Days gone by – Part 1

Somehow summer always sets me thinking back.

In 1975, the Jayanagar Shopping complex opened. Us kids were pissed because we were kicked out of our playground and forced to move to Madhavan Park a short distance away. But the elder folk were pleased. There were plenty of “kattes” (seating places) for the retired folk to sit down and gawk at different things.

Shops in the complex were (and till today still are) quite boring. So much so that the Janatha Bazaar and the vegetable market were the most interesting places. There was Poonam Theater which was one of the few Air Conditioned (meaning good cross breeze) places.

Other than that, the stores at the complex were a motely collection of Tyre Shops, Stationery Stores, and Stores that sold fake jewelery (called “Fancy Stores” here)…generally boring stuff. But for the honorable residents of Jayanagar it was a place to gather, meet friends. People would just walk round and round the complex.

Then came the pinball machines…Sometime in ‘76 a guy decided to put up about 5 pinball machines in a small store…by far the most exciting place in the complex after the RTO office

Games here cost between 25 and 50 Paise… the guy would be patrolling this place and anyone found standing around without spending money would be asked to leave…

It was a great hit with the kids (and the college guys at that time). However the grownups (including my parents) were convinced that this was a gambling den.

It was around this time that my Dad started giving me pocket money. One to teach me fiscal responsibility and two to stop me from asking him for money all the time. The amount was fixed at a princely Rs. 5 per week. Payable on Saturday after school (which incidentally got over at 11 am). The intent was to use this money, open a bank account and slowly accumulate millions.

But there was the pinball machine place

To Be Continued….