I knew about this type of housing before but not that they are called vataras or that they were once popular in Bangalore. Even as the rational part of my brain scoffs at any tendency to wallow in nostalgia, I feel it rising as I read your words.
Not kidding, your description in the beginning straight away reminded me Ganeshana Maduve. Also, Naale baa. Too good. I hear you. Keep writing. Keep going. #Chennaghelidhri
Mumbai has a rich and old tradition. Sai Paranjpe's Katha is a classic movie, but short stories and novels may have been her inspiration before that. There are two stories in the collection of stories from different languages that Jerry Pinto and Shanta Gokhale compiled and translated called Mayanagari - it has two stories that I remember set in a simialr place and are hilarious - Pu La Deshpance's A Cultural Movement is Born, and Bhupen Khakhar’s Vaadki set in the Gujarati enclave of Khetwadi where a humble steel bowl, a vaadki, s passed from house to house, revealing the colourful inner lives and machinations of its residents. I am sure there are similar stories in other languages and from other cities. Please check out the stories in Mayanagari - it also has one of the best Bombay Karnataka writers (now Bangalorean) - Jayant Kaikini.
I knew about this type of housing before but not that they are called vataras or that they were once popular in Bangalore. Even as the rational part of my brain scoffs at any tendency to wallow in nostalgia, I feel it rising as I read your words.
Thanks!
Even if nostalgia can seem a bit irrational at times, it’s also a beautiful reminder of the places and times that shaped us.
I’m glad my words could bring that out for you.
Not kidding, your description in the beginning straight away reminded me Ganeshana Maduve. Also, Naale baa. Too good. I hear you. Keep writing. Keep going. #Chennaghelidhri
Glad it did! Thanks AC!
Nice , my grandparents and uncles lived in a vatara and I remember the times there .. brought back memories ❤️
Those were the days!!
Lovely. There is that classic Shankar Nag movie too : nodi swami…
Yes, indeed. ‘Nodi Swami Navirode Heege’ is a classic! Also, many more movies came after this with similar plot points.
Every city has its own version of this vataara for sure. And it does influence its culture.
Mumbai has a rich and old tradition. Sai Paranjpe's Katha is a classic movie, but short stories and novels may have been her inspiration before that. There are two stories in the collection of stories from different languages that Jerry Pinto and Shanta Gokhale compiled and translated called Mayanagari - it has two stories that I remember set in a simialr place and are hilarious - Pu La Deshpance's A Cultural Movement is Born, and Bhupen Khakhar’s Vaadki set in the Gujarati enclave of Khetwadi where a humble steel bowl, a vaadki, s passed from house to house, revealing the colourful inner lives and machinations of its residents. I am sure there are similar stories in other languages and from other cities. Please check out the stories in Mayanagari - it also has one of the best Bombay Karnataka writers (now Bangalorean) - Jayant Kaikini.
Thanks, this is indeed intriguing.
I have the Mayanagari in my kindle for a while now, I wanted to read it, as it had a Jayant Kaikini story and curated by Jerry Pinto!
I love Jayant’s prose, language and the sorts!
Now you have given me more reasons to read that book! Thanks so much.
Yes. Big fan. What are you waiting for? read :)