I moved to Chimbai when I was 10. The sea view from my apartment was gorgeous but the street below rather noisy. Gradually Chimbai grew on me; it’s been 6 years and I am proud to say that Chimbai is ‘My Street.’
The hustle and bustle of Chimbai represents India- the crowds, traffic, street entrepreneurs, peaceful co-existence of people of different religions and economic class and above all an acceptance of both the past and the present. Chimbai used to be a ‘koli’ or fishing village. Many of them still live here in scruffy houses that virtually kiss each other.
You know it is 7 a.m. when you hear the temple bells toll. Newspapers have already been delivered to each apartment and house and the sellers are getting ready for the day’s business. By 10 a.m. the street gets really crowded with multiple vegetable, fruit and fish sellers and customers.
At Chimbai one sees entrepreneurship at its best. Raju, the ‘vada-pao’ seller is legendary – so much so that people stop by in their cars to buy from this man who has a small stove right outside his home on the street. Business is brisk with queues lined up for their morning breakfast which is handed to them wrapped in old newspaper.
An older resident told me that during lent he stopped his usual ‘vada pao’ breakfast; as it was the biggest sacrifice he could make.
The convenience of Chimbai is almost unbelievable: 3 allopathic doctors and 1 dentist have their consulting rooms here as do 2 undertakers. Need an electrician, plumber, tailor or ‘raddiwala’, they are all available just a phone call away. The cobbler sits all day under a tree, reminding me of the Buddha. I am sure even the Buddha would admire his dedication.
I am told that earlier everyone on Chimbai knew each other by name – they went for community picnics, learnt swimming at the beach, and eventually even married each other.
As houses have given way to apartments this level of familiarity has gone down. Though from the banns read at mass I gather many of them are still getting married to each other!
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Artist Neil Enggist has studied oil painting, illustration, printmaking, photography, sculpture, and Renaissance art in Florence. Apart from that he has had exhibitions all over the world, and India is next on his list. Neil says, “My work intends to illuminate the strands that weave together the dynamic of existence, creation and cessation. Though the web is fluid, inchoate, and multidimensional, patterns arise–moments embodying a universal synchronicity. Using forms that reach through and beyond personal and culturally specific significance, I paint to open these moments.” He is currently finishing a book of poems and images, and is heading to India, where he plans to paint, write, show, and perform. He’s only exhibiting his work for two days so be sure not to miss it. When: March 13 at 9pm to March 15th till 1.30am, Where: Zenzi.
inbandra 