Seeing Indore through the eyes of Wasim

Last month I was in Indore on an official visit. It was my first visit to the city. During my stay, I was provided with an official car and a driver. The driver, Wasim, was a middle-aged man with a happy disposition. On the first day, I asked him to tell me about the city. He happily obliged and started telling me the history of the city. “Sir ji, about 200 years ago, Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar was the state’s ruler who focused on development. It is because of this reason that the Indore varsity and the airport are named after her”.

Pointing towards the beautiful building that we were passing by, Wasim told me that it’s the Radison Blue hotel where Team India stays whenever it is in the city. “About a km away is K ha zr ana crossing named after the famous Ganesh temple where players such as Dhoni and Tendulkar seek blessings before a match. Then there is a ‘dargah’ of saint Nahar Shah Wali who came to the city from Iraq 480 years ago, Gurdwara Imli Sahib, where Guru Nanak stayed, Jain temple made of glass and Jule Lal temple of Sindhis,” he added.

Then Wasim told me about the stalwarts from the city who have made it big in the film industry. “Lata Mangeshkar was born in Indore and every year in her honour, the state government holds ‘Alankar Samaroh’. Singer Kishore Kumar had his education from the local Christian college. It is said that his song ‘paanch rupaiya baara anna’ was based on his debt to the college canteen. The city is also the birthplace of Salman Khan. His family still owns a house at the Palasia locality. Comedian Johnny Walker, painter MF Hussain, poetess Mahadevi Varma, cricketer Rahul Dravid and hockey goalkeeper Shankar Lakshman too have a city connect,” he quipped.

I was really enjoying his commentary. Wasim further elaborated that Indore has famous institutes such as the IIM, IIT and Daly College. “On the city outskirts there is township named as Mhow (Military Headquarters of War) which has given top generals such as Sam Manekshaw to the country. It is also the birthplace of Dr BR Ambedkar,” he said. Wasim told me I should visit Sarafa Bazaar at night. Between 9 pm and 2 am, it turns into a bustling foodstreet offering many mouth-watering dishes such as ‘kachouri’, ‘khees’ and coconut crush.

“Sir, Indore will soon become a smart city. When you will come next time, you may not recognise it,” said Wasim. His connect with the city simply amazed me. I was so engrossed in his narration that I didn’t realise that we had reached our destination. Wasim opened the car door for me, and said, “Sir, duwan me yaad rakna” (Rememberme in prayers).

WASIM TOLD ME ABOUT THE STALWARTS FROM THE CITY WHO HAVE MADE IT BIG IN THE FILM INDUSTRY. “LATA MANGESHKAR WAS BORN IN INDORE AND EVERY YEAR IN HER HONOUR, THE STATE GOVT HOLDS ‘ALANKAR SAMAROH’.