Amdavad - the star of GujjuLand

I’ve probably been to Ahmedabad as a child but my first memory of the city was attending a university festival in CEPT in the late 1990s. The enthusiasm and pranks of college days combined with fun dance and antakshri nights make any city exciting and the same happened with A’bad. My first realistic take on the city was when I travelled there on work in the year 2000 and later continued to visit friends.

I've always found it a well-planned, friendly city with lively residents who like to eat out, shop and wander around town in the cool summer evening and even late at night. The one thing that always impresses me are the young girls zooming around purposefully on their scooties. They are all identically dressed as mini-dacoits with jazzy sunglasses, colourful duppattas covering head, mouth, nose and long gloves covering their forearms. You wonder why? Well what better way to counter the impact of the heat, dust and unwanted tan!

Ahmedabad is also the place for maska-buns, sev-puri and other traditional street food apart from the yummy Gujarati thalis. Like the rest of India the sizzlers and pasta have made their way into the average restaurant menu and the Gujarati stomach. My friends pointed out the massive KFC on a main arterial – surprising in a state that was the birthplace of Gandhi and largely vegetarian.

Like the rest of my Indian sojourn this year this trip down too was about soaking the sun and seeking relaxation in the calm environment of Ishaan apartments, the abode of my buddies S and P and their two tots.

 

 

 

 

 

 

After many years I also managed to grab a few post-lunch afternoon snoozes (or siestas as they are called in Europe)  that are a part and parcel of growing up in a hot, tropical environment. There is nothing more refreshing than waking up from one of these in the early evening to enjoy the gentle summer breeze outside.

 

 

On days that I ventured outside, I sometimes shared the roadspace with Harley Davidsons, Jaguars and some smaller creatures of the world such as these goats below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some argue that the current ruling party inherited a good city and made the most of it. Others say that things work here because there is political will. Underneath this currently prosperous veneer lies a city that has seen violence and religious divide just over a decade ago. One hopes that is a thing of the past, irrespective of which way the elections swing over India this year. Let Amdavadis be what they are – stars of GujjuLand.