The shaam's at Shyam Da’s
The shaam's at Shyam Da’s
=======================
I first heard of this place while in first year - the mention of the name terrorized me at that time because all I knew about the place then, was that it was the most popular hangout for all senior batches in college.
My first memories of the place, way back in first year were frightening because of the stressful interrogation I was subjected to at Shyam Da's.
I remember my first time at Shyam Da, it was during the CDS selection. It was after the selection formalities were done and we were to go back, somehow I lagged behind in the line and was conveniently held up for questioning. I detested the place then, only because of the predicament I was placed in.
However as the year's rolled by, these memories faded away and were replaced by an intense fondness for the place. In the evenings I was always at Shyam Da's because of two reasons, the first being inadequate evening snacks in our mess and the second being spare time with nothing to do.
After savoring the delicacies on display for instance veg patties, chicken patties, samosa, cutlet, rum-ball etc I used to settle down with a chaai and a WILLS in a corner with a particular group, after that it was endless gachiyaaing on any topic of choice which grabbed the interest of the group on that particular day. There used to be repeating orders of Tea and cigarette sent out to Shyam Da at regular intervals. Then I used to go to Shyam Da to either settle my bill for the day or get it written down in my khaata when there was a cash crunch.
There were only a few occasions when I have seen Shyam Da empty, otherwise it used to be crowded. People used to sit around in groups, in the corridor, near the staircase, outside the lab and near the spiral staircase. It was the place where so many plans were made, plots were hatched, rumors were started. There was so much laughter, togetherness, and bonding, things, which I have tried to search in vain in other places outside college.
Exam times were no exception, the trip to Shyam Da was never missed even during exam time. For me, it was like an addiction. However during exam times the visit was a short one and did not involve too much of gachiyaaing.
To this day I remember the old man's eyes when I had been to Shyam Da for the last time the evening before we were to leave for home. After the usual rounds I had gone to Shyam Da to settle my bill and enquired of any dues which were pending in my name. I then bid my silent farewell to Shyam Da and thanked him for all the good times he had given me in my four years of college. My eyes had suddenly become misty and the tears were being held back with great difficulty. I touched the man's feet and sought his blessings.
As I started to leave the place I turned around for a last look -
It was dark and there was the usual gas light on the table, the man was pouring yet another glass of tea from his kettle and talking to the person who had asked for the tea.
It was the appropriate end to a relationship with a place, which would always be associated with the best days of my life.
- Prabhu (batch of '97)
=======================
I first heard of this place while in first year - the mention of the name terrorized me at that time because all I knew about the place then, was that it was the most popular hangout for all senior batches in college.
My first memories of the place, way back in first year were frightening because of the stressful interrogation I was subjected to at Shyam Da's.
I remember my first time at Shyam Da, it was during the CDS selection. It was after the selection formalities were done and we were to go back, somehow I lagged behind in the line and was conveniently held up for questioning. I detested the place then, only because of the predicament I was placed in.
However as the year's rolled by, these memories faded away and were replaced by an intense fondness for the place. In the evenings I was always at Shyam Da's because of two reasons, the first being inadequate evening snacks in our mess and the second being spare time with nothing to do.
After savoring the delicacies on display for instance veg patties, chicken patties, samosa, cutlet, rum-ball etc I used to settle down with a chaai and a WILLS in a corner with a particular group, after that it was endless gachiyaaing on any topic of choice which grabbed the interest of the group on that particular day. There used to be repeating orders of Tea and cigarette sent out to Shyam Da at regular intervals. Then I used to go to Shyam Da to either settle my bill for the day or get it written down in my khaata when there was a cash crunch.
There were only a few occasions when I have seen Shyam Da empty, otherwise it used to be crowded. People used to sit around in groups, in the corridor, near the staircase, outside the lab and near the spiral staircase. It was the place where so many plans were made, plots were hatched, rumors were started. There was so much laughter, togetherness, and bonding, things, which I have tried to search in vain in other places outside college.
Exam times were no exception, the trip to Shyam Da was never missed even during exam time. For me, it was like an addiction. However during exam times the visit was a short one and did not involve too much of gachiyaaing.
To this day I remember the old man's eyes when I had been to Shyam Da for the last time the evening before we were to leave for home. After the usual rounds I had gone to Shyam Da to settle my bill and enquired of any dues which were pending in my name. I then bid my silent farewell to Shyam Da and thanked him for all the good times he had given me in my four years of college. My eyes had suddenly become misty and the tears were being held back with great difficulty. I touched the man's feet and sought his blessings.
As I started to leave the place I turned around for a last look -
It was dark and there was the usual gas light on the table, the man was pouring yet another glass of tea from his kettle and talking to the person who had asked for the tea.
It was the appropriate end to a relationship with a place, which would always be associated with the best days of my life.
- Prabhu (batch of '97)
posted by The 97 Batch of RIT at 8:16 AM
4 Comments:
Shyaam Da was a very special place.
Had lots of Doodh Patti and Sutta there. I remember the south block which was a place in front of Electronics branch and patented by guys from down south.No mattter what season it was you could find them there after dark :-)
~Goa
Prabhu..excellent blog..i still miss DILKHUSH we used to have there at Shyam da's place and that gachiying..
i wish all of us could go back in time and have chai sutta there once again..
sankalp
"DILKHUSH"...I had forgotten that term in four years..Now I can feel how it used to be..That another one of those things which is Unique to college ...
~Goa
shyam da's place I wonder how that place look like these days.
rakesh
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