GOURI SATYA writes: Apropos of T.G. Lakshmana Rao‘s ‘Handbook of the City of Mysore’ which mentions of Mysore boasting of two hotels for the convenience of European visitors in 1915, both being run by Parsis.
The name of the proprietor of Garden Hotel was Mysorewallah. His brother was Topiwallah, who sold topis on Sayaji Rao Road, near ‘Aarane’ Galli. He was a kind hearted person who had Parsi topis, British hats and Mysore black topis in his oeuvre. Mysorewawallah’s Garden Hotel, was next to Ranjit talkies, and it presently houses the Ritz Hotel.
The brothers may be one of the earliest Parsi families to come to Mysore. I think the Palonjis, who operated a bus service, was the other Parsi family, but I am not sure. They resided in the bungalow, which now houses the Mysore Hotel, on the other side of Ranjit Talkies.
Topiwallah’s daughter was an advocate. Bent double, she may today be seen asking for charity at busy places in the evenings, in an old tattered saree. She blames her uncle Mysorewallah for her present plight, leading to penury and begging.
With an excellent command over English, and once with a good practice, she was one of the early lady advocates in the Mysore Bar. Today, she is seen begging on the streets of Mysore!
My god, this is the same lady who came to our house when I was a school boy and divested my aunt of a rare antique by weaving some story.
I distinctly remember the day and also, I’ve often seen her accosting people on the streets of Mysore.
Her English is impeccable and so also her ability to con.
‘Topiwali’, Mr. Topiwallah’s daughter!!!!!!!
Even I remember the lady as a young kid. And also her father always wearing an English hat with a walking stick in hand.
Everyone in N.R.Moholla would call her ‘tree tree’! Don’t know why.
Tragic that destiny deals such a callous card to some in life.
After going through the touching story of an English-speaking beggar and former lawyer of Mysore which is in fact a saga of a Parsi lady from riches to rags my heart was all sympathy for her. But aftger reading Sunaad Raghuram’s response as to how she divested his aunt of a rare antique by weaving some sory all my sympathies for her vanished into thin air.
As Raghuram has rightly said she has literally proved to be a worthy daughter of a worthy father. Yes, she deserves to bve christened Mr. Topiwallah’s daughter, ‘Topiwali’!!!!!!!
With all respect to Sunaadji (whose posts I greatly enjoy) and Basavaraj sahebru, I don’t think Churumuri contributors should libel specific individuals when those individuals may not have the ability to post a response. Besides, this woman seems to be in dire straights — some compassion might do us better.
Nikhil,
You almost read my heart.
Believe me, both my wife and I felt the same after having reacted instinctively to the story by Gouri Sathya.
Maybe, just maybe, I shouldn’t have done the rummaging of old cupboards looking for bones.
Guilty for just having narrated an experience? Or should the lady in question be? Or Gouri Sathya for having written about her in the first place?
Hmmmm… I do not know.
Anyway, if you want a sorry from me…. here it is. In all sincerity.
Sunaad and Geethaji, you know you don’t have to say sorry — not to me! I’ll be in Mysore next week; perhaps we can meet over a double-benne masala dose at Green Leaf or Vontikoppal Nalpak. Can’t wait to have some filter coffee in phala-phala (shining) stainless steel lota!!
Well Sunad, I wrote that piece to recall the past relating to the Garden Hotel. I really felt sorry over the plight of Topiwallah’s daughter – how her story is a true story from rags to riches. I don’t think that aged lady is the type one who steals or cheats. Aged and sick, she mostly confines herself to K.R.Circle or Sayaji Rao Road. I had seen her as a capable lawyer in the Mysore Bar and one day when she came to my office I was aghast to see her sad plight. Her father was a noble person. As far as I know, she was also a kind lady. But, it was her uncle who had driven them to abject poverty, as she narrated her story to me.