Memoirs of Dehra

Memoirs of Dehra:-

The word Dehradun brings back some very nostalgic memories. The thought of the place itself brings back peace and tranquility to the mind. For me, visiting Dehradun gives solace to the heart and soul. I always look forward to visit the place. Given an opportunity to visit Dehradun I seldom miss it. There are times when you have to restrict yourself of visiting the place due to various reasons, but turning down an opportunity to visit Dehra goes with a heavy heart.

I grew up and did my schooling from Dehardun. Even while working in Gurgaon we used to quite often visit my parent's place at Dehradun. Most often than not we used to visit Dehradun by car. While driving from Delhi to Dehradun as soon as you cross Mohand you kind of start getting that smell of tranquility. This is one of those feelings which are best experienced than being penned down. It feels like that the place calls you back where ever you go.

I have traveled across 12 countries and have visited innumerable places but somehow I still feel that Dehradun is the best place to be in. Every Doonites settled across the globe somehow connects to this feeling and always have a sense of belongingness for Dehradun. Probably it might be true for a place where you grow up, but somehow the place smells heaven.

I still remember my childhood days in Dehradun, when it used to rain cats and dogs continuously for 2-3 days in a stretch. Rains brought in vivid variety of flora and fauna to the region. The rains just magnified the beauty of the place many fold. I remember catching fireflies, collecting them in glass bottles and watching them glitter all night. It was so much fun then in such simple playful childish acts; rarely can it be experienced by children of the 21st Century.

Playing football in the rains and mud is literally a different ball game. I remember we used to have so much fun sliding and dribbling in rain soaked grounds. Every day we used to soil our clothes, sometimes get injured as well, but it never ever narrowed down the enthusiasm. These days, I just don't see people playing football in the rains. Nowadays probably children and adults have lost the zeal to enjoy the rains outdoors.

Summers were fun too. We enjoyed our summer holidays to the hilt. Playing all day in the Sun, only to return for midday meals and then again resume the play sessions. Getting tanned due to excessive exposure to sunlight in summer days never deterred us from playing.
Summers came with lot of Cricket Tournaments. We used to gather a team and play the Tournaments. Heat stroke or sunburns were the last thing on our minds. Although in summers the mercury did not raise to unbearable limits as it happened in the northern plains, still the Sun was relentless.
Dehradun had local rains as well in summers, whenever the days became too hot there would be local rains that would bring the temperature down.
I remember folklore suggesting that in good old days there were no fan hooks on the ceiling of houses of Dehradun as the temperature never rose so high here that one would feel the need of a fan, but things had changed now. Even in my child hood we had coolers in Dehradun.

Summers also meant a lot of picnics to nearby places like Sahastradhara or Lachiwala where we played all day in the rivers. Swimming and ball games in the river-pools were so much fun. Trips to the nearby hill station Mussoorie was also common.

Winters were chilly. Reaching school on bicycles in midst of gushing winds was really an enduring task. As we reached our school, due to the chilly winds, our hands were almost frozen every day. Giving Half-Yearly examination with frozen hands was also a pain. But winter vacations were something we always looked forward to.
As it was dark early during winters, we were left with sometime after playing football and cricket. We enjoyed this time chit-chatting and enjoying hot tomato soups, Chow mein, Momos, warm groundnut etc from the roadside vendors. I swear the taste of the snacks that we relished on the roadside shops is some thing we seldom enjoy these days in 5 Star hotels. Probably it had to do with the company and fun talks rather than the food.

Dehradun epitomizes Army Culture, Thanks to Indian Military Academy (IMA) and the Retired Armed Forces Personnel who have settled down here. While growing up in Dehradun I could sense the fad in youngsters to join the Army. The enthusiasm to join the forces is unparalleled in Dehradun.

Dehradun is also the hub of missionary schools. Dehradun is known for its schooling be it the day schools or the boarding. Students from India and abroad flock here for their education.

Be it the IMA cadets or the students from various schools, Dehradun is always buzzing and bubbling with youth.

The craze for movies, trekking and adventure games is something I found common in Doonites.
I remember standing in long queues for getting movie tickets was a norm. Watching movies with friends at Prabhat, Khrishna Palace, Natraj Halls was fun of a lifetime. It is sad to hear that these Single Screen Movie Halls are being demolished to give way to multiplexes.

A lot has changed since our childhood. Dehradun has grown many folds both in size and population. Things have changed, but for me the air in Dehradun still smells heaven...