Indore Ki Meethi Yaadein: Woh Jagahein Jo Abhi Bhi Hain — Aur Woh Jo Sirf Dil Mein Hain

By Indu Mausi — Keeper of Indore’s tehzeeb, taste, and everything that matters

Kuch din pehle meri bhanji ka phone aaya — Sydney se. Woh ek project mein busy thi par achanak bol uthi: “Mausi, aaj pata nahi kyun Meghdoot yaad aa gaya. Woh jhula, woh poha stall bahar, aur Papa ki cycle ki ghanti.” Woh roh rahi thi. Main bhi.

Yeh Indore ka asar hai. Tum kitni bhi door jao — Dubai ho, London ho, Toronto ho — ek din koi purani photo, koi purana gaana, ya sirf baarish ki smell aati hai aur tum wapas aa jaate ho. Rajwada ki seedhiyon pe. 56 Dukan ki bheed mein. University Road pe cycle chalate hue.

Aaj main yeh yaadein khol rahi hoon — apni, aur tumhari bhi. Kyunki kuch jagahein physically badal gayi hain, par unka asar hum sab ke andar waise ka waisa hai.

56 Dukan — Jab ₹20 Mein Poori Shaam Ho Jaati Thi

Aaj agar teen log 56 Dukan jaayein toh ₹500 bhi kam pad jaate hain. Par ek zamana tha — aur main baat kar rahi hoon 1990s ki — jab ₹20 mein poha, shikanji, aur ek chuski bhi ho jaati thi. Aur ₹5 bachte the rikshaw ke liye.

Hamare zamaane mein 56 Dukan sirf khane ki jagah nahi thi — woh ek social institution thi. Exam ke baad milna wahan. Kisi ki promotion hogi toh Johny Hot Dog. Baarish mein bhaag ke covered stalls pe khade rehna. Pehli date ka shikaara bhi kaafi logon ka wahi tha — “bas chai pine chalte hain” wali line ke saath.

Ab 56 Dukan badal gayi hai. Naye restaurants hain, air-conditioned outlets hain, Instagram-worthy presentations hain. Accha hai — par woh open-air bench pe baithke khaya hua poha? Woh taste duplicate nahi hoga kisi fancy restaurant mein.

“56 Dukan mera pehla ‘hangout spot’ tha — jab yeh word bhi nahi pata tha. Bas pata tha ki yahan aao, kuch khao, dost mile toh theek — nahi mile toh bhi theek.”
— R.S., ab Pune mein, originally Palasia

📍 Abhi bhi hai: Chhappan Dukan, New Palasia — explore karein: Indore ke best food spots →

Rajwada — Jab Woh Sirf Ek Building Nahi, Poora Zamana Tha

Rajwada aaj bhi khada hai. Renovated, lit up, tourist-friendly. Par jo Rajwada hamare bachpan mein tha — woh alag tha.

Woh Rajwada jahan subah subah log morning walk pe aate the aur seedhiyon pe baith ke chai peete the chai-wale se. Jahan school picnic hoti thi aur teacher kehti thi “line mein chalo” aur hum bhaag jaate the fountain ke paas. Jahan Dussehra mela lagta tha aur woh ek hafte pehle se excitement shuru ho jaati thi — kaun sa jhula pahle, kaun sa nahi.

Ab Rajwada zyada sundar dikhta hai shayad — lighting achhi hai, renovation hua hai. Par woh organic, unfiltered, thoda chaotic energy jo thi — woh ab nahi hai. Ab log photos kheenchte hain. Pehle log wahan rehte the.

“Rajwada ke paas ek chai wala tha — naam nahi yaad, par chehra yaad hai. Kulhad mein chai, ₹1 ki. Main ab Dubai mein ₹600 ki coffee peeta hoon aur woh taste nahi aata.”
— M.J., Dubai, originally Khajrana

🔗 Yaad karo: Rajwada ke purane photos aur videos YouTube pe →

Meghdoot Garden — Family Ka Sunday Wala Address

Meghdoot Garden. Sirf yeh naam sunke kitne logon ke dimag mein woh picture aa gayi hogi — Papa newspaper padhte hain bench pe, Maa tiffin khol rahi hain, aur hum bhai-behen woh puraane jhule pe line mein khade hain, arguing ki whose turn is next.

Sunday ka matlab tha Meghdoot. Koi plan nahi hota tha explicitly — bas subah uthke pata hota tha aaj park jaana hai. Papa uthte, Maa poha banati, thermos mein chai, aur cycle ya scooter pe family nikal padti. Koi booking nahi, koi entry fee nahi, koi Instagram story nahi — bas ek simple Sunday.

Woh jhule jo thode toote hue the, woh pakki raahein jahan paani ruk jaata tha baarish mein, woh ice cream wala jo hamesha garden ke corner pe hota tha — yeh sab ek era ki baat hai. Ab Meghdoot renovated hai, zyada organized hai. Par woh Sunday morning ka magic — jo teen generation ke Indori families ne share kiya — woh ek living memory hai.

“Main jab bhi ghar wapas aata hoon toh ek baar Meghdoot zaroor jaata hoon. Akela. Sirf baith ke feel karne — ki haan, yeh wahi jagah hai.”
— A.P., Toronto, originally Sudama Nagar

University Road Aur Campus — Jab Wahan Sirf Aasman Dikhta Tha

DAVV University campus — jo log wahan padhein hain ya sirf shaam ko ghoomne gaye hain unhe pata hai. Ek zamane mein woh campus ek breathing space tha. Khuli zameen, purane ped, ek shanti jo Indore ki bheed mein milna mushkil tha.

Canteen ek alag hi duniya thi. ₹3 ki chai, ₹5 ka samosa, aur ghante bhar baithne ki izazat — bina kisi ne hurry kiye. Wahan friendships bani, breakups hue, careers decide hue, aur kaafi logon ki zindagi ki badi decisions wahan canteen ki bench pe huyeen.

Ab campus pe zyada buildings hain. Development hua hai — zaruri bhi tha. Par woh open spaces jo breathe karne dete the, woh shaam ki roshni jo purane pedo se chhanke aati thi — woh thodi kam ho gayi hai. Progress ka yeh cost hota hai. Par yaad karna allowed hai.

🔗 Related: Aaj ke Indore ka youth scene kya bol raha hai →

Ring Road Aur AB Road — Jab Long Drive Ka Matlab Sirf Hawa Hoti Thi

Koi plan nahi. Bas itna — “chal, ghumne chalte hain.” Scooter ya car nikaalte the, AB Road pakad lete the, aur Rau tak nikal jaate the. Raat ke 9 baj rahe hain, road almost khaali hai, wind chhoo ke nikal rahi hai — yeh tha Indore ka long drive.

AB Road pe ek chai ki tapri thi Rau se pehle — naam nahi pata tha, bas teen-chaar plastic ki kursiyan aur ek tawa. Woh chai. Woh silence. Woh feeling ki city aur bhi hai jahan hum jaate hain.

Ab Ring Road pe peak hours mein signal pe 15-20 minute wait karna normal hai. AB Road pe flyovers hain, showrooms hain, traffic jams hain. Sheher badha — logically roads bhi bharengi. Par woh khaali road pe full speed ka feeling… woh bachpan ke saath chali gayi.

“Hum college mein ek baar midnight drive pe gaye the AB Road pe — Rau tak, wapas. Petrol ka paisa nahi tha theek se, par kisi ne nahi bola. Woh ek raat poori zindagi ke liye kaafi hai.”
— S.K., Melbourne, originally Vijay Nagar

Vijay Nagar — Indore Ka “Mini Mumbai” Kaise Bana

Purana Vijay Nagar yaad hai? Jab woh ek quiet, residential area tha. Colony ke log ek doosre ko jaante the. Subah milkman aata tha, shaam ko colony ke bachche saath khelate the, aur raat mein sab apne ghar ke andar hote the.

Phir Vijay Nagar ne growth dekhi — aur kaisi growth. Malls, colleges, coaching institutes, restaurants, gyms, salons — sab kuch aa gaya. Real estate prices ne 10x jump kiya. Jo quiet colony tha woh ab ek commercial hub hai.

Acchi baat yeh hai ki Vijay Nagar ab Indore ka most cosmopolitan area hai. Buri baat yeh hai ki woh colony-feel, woh “sabko jaanate hain” wali intimacy — woh gone hai. Trade-off hai progress ka.

🔗 Aaj ka Vijay Nagar: Vijay Nagar ke best spots aaj →

School Picnics — Woh Din Jo Poori Saal Ki Waiting Ke Baad Aate The

Annual picnic. Teen words. Aur jitna excitement in teen words mein tha — woh aaj kisi Goa trip mein bhi nahi hota.

Tiffin raat ko pack hota tha — Maa uthke banati thi. Soja, warna picnic mein neend aayegi. Subah school bus mein seats ke liye race. Baat mein best friend ke paas baithna — ya jo bhi hata sake use woh aage baithta tha. Patalpani, Tincha Falls, Ralamandal — destination matter nahi karta tha. Matter karta tha woh bus mein gaana, woh dabbe ka exchange, woh teacher ki nazar bachake khaaye hue chips.

Pehli baar camera dekha tha tab — kisi teacher ke paas ya kisi ameer bachche ke paas Kodak wala disposable camera. Ek photo kheechi — sab ne pose kiya. Woh photo aaj kisi drawer mein hai shayad. Ya shayad kho gayi. Par woh moment? Woh abhi bhi hai.

“Meri school picnic ki ek photo hai — black and white, thodi blurry. Main isme sirf ek chehra hoon bheed mein. Par yeh photo mere paas 30 saal se hai. Har ghar shift pe saath jaati hai.”
— P.M., London, originally Sanyogitaganj

Woh Places Jo Abhi Bhi Hain — Aur Kyun Jaana Chahiye

Sab kuch nahi badla. Kuch jagahein hain jo hain — aur unhe feel karna chahiye ek baar aur:

• 🟠 Sarafa Bazar, raat ko — Woh noise, woh bheed, woh smell. Abhi bhi wahi hai. Late night Indore guide →
• 🟠 Rajwada ka chamak — Changed but still standing. Dawn mein jaoge toh thoda purana feel milega.
• 🟠 Nehru Park, Sunday subah — Colony waale abhi bhi milte hain. Woh routine kuch logon ne nahi toda.
• 🟠 56 Dukan ki shaam — Format badla, taste nahi. Shikanji aaj bhi wahi hai.
• 🟠 Lal Bagh ka maidan — Exhibition ab bhi aati hai. Bachche abhi bhi wahi khelte hain.

🔗 Indore ka nostalgia deep dive: Purana Indore vs Naya Indore — Indu Mausi ka emotional letter →

NRI Indori — Tum Sabse Door Ho, Par Sabse Zyada Samjhte Ho

Yeh section khaas tumhare liye hai — jo log Indore se door hain. Dubai, London, Toronto, Melbourne, San Jose, Singapore — jahan bhi ho.

Tumhe pata hai woh feeling — jab koi Indori milta hai kisi foreign city mein, toh pehle 10 minute sirf yeh hota hai: “56 Dukan gaye ho? Sarafa? Vijay Nagar mein rehte the?” Aur achanak do strangers, doston ki tarah baat kar rahe hain.

Yeh Indore ki khubi hai. Yeh city ek identity deti hai — itni strong ki duniya ke kisi bhi corner mein dhundh leti hai apne aap ko.

Tumhara Indore wahan hai — apartments mein banaya poha, WhatsApp pe shunte hue “Kesariya Balam”, Diwali pe ghar ki yaad jo October se shuru ho jaati hai. Indore tum mein hai. Hamesha rehega.

“Main 11 saal se Indore nahi gaya. Par mera Indore wahi ka wahi hai — 1994 wala. Woh mera version hai. Woh version mujhse koi nahi le sakta.”
— V.A., San Jose, originally Scheme No. 54

Indu Mausi Ka Khat — Indore Ke Naam

Pyaare Indore,

Tu badal gaya hai — bahut badal gaya hai. Tere roads wide ho gaye, teri buildings uunchi ho gayi, teri cafes fancy ho gayi. Teri Metro aa rahi hai. Tera naam cleanliness mein aata hai. Tera chest proud se chauda ho gaya hai.

Par tu jaanta hai na — main tujhe wahan dhundhhti hoon jahan tu abhi bhi wahi hai. Sarafa ki galiyon mein, jahan har stall pe ek story hai. 56 Dukan ki bheed mein, jahan teen generation ek saath milti hai. Rajwada ki seedhiyon pe, jahan subah ka suraj thoda alag hota hai.

Teri rooh nahi badli, Indore. Teri tehzeeb nahi badli. Tera woh garam dil — jo stranger ko bhi apna bana leta hai — woh nahi badla.

Aur isliye — hum sab, chahe duniya ke kisi bhi kone mein hoon — tere hain. Aur rahenge.

Teri apni,
Indu Mausi

Teri Yaad, Teri Baat — Comment Mein Batao

Yeh article sirf meri yaadein nahi hain. Yeh tumhari bhi hain.

Neeche comment mein batao:

• 💬 Tumhara sabse yaadgaar Indore moment kaun sa hai?
• 💬 Kaunsi jagah tum miss karte ho sabse zyada — jo ab waise nahi rahi?
• 💬 Koi school picnic, family outing, ya first date ka kissa?
• 💬 NRI ho? Ghar ki yaad kab aati hai sabse zyada?

Apne dost ko tag karo jiske saath tumhari sabse acchi Indore memory judi hai. Ya share karo apni family ke WhatsApp group mein — shayad ek purani photo ya ek purani yaad bahar aa jaaye.

Kyunki yeh memories sirf stories nahi hain — yeh ek sheher ki soul hai. Aur yeh soul tab tak zinda rehti hai jab tak hum batate rehte hain.

#IndoreNostalgia #IndoreChildhood #IndoreMemories #IndoriDil #MeethaIndore #NRIIndori #56Dukan #Rajwada #Meghdoot #IndoreLife #DilSeIndori

Editorial Note: Reader quotes in this article are composite representations of real sentiments shared by Indoris across the community. Names are abbreviated for privacy. All linked articles are from Indore.online. External YouTube links open third-party content not managed by Indore.online. — Editor, Indore.online

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Indu Mausi

Cultural & Food Writer · More articles →