the air, Vendors scream, beckoning passersby with promises of the best snacks in town. Local version of pizza, baked in terracotta dishes, a quirky fusion of Indian and Italian is in great demand. It is a carnival of food Out there.
We find Unani medicine stalls manned by gaunt ,unsmiling gentlemen with white skull caps and hennaed beards, , shops with sacks full of exotic `jadi-booti’ healing herbs doing roaring business.
The place is “jugaad” for everyone ranging from future brides searching bridal lehengas , beads, sequins, lace, embroidery, ribbons, and appliques, to young men hunting refurbished mobile phones.
And there is enough evidence to re-confirm that faith is everyhere. At the intersection of Mission Hospital- Sayyaji Rao road is a small Hanuman temple, at the end where of Saade Road meets Ashoka Road is the imposing St.Philomena’s church & a few metres down the intersection, is Masjid-E-Azam Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamat on Ashoka Road.
Nevertheless,
faith and belief in the power of sacred ritual run high here on Saade Road
As
we go, we find there is a coconut ready
to be broken , a candle waiting to be lit , & a packet of incense about to
be burnt. The packed crowd of people, perceptibly less affluent are certainly
very rich in this fascinating quality called faith . As we emerge from the sea
of humans, the thought that that someone,
somewhere is taking note rings out in
the mind .
.And yes spotted half a dozen wide eyed kids on the maidaan , convinced them and received
their parents’ permission “Nimmdu Kaige Kottiddeevi”.
Now
the “Chal
mere Ghode” grind will begin !
