Lifelong resident of Malleswaram

Everything We Need Is Here

Right from my childhood, I've lived in Malleswaram. I love my Malleswaram. Everything we need is right here, around us. There's no need to go very far for anything. Especially during our childhood, from the 60s onwards, we had such good times—so many lovely memories.

I live in Anandashram, just near 10th and 13th Cross.

Sundays at Panchavati

As children, we'd go together to Panchavati for Ram Navami celebrations. Every Sunday, we had activities there. We'd borrow storybooks, read, play, and just enjoy ourselves.

Shopping With Father

I used to accompany my father to buy groceries in Malleswaram, especially around 8th Cross. Central Provision Stores was the main shop. We'd carry a can to buy oil, and groceries were given in gunny bags or wrapped in paper. My schooling, college, even my workplace were all in Malleswaram. My brothers would tease me, saying I was lucky—I never had to go far; everything was within walking distance!

Making Our Own Coffee

The vegetable market used to be on 8th Cross, where the Malleswaram Post Office now stands. We'd also buy coffee beans at Rama Coffee House—earlier on Sampige Road, now on 10th Cross. We'd buy coffee and chicory seeds, mix them, and grind them at home with a manual machine to make our own coffee powder. We really enjoyed those days a lot.

The Bread Rush and Ayurvedic Remedies

Indian Drug House is still there on 8th Cross. We used to buy Ayurvedic medicines from there. And we used to get bread from an Iyengar bakery—it was called kadak bread, very crisp. It was only available until 4 pm, so we'd rush there by 3:30 to get it. Now it's not available anymore.

The Simple Market

The old vegetable market was simple. Vendors would sit on the ground. There was also a flower market inside—full of fresh flowers, vegetables, and even pickles—ginger, mango, and such. We used to buy kuccha mangoes to make pickle.