Reay Road – Heritage Railway Station on Mumbai Harbour Line

MUMBAI MEMORIES

REAY ROAD

The Cutest Heritage Railway Station in Mumbai
by
VIKRAM KARVE  

 

Long back – maybe 15 years ago – on my way to the Lal Bahadur Shastri Nautical College (LBS CAMSAR) at Hay Bunder in Mumbai – I decided to go by train – so – I caught a harbour branch local train at CST Mumbai. 

 

After stopping at the Masjid, Sandhurst Road and Dockyard Road Railway Stations – the local train stopped at Reay Road – where I got down (or – "alighted from the train onto the platform" – as they say in Railway parlance).

Walking towards the exit of Reay Road Railway Station – I was spellbound by the exquisite beauty of the ancient station building, which stood like a sentinel above the railway lines which passed through beneath it. 

The most eye catching feature which adorned the building was the elegant clock in the centre which looked down like a beautiful vigilant eye – as if keeping an eagle eye from its towering position on the trains coming and going, rushing below, and the goings on and hustle bustle on the platforms . 

 

Many Mariners – in their younger days – would probably have passed through these magnificent portals of Reay Road Station without even giving it a second look. 

 

Reay Road is the cutest and most petite railway station I have ever seen.

Let me tell you a bit more about its heritage.

 

Did you know that Reay Road Railway Station – a prime landmark of Mumbai – is a 19th Century Heritage Grade I structure...? 

 

Surely you know CST (VT/Bori Bunder) and Churchgate are famous and celebrated Heritage Buildings. 

But – Dear Reader – did you even imagine in your wildest thoughts that Reay Road was an equally prestigious Heritage Structure embodying excellence in architectural style, design, building technology and material usage...?

Reay Road Railway Station, on the harbour branch railway line of the Central Railway, rises to the top of a road bridge whose span bestrides and overlaps the railway track underneath. The railway tracks tunnel through an arch on the southern side. 

 

The station superstructure, constructed of stone, atop the arch, has in its center a majestic clock overlooking the platforms and tracks as if keeping a benevolent and watchful eye on the goings on below. 

 

It is an elegant and unique example in compressed space utilization, a masterpiece – a true work of art. 

 

I have not seen a railway station like Reay Road anywhere else.

I think Reay Road is the only Heritage Railway Station on Mumbai's Harbour Line. 

 

The other heritage railway stations on Mumbai's suburban railway include Byculla on the Central Railway and Bandra on the Western Railway.

 

The next time you are in Mumbai – please catch a harbour branch local train and get down at Reay Road. 

Stand aside and let the commuters rush away – and then – look towards the southern side – and marvel at the adorable and captivating heritage masterpiece. 

 

Is Reay Road Railway Station still the same way as I described it...? 

Or – has it changed...? 

VIKRAM KARVE

Copyright © Vikram Karve 
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Disclaimer:

1. This story is a fictional spoof, pure fiction, just for fun and humor, no offence is meant to anyone, so take it with a pinch of salt and have a laugh.

2. This story is a work of fiction. All stories in this blog are a work of fiction. Events, Places, Settings and Incidents narrated in the stories are a figment of my imagination. The characters do not exist and are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

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Link to my source post in my Blog Academic and Creative Writing Journal Vikram Karve: http://karvediat.blogspot.com/2011/02/heritage-mumbai-reay-road-railway.html

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THE BEST BIRYANI IN PUNE

THE BEST BIRYANI IN PUNE

Lucky Mutton Biryani

By

VIKRAM KARVE

The best Biryani in Pune comes from Mumbai.

You think I am joking?

Well, I am not joking. Just read on.

You do not get good Biryani in Pune.

You don’t agree?

Then prove me wrong and tell me where you get good Biryani in Pune.

As far as I am concerned, even the much celebrated Dorabjee, Blue Nile and Good Luck Biryanies are a bit too oily and spicy for my taste.

And most other places in Pune pass off greasy and spicy Pulao as Biryani.

You know the difference between a Pulao and a Biryani, don’t you?

No?

Let me tell you.

When you cook the rice and the meat together it becomes a Pulao.

When you cook the rice separately and the meat separately and then layer them alternately, it becomes a Biryani.

Now let’s talk of Lucky Biryani.

No. No. Don’t get me wrong. I am not living in the past and talking of the long disappeared Lucky Restaurant in Deccan Gymkhana Pune where the late Dev Anand used to enjoy Biryani. I am talking of the Lucky Restaurant in Mumbai.

When I lived in Churchgate I mainly relished Biryani at many of my favourite restaurants in South Mumbai – like Olympia in Colaba, Delhi Darbar on Falkland Road (Patthe Bapurao Marg) off Grant Road (or its branch near Metro on Marine Street) or Shalimar in Bhendi Bazar or Noorani near Haji Ali.

(For Pulao there is nothing to beat the famed Berry Pulao of Britannia of Ballard Estate)

In the suburbs my favourite place for Biryani was Lucky Restaurant in Bandra.

Lucky is on the junction of Main Road and Hill Road – just get out of Bandra Railway Station on the western side and walk straight to the main SV Road and you will see Lucky on the opposite side.

Now let me tell you where I found Lucky Biryani in Pune.

Every Saturday we go for shopping to Aundh. Now if you live in a godforsaken place like Wakad the nearest civilisation is Aundh, so that’s where we go for our weekly shopping.

(I wonder why no one has thought of opening a mall and multiplex in Wakad – the way Wakad and Hinjewadi are expanding there will be no dearth of customers)

A few weeks back when we were walking around in Reliance Mart and stopped for a bite at the food stall I saw a non-veg freezer section and ventured in. I was pleasantly surprised to see cartons of Lucky Biryani under the counter. A little sceptical about how the “frozen” Biryani would taste, I nevertheless got a pack home, warmed it in my microwave, and let me tell you that the Biryani tasted almost as good as the original. Now whenever I go to Aundh, I pick up Lucky Biryani from Reliance Mart.

There are four tests to judge a Biryani and let us see how Lucky Biryani performs in these tests. (By very definition Biryani means Mutton Biryani and terms like Chicken Biryani, Fish Biryani and Vegetable Biryani are misnomers).

Test No. 1

SPREAD TEST

First I try the “Spread Test”.

I pick up a little Biryani in my fingers and sprinkle it on the side dish. The grains of rice do not stick together but remain separate. The pieces of mutton are succulent, clear and dry. The Biryani is not greasy and the mutton pieces easily separate from the rice.

Lucky Biryani will easily qualifies the spread test.

Test No. 2

AROMA TEST

I lift the plate of Biryani and smell the rice and pieces of mutton. The Biryani is pleasantly aromatic. I can discern the delicate sweetish fragrance of curds and bouquet of appetizing mouth-watering aroma of marinated spices. The aroma is not overpowering, sharp or piquant.

The Biryani passes the “aroma test” with flying colours

Test No. 3

TASTE TEST

I taste the mutton. It is well-cooked, flavoursome, succulent, delicious – the distinctive attribute of well marinated meat. The I roll some rice on my tongue – the subtle flavour and mild taste of the spices comes through – the Biryani is not overpoweringly spicy, greasy or pungent. It is exactly how a good Biryani must be.

Test No. 4

POTATO TEST

Now I come to the fourth and final test – the “Potato Test”.

I dig deep and search for the potato in the Biryani and pop a piece of potato in my mouth. The potato tastes as scrumptious as the meat – the hallmark of a superlative Biryani.

Lucky Biryani has qualified all the four “Biryani Tests” with flying colours. Now it is time to relish and savour the Biryani.

I once again say that you don’t get good Biryani in Pune. Will some Punekar prove me wrong. Till then I’ll keep picking up Lucky Biryani on my weekly visits to Reliance Mart.

Happy Eating.

VIKRAM KARVE

Copyright © Vikram Karve 2012

Vikram Karve has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work. 

© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

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About Vikram Karve

A creative person with a zest for life, Vikram Karve is a retired Naval Officer turned full time writer. Educated at IIT Delhi, ITBHU Varanasi, The Lawrence School Lovedale and Bishops School Pune, Vikram has published two books: COCKTAIL a collection of fiction short stories about relationships (2011) and APPETITE FOR A STROLL a book of Foodie Adventures (2008) and is currently working on his novel and a book of vignettes and short fiction. An avid blogger, he has written a number of fiction short stories, creative non-fiction articles on a variety of topics including food, travel, philosophy, academics, technology, management, health, pet parenting, teaching stories and self help in magazines and published a large number of professional research papers in journals and edited in-house journals for many years, before the advent of blogging. Vikram has taught at a University as a Professor for almost 15 years and now teaches as a visiting faculty and devotes most of his time to creative writing. Vikram lives in Pune India with his family and muse - his pet dog Sherry with whom he takes long walks thinking creative thoughts.

Vikram Karve Academic and Creative Writing Journal: http://karvediat.blogspot.com
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