The environs of East Bangalore railway station were once the edge of town, where those who wanted to live in spacious suburbia chose to build. Today, a succession of names like Cooke Town, Richards Town and that of a neighbourhood presumably founded by a certain Mr D’Costa form a quaint little enclave of gentility within a city now sprawling way beyond.
Many of the houses are gone, and first-generation apartment blocks took their place years ago. When all the other distinctiveness of the neighbourhoods also disappears, what will probably survive is a way with house names. I have discovered this while walking and exploring in the early morning, trying to get to know the new area where I currently live. In the stillness when nothing happens, the house names – by turns winning, inappropriate and telling – make things come alive.
They indicate these are neighbourhoods of mixed communities of the better-off, who value their Anglicised upbringing and sometimes wish they were in some picture-postcard location in the West. And the fact that the streets are well preserved – and mostly spotlessly clean – underlines the clout and resources of their current residents.
A stolid apartment block is called Favourite Chalet, although it has none of the petite prettiness of one such at home in its Swiss surroundings. Silverdale is not in a valley by a long chalk, but on a plateau, if you want to be particular. One of the older apartment blocks, Oxford Greens, evokes none of the features of the Oxfordshire countryside but is plainly dull, with an equally dull garden upfront. Maxim’s is distinctive in its use of steel and the way an upper floor has been built — but has nothing in common with one of the most famous Paris restaurants of the last century, with its signature interior décor. There is an obvious desire to live well and in keeping with the times; but one apartment building puts it all upfront by naming itself Live in Style.
Not all house names, though, seek to conjure up far off places. Some simply say what most people would want their homes to be. A very large apartment block near an intersection bears the legend Oasis. Don’t we all want to come back home to one? Then there is Graceland, which could be anywhere, if it is home to people with some old-fashioned grace.
Hutchins Manor could not have been more appropriately named, standing where Mr Hutchins must have lived in some style, in a manor of sorts, once upon a time — considering the road was named after him. And, of course, there is nothing to beat East Mansion, which is both a decent pile and in what was the eastern edge of town. In being precise, if prosaic, Syed Sardar Mansion wins hands down.
Some houses could not have been better named and give an idea of the kind of people within their walls. Chitrakoota is distinctive, full of modern straight lines softened by a lot of overhanging green. Kottarathil looks not entirely unimpressive and offers no reason why its owner should not see himself living in a palace of sorts.
Shanthi Nilayam could be anybody’s home, considering we all look for peace when we come there at the end of the day to rest our tired feet. And who can quarrel with someone who has named his modest home, a bit prosaically perhaps, House of Sunshine? On the other hand, there is Mukadam Manor, which holds its head high — almost literally. At one end of the area, The Anchorage gives a mooring to all habitats around it — though, at first glance, you may wonder if its resident longs for the adventure and arctic cold of Alaska’s foremost city.
If you ask me to pick the winners, then almost near the top comes Anugraha; the gentleness in someone seeking your blessings is difficult to better. Which is why maybe there are two houses bearing that name. In the same league will be Halcyon. It is those memories that keep you going at the end of the day, isn’t it? Since it is all about home, neatly painted Homeland with its profusion of potted plants must be an abode for rested souls.
But for the all-time winner, I have to go out of the area to Museum Road where resides magical Abracadabra. What fun people must be there inside! I am determined one day to knock on the door and demand to see a rabbit pulled out of a hat.
source: http://www.Business-Standard.com / Home> Opinion & Analysis / by Subir Roy / May 19th, 2012