Jamshedpur- City beyond Steel....Memories down the lane

Jamshedpur- City beyond Steel....Memories down the lane

People relentlessly run in search of complete freedom, to escape from their abode, only to find out in the end that it always puts them in servitude of what they say, “It’s all a part of growing up.”

I remember my office days when I was staying far away from home and hadn’t been to home for a long while; someone asked me “Ghar kab jaaoge?” I could not help but cry within and smile back at them. Today, amidst the corona pandemic, when most of us are confined to our homes and have nowhere to go, the inner me can’t stop from describing my hometown, Jamshedpur.

Jamshedpur is not just a quaint city marking its presence faintly. Rather, it’s a wave of emotions, an adrenaline rush and a thousand intricately woven memories all at once. Jamshedpur is like a treasure waiting to be uncovered. Founded in 1919 by Jamshetji Nusserwanji Tata, Jamshedpur is one of the first industrial planned cities of India and the most popular urban agglomeration in Jharkhand. At a certain point, all of us might have imagined being born in a different city or a town. But if someone asks me the same, my answer would undoubtedly be my very own Jamshedpur which has a lot more to offer than just steel.

Jamshedpur offers a variety of serenity. Starting from the very beauteous Jubilee Park, also called the “Mughal Gardens of Jamshedpur” is a famous tourist destination of the city. Centrally located, the park is spread over 200 acres of land comprising ornamental trees, colourful fountains, and rose gardens. This park was a befitting gift from the Tata Steel, the magnanimous steel industry of East India to the people of Jamshedpur. Jubilee Park hits me with nostalgia the most when I think of the vendors selling spicy puffed rice salad or ‘jhalmuri’, potato chips, and flossy pink cotton candies. I fondly remember going to Tata Steel founder’s day celebration on 3^rd March in Jubilee Park every year.

Apart from this, we used to visit the Tata Zoological Park as well. The zoo, surrounded by an artificial lake, the Jayanti Sarover is an apt place to allay your fascination for animals. Varying from different species of apes, birds, butterflies, the major attractions are the mandrills, African lions, white tigers and zebras. No matter what your age is, you will never get bored by the pristine wildlife this zoo has to offer.

A paradise for elephants, pangolins, deers, and leopards etc, Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary is a sanctum for the tourists and wildlife enthusiasts away from the light pollution of the city. Guarded by dense forests and the lush green Dalma hills, this massive sanctuary boasts of its vivid wildlife existing in peace and harmony. I remember my school trip to this place some seven years back. We were so much enthralled by the flora and fauna of this place. I remember my class teacher calling us lucky to have spotted herd of tuskers on our way back.

Talking of serenity that this city provides, there is another place pivotal to the city- The Dimna Lake. Overshadowed by the Dalma Hills, this mesmerizing artificial lake is a renowned recreational spot. Besides being a scenic beauty, this lake marks its importance by serving as a water reservoir for Tata Steel plant as well as the main drinking water source of the city. Rolling down the memory lane, I remember how frequently we used to come here for picnics in the holidays. Having delectable food amidst the pleasant weather, looking towards the resplendent scenery and watching a flock of migrating birds flying across the sky is one of my favourite memories of childhood. If you are a nature lover, Jamshedpur has it all. Even if you’re not, you may end up falling in love with nature altogether, witnessing tranquillity in the lap of nature.

Enough of greens and blues! Let us change the palate a bit.  Jamshedpur has the famous Keenan Stadium, JRD Tata Complex, Kali Mandir, Bhubaneshwari Temple and others to boast of. Ever imagined all the people, living life in peace? If yes, then you’re not the only dreamer out here. Jamshedpur is a place of religious tolerance and cultural unity. We celebrate Eid with as much enthusiasm as we celebrate Durga Puja and all other festivals with the zeal of oneness. The people here are very open to new ideas and are very ambitious of their dreams. Jamshedpur was equally a magnet for dreamers, entrepreneurs and runaways. This resulted in such a nicely amalgamated and vibrant culture altogether. The buzzing markets of Sakchi and Bistupur are the oldest and most populous with wide avenues, posh shops and a string of cars parked alongside which tells a lot about the city.

 Food in Jamshedpur is a material manifestation of joy. Be it the ‘Thekkuas’ of the ‘Chhath Puja’ or the ‘Shahi Tukdas’ of the ‘Ramadan’, Food is everywhere, in every corner of the market, on every street and of course the numerous restaurants serving a variety of cuisines. Walking down the memory lane, I remember waiting for a ‘Pani Puri’ wala to pass by and we would rush to him. Lol, I still can’t stop drooling. No outing is ever complete without some ‘samosa chaat’ or ‘chicken rolls’ or the piping hot ‘litti chokhas’.  Bhatia’s milk shakes, Bauwaji’s chai, Tambi’s dosas, Ramesh’s kulfi have been serving generations of locals since time immemorial.

A city instills in you a part of it, I believe. No matter how bustling a city you live in, it can never be your true hometown. Jamshedpur has its roots in me. I might sound a bit over biased towards my hometown but the question is “why shouldn’t I?”

After all, a home is a home!!None of us can deny that, for sure....