In the Baroda summer, when the mercury hits 44 and above, and it is so freaking uncomfortable, indoors or outdoors, (as it is these days) I often wonder what must have triggered my father’s decision to make his home in this hot and dry small town, so far from his family, more than a 1000 kms away?
Thank you very much Samir for your kind remarks. Since you are a Barodian, you might enjoy my series, Small Town Someone. I upload a story every week. This one must be my 10th story. I am not very savvy with digital platforms so I do not know how I can guide you to tge older uploads. But you can access them on my fb page. Or if you send me your WhatsApp number, I can send them to you Bd you can read them at your leisure. Each of my uploads is not more than a 3 minute read. Thank you again, Samir.
Being a 3rd generation Sabnis from the family (Shantaram Sabnis’ proud grandson), still in Baroda and continuing the friendships with Bordavekars across generationss, it’s heartening to read the beginnings being articulated so well. Thank you!
B Brothers was my favourite haunt ...my dad always took me there after visiting East and West bookshop where they had beautifully illustrated Disney and Noddy books. Peter Pan, Mickey Mouse were my imaginary friends back then. We would walk through the lane to B Brothers, this large cool supermarket where I would be placed on a highbstool while my dad and Kailas kaka had long conversations while he got my father's list together. Yes, ham sandwiches, syruped peaches, Gems, jimjam biscuits....nostalgia! Thank you Sandhya for that delightful peek back into memory lane! Those were the days.
Yes ...when we came to EME School for the first tenure in 1981, I too visited BBros n Marathe Bros....Raopura was the hub of shopping...Alkapuri was not the most frequented those days. What strikes is like the rise n fall of empires , of monarchies, of dynasties n even families ,this one is about the rise n fall of large well established shops ...you made the reading so interesting by spicing it up with family history n changes that came with the passage of time.
Great reading about these iconic shops.Wasn’t aware of your family connections especially with our Madame Sabnis.Small business specialty shops seems to belong to bygone era everywhere.Family association with shopkeepers have been lost with dust and ravages of time
It's interesting how I'm reading about what began as a small town but the story of Baroda is also the story of so many places, with the only difference being that it was also a "kingdom". A delightful read as always.
Thanks Sameer for being a regular reader!
Thanks much Suprabha mam! Do read my earlier pieces. I can wgatsapp them to you as well.
Thank you very much Samir for your kind remarks. Since you are a Barodian, you might enjoy my series, Small Town Someone. I upload a story every week. This one must be my 10th story. I am not very savvy with digital platforms so I do not know how I can guide you to tge older uploads. But you can access them on my fb page. Or if you send me your WhatsApp number, I can send them to you Bd you can read them at your leisure. Each of my uploads is not more than a 3 minute read. Thank you again, Samir.
Being a 3rd generation Sabnis from the family (Shantaram Sabnis’ proud grandson), still in Baroda and continuing the friendships with Bordavekars across generationss, it’s heartening to read the beginnings being articulated so well. Thank you!
B Brothers was my favourite haunt ...my dad always took me there after visiting East and West bookshop where they had beautifully illustrated Disney and Noddy books. Peter Pan, Mickey Mouse were my imaginary friends back then. We would walk through the lane to B Brothers, this large cool supermarket where I would be placed on a highbstool while my dad and Kailas kaka had long conversations while he got my father's list together. Yes, ham sandwiches, syruped peaches, Gems, jimjam biscuits....nostalgia! Thank you Sandhya for that delightful peek back into memory lane! Those were the days.
Oh...so many memories came alive with this article....
Lovely story. Thanks.
I knew Shantaram Sabnis quite well and remember buying food stuff—in 1970s from B Brothers —not available elsewhere.
Destiny ! reasons to come to बडोदा..😂😂
Yes ...when we came to EME School for the first tenure in 1981, I too visited BBros n Marathe Bros....Raopura was the hub of shopping...Alkapuri was not the most frequented those days. What strikes is like the rise n fall of empires , of monarchies, of dynasties n even families ,this one is about the rise n fall of large well established shops ...you made the reading so interesting by spicing it up with family history n changes that came with the passage of time.
Great reading about these iconic shops.Wasn’t aware of your family connections especially with our Madame Sabnis.Small business specialty shops seems to belong to bygone era everywhere.Family association with shopkeepers have been lost with dust and ravages of time
Interesting read. The old world charm of these establishments comes out so beautifully!
Good to deep-dive into the era when shops were social institutions by themselves.
Your sentiment resonates. Remember having visited both these shops.
Lovely read !!
It's interesting how I'm reading about what began as a small town but the story of Baroda is also the story of so many places, with the only difference being that it was also a "kingdom". A delightful read as always.