The buildings haven’t changed much. The roads are all the same, even better. The traffic has increased a lot. Now there are more Bullets and ‘Sardars’ than before..!! The girls have gone more casual, I mean I was told that girls here now-a-days don’t mind wearing shorts in public.
After around 7 years I came back to this place, my place…Chandigarh, the ‘city beautiful’..!!
Saturday morning, I took my camera and straight went to the place where I had spent 4 significant years of my life. DCET, Panjab University. Now the name has been changed to UICTE (I came to know about this when I was making changes to my resume..!!). I had reached there while the sun was almost about to set, so the college lanes wore a deserted look. I couldn’t find any visible changes in the college. It seems the same as we left this place 7 years back. The classrooms looked the same, the result boards were still filled with student’s fate, the galleries were vacant as if “mass bunk” was recently announced, could find some students standing at front entrance discussing everything except chemicals. The only change I could figure out was the plastic tags fixed over toilets that clearly mentioned which one is ladies toilet..!!! For all Fluid Mechanics fans, Rattan sir currently holds the title of Chairperson.
My next destination was student’s center casually called as “StudC”. This place has really grown up. Within the small perimeter, lots of brands have flourished. Lots of love birds roam around here and there- the boys stuffed with muscles, head high and possessed with a Bullet- the girls, much happening, wearing exotic dresses, and giggling at the attention paid by the boys. I could sense the presence of lot of sardars than before, maybe the reservations had increased…!!! The Gandhi Bhawan looked deserted as always, just that now the water in the pond had also dried up.
My next preferred destination was Bhatnagar Hall, boy’s hostel number 3. This looked more occupied and shabby as compared to our stay. As I entered the main lobby, I could see the hostel engulfed with years old war with an army of monkeys. As per our trusted and verified strategy to tackle this situation, I left the place ASAP, caring a damn about visiting the canteen and my room- 3/57. While coming back to my home (Local Guardian ‘LGs’ house), I paid a visit to Xerox shop at university market, owned by two oval shaped brothers, Johar. These guys are still the same just that their shop is now more clustered and filled with ball pens hanging from every corner. Then I went to hair salon that was owned by Amar since ages. Even he faintly recognized me once I reached there…what a memory he has got. While on the way, I passed through the 15 market that used to be one-place for all shopping. The shops are now branded and more sophisticated. Even 2-3 liquor shops are there amidst a group of department stores…!!! The “pahalwaan-da-dhaba” is still occupied with hungry souls..!!!
Well in the evening I got the chance to roam around the whole city and saw Infosys campus, Sukhna lake, ‘gaidi route’, sector 17 market, City Heart, Aroma, Kiran cinema hall etc etc. This place still holds the heritage and order for which it is known worldwide. Even all vehicles obey the traffic lights at 12 midnight. Here I could see people following yellow light before it gets green..!!! The side lanes are there and a waiting of more than 10 seconds in traffic is considered as jam..!!!
After around 7 years I came back to this place, my place…Chandigarh, the ‘city beautiful’..!!
Saturday morning, I took my camera and straight went to the place where I had spent 4 significant years of my life. DCET, Panjab University. Now the name has been changed to UICTE (I came to know about this when I was making changes to my resume..!!). I had reached there while the sun was almost about to set, so the college lanes wore a deserted look. I couldn’t find any visible changes in the college. It seems the same as we left this place 7 years back. The classrooms looked the same, the result boards were still filled with student’s fate, the galleries were vacant as if “mass bunk” was recently announced, could find some students standing at front entrance discussing everything except chemicals. The only change I could figure out was the plastic tags fixed over toilets that clearly mentioned which one is ladies toilet..!!! For all Fluid Mechanics fans, Rattan sir currently holds the title of Chairperson.
My next destination was student’s center casually called as “StudC”. This place has really grown up. Within the small perimeter, lots of brands have flourished. Lots of love birds roam around here and there- the boys stuffed with muscles, head high and possessed with a Bullet- the girls, much happening, wearing exotic dresses, and giggling at the attention paid by the boys. I could sense the presence of lot of sardars than before, maybe the reservations had increased…!!! The Gandhi Bhawan looked deserted as always, just that now the water in the pond had also dried up.
My next preferred destination was Bhatnagar Hall, boy’s hostel number 3. This looked more occupied and shabby as compared to our stay. As I entered the main lobby, I could see the hostel engulfed with years old war with an army of monkeys. As per our trusted and verified strategy to tackle this situation, I left the place ASAP, caring a damn about visiting the canteen and my room- 3/57. While coming back to my home (Local Guardian ‘LGs’ house), I paid a visit to Xerox shop at university market, owned by two oval shaped brothers, Johar. These guys are still the same just that their shop is now more clustered and filled with ball pens hanging from every corner. Then I went to hair salon that was owned by Amar since ages. Even he faintly recognized me once I reached there…what a memory he has got. While on the way, I passed through the 15 market that used to be one-place for all shopping. The shops are now branded and more sophisticated. Even 2-3 liquor shops are there amidst a group of department stores…!!! The “pahalwaan-da-dhaba” is still occupied with hungry souls..!!!
Well in the evening I got the chance to roam around the whole city and saw Infosys campus, Sukhna lake, ‘gaidi route’, sector 17 market, City Heart, Aroma, Kiran cinema hall etc etc. This place still holds the heritage and order for which it is known worldwide. Even all vehicles obey the traffic lights at 12 midnight. Here I could see people following yellow light before it gets green..!!! The side lanes are there and a waiting of more than 10 seconds in traffic is considered as jam..!!! 
It was nice refreshing break for me after a long time. Anyways I wasn’t expecting radical changes in the city but yes, it has grown well to become upcoming destination for companies. I hope Chandigarh is able to hold on to its heritage, culture and beauty in the future as well..Ciao.
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