(picture courtesy Javie)
A tribute to the most famous watering hole (in all its avatars) in Marinagar - The Log
It all started with a coconut tree (the one in front of the Montes residence) dying and falling. This dead tree was then dragged, propped up on a few stones and laid across Nirmala building - and that was perhaps the last night U Victor and A Doris got a good night's sleep.
From those humble beginnings, the log went on to achieve fame and infamy all rolled in one. It was the best seat in the house to watch the hockey or volley ball games in progress. It was the place the tire would rest and some sleep on. But it was the spot that the boys of the colony would gravitate to especially after sundown and more importantly on a Saturday night.
That was when the spirits soared and the voices with accompanying guitars soared higher. The escapades on the log would need a multitude of blogs to chronicle so let me just stick to the story of the log
Come rain or shine the log was always there but come Holi and the boys would get together and push this ton of weight from Nirmala building to the rear of Arogya Mata t ensure that the Holi revellers would not hack it and take it away to burn.
The challenge in manoeuvring a 30ft log through a path 20 ft wide meant it had to be pushed through vertically over mud and stones. But the pride of saving the log was worth the blisters scrapes, scratches of moving the log to and fro.
A result of one such escapade was 2 logs when the big one that was subject to rain and fingers digging into the expose areas caused it to snap. That was when to some relief of U Victor and A Doris it was moved from in front of Nirmala bldg to between Nirmala Bldg and Kini House. This then became the new permanent home for the log for a very very long time.
The old log was subsequently replaced with a new log (the coconut tree which was in front of A Cassies residence) Now this tree most probably died on account of the rope that was tied around it to hang the star which was never removed for a few years. Whether it is possible for a tree to be strangled I'm not too sure; but we got a new log, Albert in his left out position was lost without his trusted ally (the tree) around which he used to dribble and the boys had to figure out how to suspend the star between Nithya Sahya and Nirmala bldg. (I digress)
New log in place - the boys are happy; Nirmala bldg residents unhappy. Cops called and boys warned. Aunty from Kini House even more unhappy; fish water thrown and boys warned. But come Saturday ... life goes on.
Part of new log burnt ding holi, rest of log deteriorates with age and exposure to the elements so a new permanent wall was built between the two trees - alas this proved too small so to the right of the tree a kadappa was put to seat more . The gutter in front of Nirmala seated the overflow but was a bit distant from the action so a new Kadappa was put up on bricks behind the wall. But despite the modernity it still retained its character and its name - 'The Log "- Javie has captured this scene very eloquently in his sketch that is the mast head for this blog. - The good old days.
Then the constructions started, Kini house went. One of the trees was cut down and the log broken up physically. Hence locationally the watering hole then shifted to the new place where the boys in the pre log era would congregate at - The Tank.
And while the residents of Nirmala Building could finally sleep well on a Saturday night, all hell broke loose around the tank when the clock struck eleven. But for want of alternatives, back to the tank we went every Saturday; the brave ones ever willing to take on any friend roman or countrymen who gave us an ear.
Oh we were accused of immorality, being alcoholics, drug addicts and the like. And while our crime was waking up the neighbours with (not always) harmonious singing, we also knew our limits and when requested nicely would in most instances comply. Sure we did our thing but we had each other to keep us going over the limit. And today I can proudly say that with all the boys that I have spent time with on the log; most are doing extremely well in life.
The log today is still there - not in its old grandeur but as a 3 foot long granite slab; but what is ironical is that it is located in the same place where the earlier log used to be next to one of the trees that has still survived.
It still performs the same role as it did in earlier years. Only now it cuts across the generation gap. The senior citizens use it during the day and the young adults use it post sundown and all are happy.
How do I know? ... Well my father who's 80 sits there every day.
And why does he go there and what does he do there?
Well I've never asked him; just like he never asked me why; or stopped me from going to the log when I was younger.
A tribute to the most famous watering hole (in all its avatars) in Marinagar - The Log
It all started with a coconut tree (the one in front of the Montes residence) dying and falling. This dead tree was then dragged, propped up on a few stones and laid across Nirmala building - and that was perhaps the last night U Victor and A Doris got a good night's sleep.
From those humble beginnings, the log went on to achieve fame and infamy all rolled in one. It was the best seat in the house to watch the hockey or volley ball games in progress. It was the place the tire would rest and some sleep on. But it was the spot that the boys of the colony would gravitate to especially after sundown and more importantly on a Saturday night.
That was when the spirits soared and the voices with accompanying guitars soared higher. The escapades on the log would need a multitude of blogs to chronicle so let me just stick to the story of the log
Come rain or shine the log was always there but come Holi and the boys would get together and push this ton of weight from Nirmala building to the rear of Arogya Mata t ensure that the Holi revellers would not hack it and take it away to burn.
The challenge in manoeuvring a 30ft log through a path 20 ft wide meant it had to be pushed through vertically over mud and stones. But the pride of saving the log was worth the blisters scrapes, scratches of moving the log to and fro.
A result of one such escapade was 2 logs when the big one that was subject to rain and fingers digging into the expose areas caused it to snap. That was when to some relief of U Victor and A Doris it was moved from in front of Nirmala bldg to between Nirmala Bldg and Kini House. This then became the new permanent home for the log for a very very long time.
The old log was subsequently replaced with a new log (the coconut tree which was in front of A Cassies residence) Now this tree most probably died on account of the rope that was tied around it to hang the star which was never removed for a few years. Whether it is possible for a tree to be strangled I'm not too sure; but we got a new log, Albert in his left out position was lost without his trusted ally (the tree) around which he used to dribble and the boys had to figure out how to suspend the star between Nithya Sahya and Nirmala bldg. (I digress)
New log in place - the boys are happy; Nirmala bldg residents unhappy. Cops called and boys warned. Aunty from Kini House even more unhappy; fish water thrown and boys warned. But come Saturday ... life goes on.
Part of new log burnt ding holi, rest of log deteriorates with age and exposure to the elements so a new permanent wall was built between the two trees - alas this proved too small so to the right of the tree a kadappa was put to seat more . The gutter in front of Nirmala seated the overflow but was a bit distant from the action so a new Kadappa was put up on bricks behind the wall. But despite the modernity it still retained its character and its name - 'The Log "- Javie has captured this scene very eloquently in his sketch that is the mast head for this blog. - The good old days.
Then the constructions started, Kini house went. One of the trees was cut down and the log broken up physically. Hence locationally the watering hole then shifted to the new place where the boys in the pre log era would congregate at - The Tank.
And while the residents of Nirmala Building could finally sleep well on a Saturday night, all hell broke loose around the tank when the clock struck eleven. But for want of alternatives, back to the tank we went every Saturday; the brave ones ever willing to take on any friend roman or countrymen who gave us an ear.
Oh we were accused of immorality, being alcoholics, drug addicts and the like. And while our crime was waking up the neighbours with (not always) harmonious singing, we also knew our limits and when requested nicely would in most instances comply. Sure we did our thing but we had each other to keep us going over the limit. And today I can proudly say that with all the boys that I have spent time with on the log; most are doing extremely well in life.
The log today is still there - not in its old grandeur but as a 3 foot long granite slab; but what is ironical is that it is located in the same place where the earlier log used to be next to one of the trees that has still survived.
It still performs the same role as it did in earlier years. Only now it cuts across the generation gap. The senior citizens use it during the day and the young adults use it post sundown and all are happy.
How do I know? ... Well my father who's 80 sits there every day.
And why does he go there and what does he do there?
Well I've never asked him; just like he never asked me why; or stopped me from going to the log when I was younger.
