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The Quintessence of Belgaum

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First published in Aug 2010
by Late Ollie D. Oliveira

Generations of us have passed through its environs and tasted the lasting imprint of its ethos. Is there anyone, whether still living in a good place or relocated to other climes who can truly say that they bear the marks of their early formation from our Alma Mater and our home? Indeed, even those of us who, as boarders, considered this a home away from home?

Dictionaries define quintessence as the pure and concentrated essence of a substance, the most perfect embodiment of something but primordially the fifth essence or element, ether, besides air, fire, earth, and water that constitute the heavenly bodies. Generation after generation can testify to the ethos assimilated during our formative years in this lovely haven. The salubrious climate was also a great deciding factor in people relocating to our early “Hometown”. Belgaum has been a melting pot of so many different cultures and races and this has contributed to the ethos of Belgaumites.

Many of my generation and earlier will remember the Chinese vendors who used to cycle around Belgaum peddling their silks, brocades, and miscellanea of particular interest to the ladies. They used to enter our parlours and unwrap their bolts with a flourish on our floors. Prominent among these was Tung Ming Kee who alone remained and later ran the Chinese Emporium on Church Street. Church Street also boasted so many one-of-a-kind individuals. I wonder how many remember the only Jew in town – Halley, the inveterate gambler whose favourite haunt was the Catholic Club on Picket Road.

Who can forget M. K. Swamy, baker & confectioner to generations of Belgaumites, right from the days of the Raj? There was Kukreja who ran the only sports shop in town, The British Sports, and old Mr. Noronha who ran the only Dairy Shop selling butter, cheese, etc., of which my father was particularly fond. Then there was old Mr. Vasudeo of Vasudeo & Sons, who were the Sole Agents for “The Times of India” and allied Bennett & Coleman publications, as also Mirajkar and Jawalkar our fancied tailors. There was The Green Shop owned by a Muslim (I don’t recall his name) who also owned the Billiard Saloon opposite and our Irani selling the usual chai, pastries, bun-maska, etc.

High Street (and its bylanes), of course, saw the same mix of castes and creeds which ultimately contributed to the richness of our upbringing. Right from Dr. Kamat at one end passing by Himalaya Ice Factory of the Barafwallas, Sikander and the Bandukwallas, the two cloth shops (collectively known as the Marwadis) the only Udipi restaurant on this street, the two barber shops, Novelty Book Stall (the belonging to Ismael, if my memory serves me right (but later bought by Oliver Fernandes), Tejmal Kothari, Purohit, Augustine the grocer, Kattaya the cobbler, Siddick’s cycle shop, the one Irani on High Street, with a generous sprinkling of Catholic homes ending at the gates of St. Joseph’s Convent with Goje Building. Here, we mustn’t forget the only Sikh in town, Grover, who also ran a grocery store, and whose son went on to become a Sub-Inspector in the Bombay Police.

The Parsi community was adequately present in Boyce & Co., Ruttonjee, Rex Theatre, the Kapadias and Davars, et al. The medical fraternity had the Sanjanas, and of course, their Dastoorji, Beevox Bhadha whose children have been and are very dear friends. There was also our friend Adi Patel and his sisters, the former a regular at the Billiard Saloon on Church Street. Some of you will also remember the only bhaiya, Pandey, a Sales Rep for Burmah Shell with a penchant for ballroom dancing often seen flitting around town in the only MG Convertible in town.

Besides the variety of inhabitants from various origins and cultures, there was a generous input from the Christian community. Goans, Marathas, Karwaris, Mangaloreans, while the Raj and the Railways contributed their share of Anglo-Indians. This rich mix contributed largely to our broad-minded approach to the human race in general and helped us all to put aside any vestige of bigotry or parochialism.

A great contributor to leveling our playing field was the sports and games in which we all participated, to a greater or lesser extent. The traditional sports of football, hockey, cricket, volleyball, basketball and athletics coupled with the more mundane pastimes as marbles, cowries, gilli-danda, seven tiles all contributed to the moral.

One cannot forget the scouting and the NCC which molded us into bodies irrespective of our origins, colour caste or creed. Right from the cubs and juniors to the Scout Masters and troop leaders to the seniors and officers, these activities molded us into men and women who could face the world and all its disparities with an equanimity born of facing and ignoring our racial differences.

While the Camp formed our immediate world, our schoolmates came from the city and its environs as well as from all over India and abroad, particularly Africa. So many of our schoolmates came from the City, Tilakwadi, Shahpur and Hindalga. Besides, there were boarders who came from Pune, Solapur, Kolhapur, Miraj, Sangli, Mumbai, Goa and even from abroad, principally Africa.

This article centres on the Camp which held our Alma Maters (St.Pauls & St.Joeshps) and hence, our world.

The City, Fort, Hindalga, Tilakwadi and Shahpur held their mix of castes and creeds. Hindus, Muslims, Jains, who hailed from various parts of India with a sprinkling of Christians. Boys and girls from these parts of Belgaum also contributed to the making of us men and boys with a unique formation of our attitudes and “world-view”. The absence of bias created a strange melting pot which really spelt out the unique blend that has made Belgaum; Belgaum.

29 thoughts on “The Quintessence of Belgaum”

  1. This article is so unique and the presentation is near perfect!
    It brings back the memories of old Belgaum, like a smell of fresh cut grass or a sweet smell after the first rain in the spring.
    Good one Ollie! Please keep comming at us with more of this!

    Reply
  2. WOWWWWWWW…..This article just flashed my whole childhood. Its all true I have seen these business and used to walk to st pauls everyday 4 times right from the city corporation to st pauls right from KG to 10th std. (1970 to 1981)

    Excellent article speechless and priceless simple as that. Thank you Ollie.

    Cheers
    Jaydev

    Reply
  3. "There was The Green Shop owned by a Muslim (I don’t recall his name) who also owned the Billiard Saloon opposite and our Irani selling the usual chai, pastries, bun-maska, etc."

    This was my Grand Fathers shop, his name is late Mr Raja Ahmed Markar. Resident of 98 Market Street, Camp. We still have our old house at 98 Market Street, right next to Kakar masjid, Camp, by the name Shafi Manzil. Grandpa also ran a restaurant on High street by the name "Good Luck". This was during the british raj and the guests they hosted were british soldiers. After the british raj he sold the place to an Irani business man. This place is still there but not in running condition. Its right opposite "Choti Masjid"

    Reply
  4. “There was The Green Shop owned by a Muslim (I don’t recall his name) who also owned the Billiard Saloon opposite and our Irani selling the usual chai, pastries, bun-maska, etc.”

    This was my Grand Fathers shop, his name is late Mr Raja Ahmed Markar. Resident of 98 Market Street, Camp. We still have our old house at 98 Market Street, right next to Kakar masjid, Camp, by the name Shafi Manzil. Grandpa also ran a restaurant on High street by the name “Good Luck”. This was during the british raj and the guests they hosted were british soldiers and officers. After the british raj he sold the place to an Irani business man. This place is still there but not in running condition. Its right opposite “Choti Masjid”

    Reply
  5. This article has bought in so many memories. I wish I could go back to those
    beautiful times. I grew up in Belgaum and lived behind Bishop’s house.
    Novelty Book Stall was the place I most haunted. I still remember the new year parties,burning
    old man and one specific festival where we had to build a fort. Hmm
    Good Times. I am sure Belgaum has changed much since I moved 15years go.

    Thanks Ollie
    Anil
    Western Australia

    Reply
  6. I personally know many of the persons mentioned in the article. I used to spend evenings with friends at Good Luck in 50 &60. I feel that Camp has retained charm of a Goan town.

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  7. really i miss too for the strrets of camp mostly church street, m.b street, high street, choti masjid, kakar masjid, my freinds . camp sweets, delecious bakery products of akbar bakery, swami bakery, blue bell and camp fish market, military school, islamiya school, Asadkhan darga, old church

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  8. Beautiful piece, Ollie.
    I was myself a St.Paulite (boarder) 1944-1950 and have so many memories filled with nostalgia.
    I owe so much to my alma mater, that I talk about it to anyone at the drop of a hat.
    Surprising you missed out on the "Gun Sop" on High Street where my father used to buy my
    football boots and the popular 'naughty-boys shoes' for young students then.

    With best wishes,
    Bennet Paes
    Asolna, Goa

    Reply
    • RAEES WELBON HO, NO, 55, HIGH STREET CAMP BELGAUM SHOP NO,9 & SHOP NO, 7, MARKET STREET CAMP, 3367/A2/B, COLLEGE ROAD BELGAUM

      Reply
  9. Wonderful to read about Belgaum, a town that I have always loved. To see all those dear names in print and to know that all those familiar people long gone are still remembered. We always thought that Mr. Halley was middle eastern although he himself claimed that he was born in Manchester. He was our mystery man. I am so looking forward to being in Belgaum again in less than a month. Ollie, if you are still there I would like to meet you. I shall be staying in my old home on Church St.

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  10. Ollie Thank you that you are made us proud by this article it shows the true love to Belgaum specially camp area when I was reading this article I went into dream and saw the wonderful old camp each and every place and persons mentioned in the article were live again wow what an article and presentation this only comes when you are love with the place you resided or resides. I am working in U.A.E and leaving in High street since my fore fathers its a pleasure to read this article again and again….. Ollie keep it up.

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  11. Dear Ollie Sir,
    The article brings me nostalgic memories of my childhood. I studied at St Paul’s from 1983 to 1993. I moved out in 2001. It’s an awesome place.
    Regards

    Reply
  12. I ,just happened to browse today this page of our AAB site, in my now regular stint of surfing on this Net. Very much moved by this wonderful article written way way back in the year 2010 by (Late) Orlando ‘Ollie’ Incidentally He (Ollie) was my class(batch)- mate of the year 1953 at St. Paul’s High School. Camp Belagavi(Old Belgaum) when we both passed out SSC (Old)10th. Standard in the same year June- 1953 and thereafter went our ways in our future worlds. Till only way back in the month of December 2006, I met him in Belagavi(Belgaum) during the 150th Anniversary celebrations of our Alma-mater St.Paul’s High School Belgaum. A great & loveable guy was O’llie in his life. Alas he is No More now. but still people remember him.being the founder of our Paulite Link Bi-annual Magazine which(issues )are still being published now by our school in Belgaum.

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