Buying or being allotted a plot of land was for our parents a life-changing occasion for them. During their lifetime everything they did was targeted towards building their own homes, every penny saved was going to be spent on either on their daughter’s wedding or on building a house. Only now when we look around we realised as to how well they had planned their lives at a very young age.
We three siblings never realized the importance of the visit that we made sometime in 1964/65 to a dusty small hillock, just on Shanti Path! We were living in Kolkata then and during a visit to Delhi, my parents brought us here and pointed out a barren land and said that is where we are going to build a home. We were horrified, did they really think we were going to live in this wilderness? There wasn’t a house or a tree nearby, roads and shops were non-existent. We had no intention of joining them here!
Taking possession of the land (Jan’1971)
At the site (water tank in the background)
Under Construction
At Site
That was then, and today all three of us are owners of flats in Vasant Vihar, and frankly, we say it with pride that we are Vasant Viharis.
When I started going through my parent’s papers recently to write this article, I realised that our tryst with Vasant Vihar started in 1956, when my father made the first payment towards the Government Servants Cooperative House Building Society – a magnificent sum of Rs. 1555. These payments continued till 1969 when the last payment was made. In 1962 when the Society was allotted land there were 1325 members. (Incidentally I have all the original papers, a few of which are shared here. You are welcome to peruse the original documents!)
Handwritten note by Milly’s father listing neighbors as per allotment list.
The first call for the pulling out of lots came on 16th August 1965, but for some reason this does not seem to have happened. The actual allotment happened in 1967. (Click here for the original list). I have the original papers where my father has noted down who were going to be his neighbours! Some of them are still our neighbours such as Mrs.Lakshmi Khera (Shiv Khera’s mother), Mr. N K Panda, Mr. A L Bhalla’s family, Mr. Punhani’s family and so many more familiar names. It was important even then to know who was going to be living next door to you! On June 7th, 1968, the colony changed its name to Vasant Vihar from Basant Nagar (see letter below).
My real tryst with Vasant Vihar happened after my parents moved to Delhi around 1975. C 6/6 for my children became their Nanka home and the wide, open spaces and the gardens in front and at the back were their favourite spots. For me, Vasant Vihar held the charm of a shopping complex right next door – C Block market was beginning to flourish and a great place to walk up to!
I remember a Holi morning at the Kalyan Kendra around 1975, I think. There were dry colours to use, gujiya and puri aloo to eat, and a lovely gathering afterwards where jokes and stories were shared.
Karva Chauth was an afternoon when my mother held the Puja in her lawns and many ladies from C-Block joined her. Today, after her passing away Shivi Talwar, from across the street, has taken over the mantle, using the same doll as Veeranwali. This tradition has carried on for over 3 decades in our street.
My tryst with Vasant Vihar continues as now I have become a permanent resident here, and frequently there is a sense of amazement at how a small payment in 1956 has led to so many great memories and a home for all of us.
Letters from Govt Servants Co-operative House Building Society to members:
Status update on land acquisition in Basant Nagar & Munirka (Aug’57)
Status update on land acquisition & estimated development costs (Jul’59)_pg1
Status update on land acquisition & estimated development costs (Jul’59)_pg2
Status update on Site Development at Basant Nagar (Nov’67)_pg1
Status update on Site Development at Basant Nagar (Nov’67)_pg2
Status update on Site Development at Basant Nagar (Nov’67)_pg2
Approval for Commencement of Building Activity (Nov’68)