Summer memories of Allahabad
Summer is the season when nature manifests its anger, with some sweet relief in the shape of melons, cucumber and mangoes . Though some retreat to vacations to colder latitudes but the large majority have to slug the heat to make the ends meet.
The summer is in full bloom, the monsoons are awaited , the temperatures are being monitored. The birds search for water in streets and doorsteps of concrete structures! The dogs gasp with elongated tongues, the world moves on!
Summer brings many memories. In Vishakhapatnam I would regularly read the fatality count on account of 'Heat stroke' , most who died were poor labourers working on roadside without shade and who did not have the freedom to stay secure at home. Now I am in Goa and here too the summer heat and humidity is sapping .
However , many memories of the summers spent in the heat waves of Allahabad come rushing; though all seasons visit Allahabad, the city is famous for its summer! My Mother returning home by rickshaw after her examination duties, would insist that an urn full of water be given to the 'Rickshawala' and she would ensure that a piece of 'gur' ( jaggery) is also given as it was her belief that in hot weather when one was sweating one should not drink cold water empty stomach. Water serving points( piau) were available at street corners as it was the custom of the city.
The summer began soon after Holi and ended close to Diwali, May to August were the hottest period. At that time air conditioners were non-existent in middle class homes , later we could afford water coolers ;but not in all rooms.
In summers we would lie on the floor and the solitary USHA fan was our source of survival; the fan is still serviceable! The heat in Allahabad was a challenge, we were always cautioned to guard against the dreaded 'loo' ( the heat wave peculiar to summer seasons in eastern UP) and covered our head with a soft towel when venturing out, the agony was aggravated by the fact that the movement was slow , either on cycle or on rickshaw; scooter came later which was a relief. Sometimes I would see a solitary person on the road between High Court and Circuit House on a cycle with his head covered fighting the heat wave and opposing hot wind and trying to make way, his movement ahead would be very slow and from a distance it would appear the cycle was stationary on the road. During the afternoons the only shops open would be 'Paan/bidi/cigarette'!.
My Father also suffered in summers along with other lawyers as there was no change in the dress regulation, he was tied down by the black coat and what accompanied Lawyers' uniform and was sweating all the time , there were white sweat marks perennially under the arms of his coat. Maybe the court rooms were air conditioned/air cooled or 'khus-khus' was put in but the trip to 'High Court' was full of hot air and slowness of 'Rickshaw' made it even more treacherous . Most Government offices had coolers for the officers and 'Khas- Khas' mats for the staff, casual staff was recruited during the period to water the vertical 'Khas-Khas' mats fixed to the doors and the windows which cooled the air and the very smell /aroma of Khus -Khus was refreshing (I miss those days).
Reading occupied much of our time during vacations; Nandan, Parag ( children's magazines) when children and weekly/ fortnightly magazines such as Samtahik Hindustan, Dharmyug, Illustrated weekly, when grown up. We soon graduated to reading Premchand and James Hadley Chase. 'Panna'( a drink made of raw mangoes, fresh mint and sugar/jaggery) was available at home and 'Kissan's ' orange and lemon squash and 'Rasna' were also there, Coke was a luxury. Water was cooled in a big 'Ghara' ( a big earthen container ) which was filled in the morning, it was supplemented by a few 'surahis' ( a slim earthen container- Pitcher ).
Water purifiers and filters were non-existent. 'Surahi' was carried during journeys on train and often purchased at the station and whilst disembarking either handed over to a fellow passenger or broken by throwing them out of the train. It was a common belief and experience that the water of 'Surahi' was the sweetest ( or was it the water of Jamuna in Allahabad which was sweet?).
In the evenings when the sun had set but the warmth persisted we would look out for the Ice – cream vendor of the famous local 'Rita ice-cream' . During that era each town and city had its local brand of ice-cream and the big brands monopoly had not set in.
Sometimes we friends would go to swim at the enclosed 'coral club' swimming pool. Cucumber the thick and thin variety were relished after application of liberal salt and red chilly , the 'Kharbujas' ( melon)of Allahabad are to be found nowhere else , green in colour from inside and yellow-green pattern outside , always sweet, we made juice out of it when 'mixies' arrived. Mangoes would be suckled passionately; at least 5 to 6 in one go; the small desi variety . Allahabad is blessed with huge tamarind trees which not only provide shade but sweet and sour fruit which was strewn on the road struck by wind or bird or children throwing stones to pluck the ripe and raw fruit . On certain occasions we were treated to the famous 'thandai'( a beverage made of milk and dry fruits).
Clothes most preferred were half pants /Tshirts and the universal white loose kurta-pyjamas. The vegetables grew despite the heat and 'lauki, tinda parbal' were available in good numbers and variety . These were grown in 'kachar'( a sandy region close to the river). My mother would invariably shop for the vegetables and fruits on her return from college from the road adjacent to Government Press and behind the AG Office, where fresh vegetables and fruits of the season were available. At night, the fruits and vegetables from the 'kachar' were carried on camels' back to the mandi for sale the early next day. It was a picturesque sight to see the camels in one line slowly moving toward their destination as the cycles and rickshaw plied alongside. Most camels were loaded with 'water melons' on both sides .
Many years have passed since I left the historic city but I remember it for many reasons and one is its distinct summer- the fragrance of the 'heated earth' is deeply etched in my heart and mind.
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Time of India
14-05-2025
- Time of India
Summer memories of Allahabad
Summer is the season when nature manifests its anger, with some sweet relief in the shape of melons, cucumber and mangoes . Though some retreat to vacations to colder latitudes but the large majority have to slug the heat to make the ends meet. The summer is in full bloom, the monsoons are awaited , the temperatures are being monitored. The birds search for water in streets and doorsteps of concrete structures! The dogs gasp with elongated tongues, the world moves on! Summer brings many memories. In Vishakhapatnam I would regularly read the fatality count on account of 'Heat stroke' , most who died were poor labourers working on roadside without shade and who did not have the freedom to stay secure at home. Now I am in Goa and here too the summer heat and humidity is sapping . However , many memories of the summers spent in the heat waves of Allahabad come rushing; though all seasons visit Allahabad, the city is famous for its summer! My Mother returning home by rickshaw after her examination duties, would insist that an urn full of water be given to the 'Rickshawala' and she would ensure that a piece of 'gur' ( jaggery) is also given as it was her belief that in hot weather when one was sweating one should not drink cold water empty stomach. Water serving points( piau) were available at street corners as it was the custom of the city. The summer began soon after Holi and ended close to Diwali, May to August were the hottest period. At that time air conditioners were non-existent in middle class homes , later we could afford water coolers ;but not in all rooms. In summers we would lie on the floor and the solitary USHA fan was our source of survival; the fan is still serviceable! The heat in Allahabad was a challenge, we were always cautioned to guard against the dreaded 'loo' ( the heat wave peculiar to summer seasons in eastern UP) and covered our head with a soft towel when venturing out, the agony was aggravated by the fact that the movement was slow , either on cycle or on rickshaw; scooter came later which was a relief. Sometimes I would see a solitary person on the road between High Court and Circuit House on a cycle with his head covered fighting the heat wave and opposing hot wind and trying to make way, his movement ahead would be very slow and from a distance it would appear the cycle was stationary on the road. During the afternoons the only shops open would be 'Paan/bidi/cigarette'!. My Father also suffered in summers along with other lawyers as there was no change in the dress regulation, he was tied down by the black coat and what accompanied Lawyers' uniform and was sweating all the time , there were white sweat marks perennially under the arms of his coat. Maybe the court rooms were air conditioned/air cooled or 'khus-khus' was put in but the trip to 'High Court' was full of hot air and slowness of 'Rickshaw' made it even more treacherous . Most Government offices had coolers for the officers and 'Khas- Khas' mats for the staff, casual staff was recruited during the period to water the vertical 'Khas-Khas' mats fixed to the doors and the windows which cooled the air and the very smell /aroma of Khus -Khus was refreshing (I miss those days). Reading occupied much of our time during vacations; Nandan, Parag ( children's magazines) when children and weekly/ fortnightly magazines such as Samtahik Hindustan, Dharmyug, Illustrated weekly, when grown up. We soon graduated to reading Premchand and James Hadley Chase. 'Panna'( a drink made of raw mangoes, fresh mint and sugar/jaggery) was available at home and 'Kissan's ' orange and lemon squash and 'Rasna' were also there, Coke was a luxury. Water was cooled in a big 'Ghara' ( a big earthen container ) which was filled in the morning, it was supplemented by a few 'surahis' ( a slim earthen container- Pitcher ). Water purifiers and filters were non-existent. 'Surahi' was carried during journeys on train and often purchased at the station and whilst disembarking either handed over to a fellow passenger or broken by throwing them out of the train. It was a common belief and experience that the water of 'Surahi' was the sweetest ( or was it the water of Jamuna in Allahabad which was sweet?). In the evenings when the sun had set but the warmth persisted we would look out for the Ice – cream vendor of the famous local 'Rita ice-cream' . During that era each town and city had its local brand of ice-cream and the big brands monopoly had not set in. Sometimes we friends would go to swim at the enclosed 'coral club' swimming pool. Cucumber the thick and thin variety were relished after application of liberal salt and red chilly , the 'Kharbujas' ( melon)of Allahabad are to be found nowhere else , green in colour from inside and yellow-green pattern outside , always sweet, we made juice out of it when 'mixies' arrived. Mangoes would be suckled passionately; at least 5 to 6 in one go; the small desi variety . Allahabad is blessed with huge tamarind trees which not only provide shade but sweet and sour fruit which was strewn on the road struck by wind or bird or children throwing stones to pluck the ripe and raw fruit . On certain occasions we were treated to the famous 'thandai'( a beverage made of milk and dry fruits). Clothes most preferred were half pants /Tshirts and the universal white loose kurta-pyjamas. The vegetables grew despite the heat and 'lauki, tinda parbal' were available in good numbers and variety . These were grown in 'kachar'( a sandy region close to the river). My mother would invariably shop for the vegetables and fruits on her return from college from the road adjacent to Government Press and behind the AG Office, where fresh vegetables and fruits of the season were available. At night, the fruits and vegetables from the 'kachar' were carried on camels' back to the mandi for sale the early next day. It was a picturesque sight to see the camels in one line slowly moving toward their destination as the cycles and rickshaw plied alongside. Most camels were loaded with 'water melons' on both sides . Many years have passed since I left the historic city but I remember it for many reasons and one is its distinct summer- the fragrance of the 'heated earth' is deeply etched in my heart and mind. 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