Page 27 - Seniorstoday May 2022 Issue

the north west to the south east, laterally
and horizontally across our glorious
country. Mountains, valleys, rivers, lakes,
seas, snows, rock formations, brilliant
architectures, art, religious places, – you
name it, it is there.

The Framji Cowasji Banaji hall in Mumbai
overseas markets as well. Exporting was
a difficult job with 100 rules during the
rule of the British. A smart businessman
that he was, Banaji packed a box of a dozen Over the last several years, I have been
mangoes and despatched it to Queen on a discovery trail of the North Eastern
Victoria in London. Now, who can stop a Region comprising eight states – Assam,
package to an Empress. The Queen relished Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya,
it so much that she asked for more and Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura.
evangelised it in other European countries Unbelievably endowed by nature in all its
as well. Soon, Banaji was minting money. glory, albeit several challenging terrains,
Hapus became a household name not just and lovely and friendly people with a
in India, but internationally too. Banaji distinctive history and culture.
was not just a rich and famous Bawa, but I do not know how many summers I have
a munificent man too. He was responsible left, but I do know what my destinations
for laying water pipelines too so that it would be in the summers that are left. I love
was available to people as far as Girgaum my India. And hapus, the king of fruits.
in South Mumbai. His philanthrophy and For, what is summer, if not sweetness
benevolence was much respected and a personified in mangoes.
grateful citizenry put up his statue and
built an eponymous public hall in Dhobi
Talao (Metro theatre area) in Mumbai.
Talking of vacations, India itself will
take a few lifetimes to experience and
soak in. Foreign destinations maybe good
and fanciful, but only a few can afford
it. Nothing lost really, India offers so
much more in all its diverse splendour
and history - from the Himalayas to
Kanyakumari, from Mumbai to Puri, from
Gujarat to Andhra, from Kolkata to Kerala,
from the north east to the south west,

SENIORS TODAY | ISSUE #35 | MAY 2022 27