A Cupp of Garam Chai—From
a Street Chai Dhaba at Purani Chungi (Aligarh Muslim University-Aligarh) —It
boosts confidence of Aligs.
a Street Chai Dhaba at Purani Chungi (Aligarh Muslim University-Aligarh) —It
boosts confidence of Aligs.
Mere khoon main josh bhare
ye chai,
ye chai,
mere armanon ko hosh de ye
chai,
chai,
For Aligarians, Every time
is Tea Time— Tea, after meals, Tea after lunch and dinner is almost like a
tradition.One who doesn’t have tea is looked down upon.
is Tea Time— Tea, after meals, Tea after lunch and dinner is almost like a
tradition.One who doesn’t have tea is looked down upon.
It is disgraceful,
shameful and very Un-Aligarian not to have tea at all.
shameful and very Un-Aligarian not to have tea at all.
Dhabas at Purani Chungi to Shamshad market of Aligarh are place for
Aligs to sit with friends for hours, passing time on gossips, local university
politics to debate on serious topics.This at a cost of simply a cupp of chai.
Aligs to sit with friends for hours, passing time on gossips, local university
politics to debate on serious topics.This at a cost of simply a cupp of chai.
Purani Chungi is most
favored place among Aligarh Muslim University Students community. Purani
Chungi is at crossing of roads running between Qila to University campus and
Kath pulla to Anoopshahar.
favored place among Aligarh Muslim University Students community. Purani
Chungi is at crossing of roads running between Qila to University campus and
Kath pulla to Anoopshahar.
It is just at few hundred
Meters away from Arts Faculty. The beauties of these Dhabas are— Students who
come from diverse backgrounds sit at one place. Dhabas are like second home to
students.
Meters away from Arts Faculty. The beauties of these Dhabas are— Students who
come from diverse backgrounds sit at one place. Dhabas are like second home to
students.
These
Dhaba culture is an integral part in day to day life of any Aligarian. However
as an Alig: you would always love to sit at Dhaba rather than spending money in
a five star hotel.
Dhaba culture is an integral part in day to day life of any Aligarian. However
as an Alig: you would always love to sit at Dhaba rather than spending money in
a five star hotel.
at these, that inspired poet Majaz to compose, ‘Har Sham Hai Sham e Misr Yahan
(Every Evening Here Is Like An Evening In Egypt)’ in his famous tribute to his
alma mater. This tribute is now sung as the anthem of the university.
One can find a crowd of
students at any dhaba almost any time of the day.The chai and gossiping never
ends. Many students spend a quarter of the day at the chai Dhabas. New visitor
would find this place very filthy and unorganized. Cycles, scooters and
rickshaws ply on the road almost round the clock.
students at any dhaba almost any time of the day.The chai and gossiping never
ends. Many students spend a quarter of the day at the chai Dhabas. New visitor
would find this place very filthy and unorganized. Cycles, scooters and
rickshaws ply on the road almost round the clock.
When Aligarians are asked
about the kind of Tea they would prefer, one can get a common answer –
“kam Shakar, Tez Patti” which means strong Tea with less sugar in
it.
about the kind of Tea they would prefer, one can get a common answer –
“kam Shakar, Tez Patti” which means strong Tea with less sugar in
it.
“Chotu chai Lao” —The
most memorable words heard by an ‘Alig’ are “Chotu chai Lao” which is how
students order tea at dhabas. These chotus are youngest at Dhabas and have
special importance in Dhabas .They run with tea cups from chair to chair with
smile.
most memorable words heard by an ‘Alig’ are “Chotu chai Lao” which is how
students order tea at dhabas. These chotus are youngest at Dhabas and have
special importance in Dhabas .They run with tea cups from chair to chair with
smile.
These chotus and Dhaba
owners hardly do any discrimination with students on the basis of one’s age or
degree.
owners hardly do any discrimination with students on the basis of one’s age or
degree.
He calls everybody as ‘Dr
Sahib’, no matter if that Dr Customer is yet to clear his SSC exams.Ironically
at playing and schooling age they play with tea cups. Some chotus are the only
earning member of their family.
Sahib’, no matter if that Dr Customer is yet to clear his SSC exams.Ironically
at playing and schooling age they play with tea cups. Some chotus are the only
earning member of their family.
These tea-sipping and
chatting sessions run from early morning to late in the night. And this dhaba
culture is said to be as old as the establishment of the university as
Mohammedan Anglo Oriental College in 1875.
chatting sessions run from early morning to late in the night. And this dhaba
culture is said to be as old as the establishment of the university as
Mohammedan Anglo Oriental College in 1875.
Have a stroll in campus
from Shamshad Market to Purani chungi. You will find major part of the market
resting under the shades of Banyan trees.
from Shamshad Market to Purani chungi. You will find major part of the market
resting under the shades of Banyan trees.
This dhaba culture has
been a sine qua non of AMU campus life. AMU alumni, more colloquially known as
‘Old Boys’, often reminisce about their time spent in these dhabas.
been a sine qua non of AMU campus life. AMU alumni, more colloquially known as
‘Old Boys’, often reminisce about their time spent in these dhabas.
Conclusion
Sir Sayed’s soul must have suffered a lot when in the name of this stated
tradition and culture, Aligs use to go in the market ,in these dhabas wearing kurta-pajama,
lower and sleepers.They use to go to class room wearing sandals, slippers, walk
in hostels wearing half pants.
tradition and culture, Aligs use to go in the market ,in these dhabas wearing kurta-pajama,
lower and sleepers.They use to go to class room wearing sandals, slippers, walk
in hostels wearing half pants.
Eat in canteen, dhabas, tea, snacks, without paying money. On the dhabas,
they take out each other’s evils and spend time on them. Is this the identity
of being Alig? Mud Smirching over each other and say that we
are Aligs and we are proud of it.
they take out each other’s evils and spend time on them. Is this the identity
of being Alig? Mud Smirching over each other and say that we
are Aligs and we are proud of it.
Author of
this blog feels pain as, when he counts no of students, who successfully
competed Union Public Service Commission; State Public Service Commission Exams
are less than 1% among 30,000 students.
this blog feels pain as, when he counts no of students, who successfully
competed Union Public Service Commission; State Public Service Commission Exams
are less than 1% among 30,000 students.
Aligs:
Continue to dream big and believing in them. Increase your input by cracking
class one Gazetted Officers,State Gazetted officers, Indian Forest Services,
high class technocrats and much more.
Continue to dream big and believing in them. Increase your input by cracking
class one Gazetted Officers,State Gazetted officers, Indian Forest Services,
high class technocrats and much more.
How
many Aligs have a vision of what the world is going to be in the coming
decades? We badly need to raise our standards.
many Aligs have a vision of what the world is going to be in the coming
decades? We badly need to raise our standards.
As
an old Student of A.M.U.Aligarh,author has observed that most of Students Union
elected and non elected members later on ,at some time becomes Andh Bhakt of
any political parties.
an old Student of A.M.U.Aligarh,author has observed that most of Students Union
elected and non elected members later on ,at some time becomes Andh Bhakt of
any political parties.
After joining political
parties, they follow the guide line of their political bosses.These
intellectual highly educated,big dreamer students.
parties, they follow the guide line of their political bosses.These
intellectual highly educated,big dreamer students.
Once upon a time,were torch
bearer with an ideology,a dream to serve the Nation,to serve their Samaj becomes
slave ,puppet of ideologies of political parties.They do,what that political
parties say.
bearer with an ideology,a dream to serve the Nation,to serve their Samaj becomes
slave ,puppet of ideologies of political parties.They do,what that political
parties say.
It is true that students
of A.M.U.Aligarh have always saved not only our ALMA MATER at every crisis, they
voiced and faught for good cause of community.Many good new students leadership
too has emerged, during present crises.
of A.M.U.Aligarh have always saved not only our ALMA MATER at every crisis, they
voiced and faught for good cause of community.Many good new students leadership
too has emerged, during present crises.
So they must lead community and Nation,
without joing any political parties as their Andh Bhakt.
without joing any political parties as their Andh Bhakt.
Gain knowledge, avoid
sitting aimlessly for hours in these dhabas. If we believe in our dreams, we
really affirm that we know Allah is going to help.
sitting aimlessly for hours in these dhabas. If we believe in our dreams, we
really affirm that we know Allah is going to help.
I
am finishing this blog by reciting few lines from University Trana:
am finishing this blog by reciting few lines from University Trana:
Jo abr yahaṅ se utthega, wo sarey jahaṅ par barsega
Har
jooy-e-rawaṅ par
barsega, har koh-e-garaṅ par
barsega
jooy-e-rawaṅ par
barsega, har koh-e-garaṅ par
barsega
Har
sarw-o-saman par barsega, har dasht-o-daman par barsega
sarw-o-saman par barsega, har dasht-o-daman par barsega
Khud apne
chaman par barsega, ghairoṅ ke chaman par barsega
chaman par barsega, ghairoṅ ke chaman par barsega
Har
shahr-e-tarab par garjega, har qasr-e-tarab par kadkega
shahr-e-tarab par garjega, har qasr-e-tarab par kadkega
Ye abr
hamesha barsa hai, ye abr hamesha barsega.
hamesha barsa hai, ye abr hamesha barsega.
Disclaimer:
The views expressed above are author’s own.He does’t mean to hurt
AMU Fraternity.
The views expressed above are author’s own.He does’t mean to hurt
AMU Fraternity.
The
End
End
