My parents-in-law late Shri & Shrimati Dr.K.C.Kandhari shifted to 11, Munirka Marg in 1971, in the basement as the house was not yet completed. Six months later, my late husband Shri Inder Kandhari and I, along with my two small daughters joined in.
Ours was the only building on Munirka Marg at that time. The area in front was absolutely barren – ujaad as well call it – with no habitation whatsoever. It consisted of low-lying denuded hills, full of mica, where its mining was being done illegally. Hence, we named our home “Rock View”.
Having moved to VV, my commute to North Campus (Delhi University), where I was teaching at Miranda House, was a real ordeal as there was no bus service for Vasant Vihar. My dear husband would drop me to RK Puram Sector 1 for the University Special starting at 7.30am. But the return journey from Delhi University back home was a nightmare.
Mrs.Kandhari’s daughter (Jayati) sitting at Rock View (1978). Background is the view from Munirka Marg.
I would like to narrate the first day of my return home from college. After changing two buses, I was dropped at RK Puram, Sector 8 crossing near Sangam Cinema, and was advised by the conductor – “Woh saamney toh vasant vihar hai!”. I started walking, and the road wouldn’t end. I could not take an autorickshaw as I myself did not know the directions to my home. I kept on walking and heaved a sigh of relief on the sight of “saamney waala vasant vihar”.
But I had no inkling of my whereabouts. The colony was a barren land with chalk demarcations for plots division – very few buildings were completed or under construction. I felt totally lost. On enquiring, no one knew where Munirka Marg existed. I felt as if I was lost in the big city of Delhi!! After bhatkoing for about 50 minutes, I reached home totally exhausted.
Next day, I changed my return route and instead of Sector 8, I came to RK Puram Sector 1, thinking of getting an autorickshaw. To my disappointment no autorickshaw would agree to drop me to VV. They would say, “Uss ujaad jagah kaun jaayega!” Even on my offering to pay the return fare, which in those days was Rs.1.25, no one would agree to give me a ride. On many days I had to walk all the way home from Sector 1.
As I mentioned earlier, the area in front of our house was all open with low lying hills – remnants of Aravalli Hills. Due to the rampant mining deep ravines had got formed. Ours being the solitary building on the peripheral road called Munirka Marg, we had the ‘Honor” of three thefts!
There was no loss in the first theft, as the burglars ran away on being challenged. All that we saw was their shining black bodies (because of oil – to escape being caught) with minimum clothing, running away climbing on to the hills and sliding down into the ravine.
In the second theft, we lost all our silverware, as it was a trend in those days to display it in the sheeshey-waali cupboard.
The third theft was of a very peculiar type. The burglars could not succeed in breaking the lock between the kitchen and living room for access to the bedroom. Therefore, due to frustration and vengeance, they ate up all the malai and milk from the fridge, picked up the cutlery (mistaking it for silver) and also a big jar of sugar as sugar was a rationed commodity in those days.
Among other memories, how can I forget seeing peacocks coming on the land opposite our house and dancing with joy. In fact, this denuded hillock had turned into a plateau and was also a favourite picnic spot for my daughters to enjoy themselves. No parks existed at that time.
I have also had the pleasure of seeing a fight between a cobra snake and a big fat mongoose right on our Munirka Marg – a rare sight indeed! This very area, which was all wilderness is now infested with huge, tall buildings of various state guest houses.
I can never forget the thundering and terrifying sound heard when we were all having our dinner. It was the Indian Airlines crash of 1973. Our house having no blockage in front, we could see the flames and fire brigades all through the night.
Lastly, I would like to talk about my memories of the water problem that we faced. Munirka Marg being on a higher elevation compared to the rest of VV, water would never reach our area. Hence, we would have no water even to drink, leave alone cooking, bathing, and washing. My husband and I used to fetch water in buckets and containers placed in the boot of our Maruti 800, from our friends in B-block who had made a borewell in their homes. However, I would like to thank the VV authorities and people concerned who have worked hard to get this problem solved for residents of Munirka Marg.
In conclusion, I would like to say that Vasant Vihar is an optimally developed colony with houses rising up to the fourth floor. We are a prestigious colony, as we have an excellent location and people who ‘bond together as a big family’.
Thank you once again for letting me share my memories. As a resident of this colony, where I have lived much longer than many others, I have taken the liberty of being the Historian of Time.