I was out on a walk to explore the Deccan Gymkhana neighbourhood of Pune when my feet just stopped in its tracks on Prabhat road. Towards my right was a vintage home tucked between two modern apartment buildings. It looked quite old, probably belonged to the colonial era but it was still intact. I don’t think anyone was living in it right now but it seemed good enough to be lived in.
This vintage charming bungalow made mostly using stone (basalt/Deccan trap) and wood stood out amongst its steel and concrete brethren.
It had a sloping tiled roof just the way we used to draw as kids. But that is not all, the sloping roof had wooden trims along the edges like a lace on a pretty dress. Not only this, the façade of the house had unique diamond-shaped motifs that I hadn’t seen anywhere before.
Wood and glass windows in the stone walls gave it a ginger bread house like appearance. The fine wooden fretwork on both sides of the window must have given the occupants both visibility and privacy. In olden times high ceilings and spacious verandahs were built to withstand the Indian climate.
I got to know that similar bungalows were built in this area during the early 20th century when Pune or rather Deccan was considered a ‘pensioner's paradise’.
I wish I had access to the bungalow. For some time, I pondered as to how the daily lives of people living in this house and locality would have been. How they would have used the various rooms in those times. What would have been their favourite pastimes? Gardening, for sure; apart from ink and sports as it was the Gymkhana neighbourhood. The front garden must have been well maintained, blooming with seasonal flowers.
While the garden now is a carpet of dry leaves, the green canopy around it is a testimony to the lush greenery of those times when time, sun had moved slowly across the courtyard, fondly nourishing the good times.
The stoic bungalow invoked a sense of nameless nostalgia, of the old times that I was not even a part of. I wish it withstands the test of time for years to come and doesn’t get under the bull-dozer to be converted into yet another apartment or commercial property.
Reference:
1. https://www.punememories.com/post/deccan-gymkhana
