I miss the old houses, with their imposing presence, which lent character to the streets they were on. In those days, roads were not referred to by crosses and mains, but by the names of big bungalows. And many a time the area would take the name of an illustrious ancestor or a tree that had made the house stand out from the rest. For instance, there was ‘Tenginamarada mane,’ ‘Dodda naayiyamane’ (even though there is not even a puppy there) and ‘B A Rangannana mane’ (in those days very few people were degree holders). And when strangers came enquiring, pedestrians or inmates would always have the time and patience to help them out. Not anymore, because everyone is a busy bee.

Despite the size of these houses, no one felt lonely or insecure for there would always be someone visiting, some puja or auspicious occasion when the entire locality would be invited. But the best part was always the spacious compounds turned into beautiful gardens with flowers and greenery – a feast to behold.

Birds of all kinds would be perched on the boughs. The garden will be resounding with the twittering of sparrow. But now, can you spot one sparrow? Children would be playing on the streets, with no fear of reckless traffic or kidnappers. We would find old men huddled on a stone bench under some gigantic tree in the neighbourhood sharing reminiscences of bygone days and world politics. And there was camaraderie among women.
Those days, most of the marriages were held in houses. There are many old people who can proudly point to a big bungalow and say ‘that’s were we got married.’ What would they feel when they see those bungalows getting razed?

As children, we used to have fun climbing trees and plucking fruits from them. There were gardens we could play in and bushes to hide behind.  But now these are just memories, the dying ember of a vivacious childhood.
Author Daphne Du Maurier loved old houses. She believed that each old house has a story to tell. Many of her works were woven around old houses. But in this City, these old houses are being razed, giving way to flats and skyscrapers. Do they generate memories? Nay, not even a shadow of it.