Gandhi Bazaar!

The scooters, motorbikes and the occasional cars made their way slowly amidst the sea of humanity. One had to be very cautious, for the gaze of most of this sea of humanity would be on the different shops in the bazaar. There were the street vendors selling flowers, vegetables, fruits and whatnot. The footpaths were crowded to a such an extent, it was difficult to figure out where to place one's next step. This was one of the most well lit streets in the entire South Bangalore. Night here turns into day. If one were to stop at any point in the street, and instead of looking at the wares in the street or the shops, were to look up at one of the electic poles one would gain valuable life lessons. For there one can gaze at beautiful verses from Dr.D.V.G's Magnum Opus "Manku Thimmana Kagga".

"Life is a Horse Cart! Fate it's master! You are the horse. The driver decides who the passengers along the journey are! Whether it's to a marriage or a funeral, the master of the cart decides. Run wherever he takes you, and if you get tired along the journey and should your feet tire out, you have the ground (Mother Earth) to support you!" One of the Kagga's were emblazoned, alongside a picture of the Great Dr.D.V.G. You have but to take a stroll here to learn valuable life lessons. The journey on foot through the streets of Gandhi Bazaar are sure to aid you in the journey of life.

As one looks around, everyone seems to be happy and contented. Everybody is looking around to buy something for the oncoming festival. Some seem to be taking a stroll, taking in the colors, lights, sights, sounds and smells. You can hear people haggling over flowers, fruits and vegetables. The effect of the streets are almost magical. People seem happy. The place almost seems therapeutic. I have never seen anyone looking morbid around here. It is mysterious how a stroll in here can heal painful wounds.

I think anyone with an ailment of the mind or body will find the atmosphere here soothing and healing. It is a mystery as to why Gandhi Bazaar exudes this kind of magical effect. Go there during Ganesh Chaturthi, and you will find the streets bedecked and lit up to rival the Disney world parade. And then there are places which are a gastronomical delight. Walk a little further along D.V.G road and taking a right would take you to a place perhaps more crowded than the rest of the Bazaar. You will be able to see people sitting on benches outside an old building, looking expectantly at an old man carrying a notebook and a pen. "Ramesh, 3 people!" he calls out! Ramesh with his wife and son gets up excitedly and walks in hungrily to the world famous Vidyarthi Bhavan. You can stand there outside looking at the somewhat old sign which announces proudly "Vidyarthi Bhavan : since 1942". This is a heritage place. Step inside and you find the interiors are in very good condition. It appears to be freshly painted. On the walls hang portraits of famous personalities who have tasted their world famous dosa. The delicious dosa which you can smell from outside. Once inside, a waiter comes and writes down the now familiar order "2 Dosas and a cup of coffee!". After waiting for a while you see the waiter clad in blue, carrying a huge stack full of Masala Dosa plates that resemble the leaning tower of Pisa. With great adroitness, the waiter transfers the plates to different tables. The moment the dosa plate is in front of you, you can smell the delicious aroma of Dosa roasted in Clarified butter (Ghee). As you are looking at the beautiful read, crispy looking dosa stuffed with spicy potato curry, another waiter pours ample spicy chutney on the side. If you haven't eaten their dosa yet, you should.

In case you happen to reach Gandhi Bazaar at a time when Vidyarthi Bhavan is closed there are numerous other hotels which serve gastronomical delights! And if you look at Gandhi Bazaar over the years, very little seems to have changed. I remember as a kid, my father taking me to a small book store (Which isn't there anymore! Unfortunately I do not remember the name either!) to buy me my very first Tintin comic book. It was "Crab with the Golden claws!". Back then, it cost Rs.60 and it was expensive. But my father inculcated this habit in me of reading classy books like Tintin. Even back in 2012, Belegere's Books and Coffee was a very nice and fancy book store (Unfortunately this too is closed). There is "Shri Book World" which sells mainly technical books and text books. Then there is "Ankita Book store" to serve your thirst for Kannada books. Then if you are in the mood for fried foods or sweets there are countless shops that cater to your tastes. Famous amongst these is "Subbamma" shop.

What can I say? As a book lover and a foodie, I find walking past the various shops in Gandhi Bazaar therapeutic. As I walked the streets of Gandhi Bazaar the day before Nagarapanchami festival, I felt : If heaven had a thoroughfare and a market it would resemble the streets of Gandhi Bazaar!