Narratives

Citizens' lives and memories. Urban histories. In the voice of Ulhasnagar's people.  The oral narratives are available on Wikipedia Commons. 

Overall category page on Wikipedia Commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Barracks_of_Ulhasnagar:_An_Oral_History_of_a_Refugee_City 

Bhavna Cheejwani, retired academician narrates her life. In her narrative, she recalls her life lived in Ulhasnagar. Her grandfather was a refugee who came from Sindh at the time of the Partition. She was born in Ulhasnagar. She recalls the stories of her barrack neighbourhood: the neighbours, their professions, the sounds and smells she can still recollect, the precarious housing, the gang wars, the lack of toilets and sanitation in the city, and the transformation of her city into a commercial, suffocated space. Listen to her story here: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Call_recording_Bhavna_Cheejwani_250714_080309.webm 

Bhavna Dandwani was born in Ulhasnagar. Her ancestors arrived in Nasik first when they fled Sindh. When they got to know of Ulhasnagar, they moved here. Dandwani's mother stood third in school and had an opportunity to land a good job. However, conservative family values rushed her into marriage. But she was determined to give her daughter a better life. Dandwani is grateful to her mother for the education she received. Her life story is embedded within the urban history. She recalls a lone income tax officer in the barracks where she grew up. The gentleman urged everyone to educate their children so that they could think of lives beyond cottage industries of making pickles and papads. Among the fondest memories Dandwani shares is the memory of a cleaner Valdhuni, the river nearby that Sindhis turned to when celebrating festivals. The history of Ulhasnagar is intertwined with that of nearby water bodies as much as it is entangled in the history of urban infrastructure. Listen to her story here:  https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bhavna_Dandwani_Recalls_Growing_Up_in_Ulhasnagar.webm 

Ulhasnagar is seen as her motherland by Leena Meghani, a retired Principal who has lived all her life in the barracks and continues to live there. She talks about her home and her city with a sense of pride. To her, Ulhasnagar is a space of saints and spirituality. One can hear echoes of the idioms usually reserved for Sindh as home in the way she speaks. Her fond memories include being together and celebrating festivals with her neighbours. Listen to her story here:  https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Leena_Meghani_04.08.25.webm 

Maya Bachani talks about Ulhasnagar and its history with a sense of pride. Her emotional journey is peppered with a well detailed memory of her home and the architecture of the barrack she grew up in. She remembers celebrating festivals and life in general with her neighbours. Her vocabulary for barracks includes several words such as thallo, padhar, and aangan for the tiny courtyard like space outside every house. She remembers that the dishes used to be scraped with ash and coir. She remembers a much cleaner Ulhas river too. The barracks, according to her, were a space of intimacy: relatives visiting someone in the barrack would invariably visit the neighbours too. Similarly, neighbours reached out to other neighbours, exchanging dishes or asking for help with things such as babysitting. The women in the barracks used to sit together around the courtyards to make buffs for talc. Listen to her story here: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Maya_Bachani.webm 

Sunita Hassani remembers various figures from her neighbourhood of her childhood: the moong seller, the kulfi seller, and the dal moong seller peddled food and delicacies. Ulhasnagar was a city where people addressed each other and their children on the basis of their occupations and livelihoods. She herself, for instance, was known as the daughter of the X-ray clinic owner. Someone else was the kid of the printing press owner. These were endearing expressions, not reductive categories to pin people down. These conveyed the sense of pride people of her city took in their work and the dignity they felt everyone deserved. She thinks the city's map does not look the same anymore: where there were barracks and C blocks, now there are buildings. These are, in a way, knotted to each other, with barely any space to breathe. But Ulhasnagar remains dear to her as a place that holds the memories of her family. She does feel irritated by problems such as roads that are constantly dug up but she chooses to live here rather than go elsewhere. Listen to her story here: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sunita_Hassani_RKT_250817.webm 

Roshni Kukreja came to Ulhasnagar when she was 8 years old. Her paternal and maternal grandparents were zamindars. She remembers her bus commutes from home to school or college when asked to reflect on her life and the history of Ulhasnagar. She thinks the city has everything one can ask for. She has seen others struggle around illegal constructions and permissions for rebuilding or renovating their barracks houses but is optimistic that things will get better. She has seen families shrink, houses multiply as younger generations live separately from their parents, and barrack homes expand to one or two storeys. She wishes for Sindhis of Ulhasnagar to come together in unity and help each other grow.  Listen to her story here: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Roshni_Kukreja_250922_101637.webm 

Anand Thadani was born in Ulhasnagar and continues to live there. His impressions of the city’s history include changes at emotional levels. For instance, he thinks today’s Ulhasnagar shines because of streetlights; these were not there when he was young. He misses the enthusiasm of the festivals and rituals that used to be an occasion for people to come together. Regarding the problems of housing, he says that the citizens themselves are at fault. If the buildings began to collapse, it was because the inhabitants did not care for them. Living in barracks generates a different sense of ownership: the expenses such as maintenance come across as burdens to people who began to live in buildings. When asked what he wishes for the city, he says the only thing Sindhis miss in the city is a name. He hopes that the city will get recognition that speaks of its Sindhi identity with the name Sindhunagar.  Listen to his story here: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Anand_S_Thadhani.webm 

Thakur Kundnani lives in Thane but was born and brought up in Ulhasnagar. He remembers his childhood of struggle: going to school and then rushing home to work in various capacities doing embroidery or working in papad making setup. To him, his city , Ulhasnagar, is a place that has not let anyone down. It is still a great city that provides livelihood to lakhs of people. Regarding the housing crisis, he has interesting perspectives to share. He remembers that the growth of families was not accompanied by growth in space. What started as simple, isolated acts of renovation ballooned into an urban catastrophe. The demand for housing compelled some people to disregard laws and norms of construction. At the heart of it all, he sees people’s problems and suffering. His message is that one should help as many people as possible. According to him, this sense of help and goodwill that he witnessed as a child will keep the community together. Listen to his story here: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Thakur_Kudnani_250927.webm 

Anita Jaisinghani has lived all her life in Ulhasnagar. Recently, she has moved to an apartment on the outskirts of the city. She shares her memory of living on a plot in Ulhasnagar and her observations of life in the barracks around her. She recalls the sounds of hawkers, pressure cookers, and security guards strolling with a stick on their night duty. She recalls being saved from a road accident because someone recognized who she is and where she used to live. As her experience shows, one’s place becomes a source of identity. Because she has witnessed the diverse changes in the city, she believes that cities should be developed only if they can be maintained. That is, it is easy for new projects to be ideated but one should resist if one can’t imagine how these projects will be maintained later. Her simple way of putting it sounds like a layperson’s guide to urban planning. Listen to her story here: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Anita_Jaisinghani.webm 

Rajesh Makhija was born and brought up in Ulhasnagar. He lives with his wife and two children very close to the house he was born in. He recognizes the city faces some problems here and there but has nothing but love and gratitude towards the city. While he thinks all is well, he hopes that the Sindhis who have left the city come back someday. Listen to his story here: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rajesh_Makhija_Talks_about_Life_in_Ulhasnagar.ogg 

Lachhu Parchani recalls that the Ulhasnagar of his childhood was a space of venturing out. He remembers going to public spaces such as Goal Maidan or Netaji Chowk. Among his other memories is the memory of experiencing the monsoon. He believes that the city is very rightly known as the manufacturing hub because of the various industries here. He is grateful that this city was given to the refugees and for the fact that Sindhi institutions such as the Chaaliya Saahab are established here. His memory of his home is intertwined with the memory of his late father who literally built their first home in the barracks by personally looking after things as basic as construction or plumbing. He has lived in a building that was deemed illegal later. His experience of being displaced has left him better informed about norms of construction and the ways in which these are flouted. He would love to see a time when the affected buildings are repaired and people are allowed to inhabit them once again. Listen to his story here: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lachhu_Parchani_Shares_His_Experience_of_Living_in_Ulhasnagar.ogg 

Satish Santani shifted from Ulhasnagar to Thane because he wanted to work in the IT sector. Born and brought up in Ulhasnagar, Santani has lived in a barrack as well as a building. His story of Ulhasnagar is that of people turning their homes into spaces of livelihood where women made papads and other items at home while men ran shops, flour mills, and embroidery businesses from home. He shares that while people living in barracks tend to be judged for their location, there are several people who continue to live in the barracks because they feel close to their parents’ histories and memories. These are people who have acquired wealth and can afford to move elsewhere but continue living in the barracks because it is their way of being in touch with their roots.  Listen to his story here: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Satish_Samtani_Talks_about_Barracks_as_a_Space_of_One%27s_Roots.ogg 

Kavni Mirchandani was born and brought up in Ulhasnagar. She remembers her commute to and from school as one of the fondest memories she has of growing up in the city. According to her, barracks made her feel safe and connected with her neighbours. For instance, neighbours treated senior citizens in the neighbourhood with kindness and respect. That exchange has disappeared from the lives of citizens as people move to surrounding cities and even as they move to buildings within Ulhasnagar. Listen to her story here: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kavni_Mirchandani_Remembers_Her_Commute_to_and_from_School_and_Her_Childhood_in_Ulhasnagar.ogg 

Palak Punjabi has seen her grandparents being respected as elders and influential people in the barracks where she grew up. She loves her city and feels sad that it could have been a more developed and a better planned city. She remembers that people got to know about FSI and similar construction related norms only after the infamous list of 855 illegal buildings. The contrast between barracks and buildings for her is that buildings are safer and feel more private. But barracks make one feel less dependent on others. For instance, one can fix issues on their own. Doing a similar thing in buildings requires everyone’s consent and contribution. Buildings in Ulhasnagar are a mirror-image of barracks because of lack of space. Listen to her story here: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Palak_Punjabi_on_the_Differences_between_Barracks_and_Buildings_in_Ulhasnagar.ogg 

Bharti Thakur recalls two features of barracks. One, one house in a barrack had a well inside. There was no concrete around it and it was open.Two, some houses in barracks did not just share walls; these also had windows in common. As a result, neighbours seemed to be family members. She remembers the hustling activities in her neighbourhood throughout the day with patches of quiet afternoons when homemakers rested and children would not do anything to disturb their siesta. She also remembers the kachcha roads of the city back then. For her, these roads were kids-friendly: children could run around without getting hurt and the roads could also absorb rain water that would then settle as groundwater. Today’s roads of concrete are no match to the advantages of the kachcha roads of those days. Listen to her story here: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bharti_Thakur_Says_That_Barracks_Were_Extensions_of_Homes.ogg 

Kailash Rohra shares that his grandparents were settled in Pimpri. When they heard that Ulhasnagar will be a Sindhi colony, they came to settle down here. He regrets the fact that the city has become infamous for its roads. He remembers a lone man, a shopkeeper, who used to go from school to school collecting details of students topping in the subject of Sindhi language across grades. He used to offer small prizes to these students to encourage them to continue studying the language. He says that barracks are the roots of the city’s Sindhis. While some Sindhis who have moved to other cities especially to Thane and beyond judge the Sindhis of Ulhasnagar, these roots still remain the core of the community’s identity. Listen to his story here: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kailash_Rohra_Calls_Barracks_as_the_Roots_of_Ulhasnagar%27s_Sindhis.ogg 

Ritu Bajaj was born in Ulhasnagar. She paints an interesting picture of the barracks of Ulhasnagar. Over a period of time, she has seen people extending or enlarging their houses in the barracks, which has, in turn, shrunk the lanes between the barracks. These enlargements were necessary because family size has increased. But today, the barracks themselves are shrinking as buildings come to be erected. In the history of Ulhasnagar, she sees the condition of Thalassemia as a major health concern ailing the city. While it has reduced a lot over the years, she thinks the community needs to do more to keep safe from this genetic condition. Listen to her story here: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ritu_Bajaj_Talks_about_Barracks_in_Terms_of_the_Width_of_Lanes_between_the_Barracks.ogg Deepak Bhatia thinks that roads and buildings of Ulhasnagar can be made much better. He can sense that people living in the barracks are in a way looked down upon by those who live in buildings. But he is grateful to Ulhasnagar because it has given him everything he has in life: education, career, and family. Listen to his story here: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Deepak_Bhatia_on_the_Status_Differences_between_Barracks_and_Buildings.ogg 

Manju Bajaj finds life in the barracks to be similar to the popular representation of neighbourhood in the Hindi serial Taarak Mehta ka Ooltah Chashma. In a way, people are together and help each other; but in another way, it is a togetherness that is gradually vanishing. The barracks of the yesteryears had an intimacy that bonded children with their grandparents and even with the neighbours’ grandparents. When kids scratched themselves on the kachcha roads earlier, their clothes got mucky; falling on today’s concrete roads does not leave any telltale signs on the body or clothes. Over the years, amenities in Ulhasnagar have increased but not enough because Mumbaikars seem to have the impression that people in Ulhasnagar are orthodox. Listen to her story here: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Manju_Bajaj_Shares_Her_Observations_about_Life_in_the_Barracks.ogg 

Kamlesh Matta lives in the barrack he was born in. He feels proud of his roots in the barracks. While the changing situations require people to leave the barracks and move elsewhere to apartments within Ulhasnagar or outside the city, he continues to live here because he respects his mother’s wish to live here. When his ancestors landed at the Bombay dockyard on 22 February 1948, they were shifted to the barrack house he was born in and still lives. He urges the Sindhi community to think about developing the city rather than leave it. He recalls that the roads of Ulhasnagar have always been notorious for potholes and their condition has been immortalized in the famous song “Hede Hede Hede" from the 1958 Sindhi film Abana.  Listen to his story here: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kamlesh_Brijlal_Matta_Talks_about_His_Roots_in_the_Barrack_He_Was_Born_in_and_the_Pride_He_Takes_in_Them.ogg 

Ajit Jairam Khairpuri was born in Hyderabad (India) but he has lived in Ulhasnagar for a very long time. His family is settled here. He shares that the city has given him a lot: family. The city is also blessed with great food. But he deplores the condition of the roads and the barracks. He remembers the Ulhasnagar of the past where there were no autos and one depended on state transport buses for movement within the city. The other option to get to anywhere else in the city was to walk. He has also seen the river flowing near Ulhasnagar station get polluted over the years. Regarding the barracks, he thinks that clusters of barracks should come together so that buildings can be constructed for better housing in the city. He remembers the looming fear of pigs in people’s minds as they visited common lavatories. Gradually, people shrank the sizes of their rooms in the already small barracks to make space for bathrooms within their homes. His testimony shows that Ulhasnagar is a city that was turned into home after a very long struggle. In a sense, that struggle still continues. Listen to his story here: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ajit_Jairam_Khairpuri_Recalls_Ulhasnagar_through_Its_Food,_River,_and_Barracks.ogg 

Lilaram Parsram Mulchandani is a successor to his father’s legacy of cultural and charity work. He hails from the family that runs the Kailash Parbat chain of restaurants all over the world. He remembers being a part of the hustle of running the original Kailash Parbat restaurant in Colaba area of Mumbai. Today, he oversees Sindhi rituals such as the bahrano sahib on special as well as full moon days. His cultural institution performs the traditional Sindhi dance chhej which was performed on the banks of the Sindhu river as well. He mentions that Ulhasnagar is a city that preserves these rituals while also offering great food and opportunities for economic growth with manufacturing to its citizens. Today’s Ulhasnagar is fast becoming an industrial city with people running factory-like spaces within homes (as people move to other cities with better housing amenities). This is a city that has come a long way from the days when it was a remote, deserted place where it was not unusual to find snakes around. The city he has seen has evolved from a site of wilderness to a bustling city and the barracks are a site where this change has unfolded. Listen to his story here: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:22_Lilaram_Parasram_Mulchanchani_Sees_Ulhasnagar_through_the_Lens_of_Evolution_from_Being_a_Deserted_Place_to_Becoming_a_Cultural_and_Economic_Hub.ogg 

Heena Tej Shahdadpuri relates the history of Ulhasnagar in terms of a second displacement for Sindhis, the first of which happened during the Partition of India. She has seen Sindhis become homeless for the second time as they went through the housing crisis. She narrates the incident of a slab falling over a house late in the night and recalls how a family became deprived of home as well as livelihood because both the house and the shop were located in the same place. She has seen people relocate to dharamshalas because they have no place to stay. The dream for these people was to move to buildings and apartments in search of a better lifestyle. However, for most of these people, that aspiration has become a nightmare. Regarding life in the barracks, she recalls the otaks in the veranda or the padar, the different names for the courtyard common to a group of houses: the elderly men of the neighbourhood would sit there in the evenings and sing Sindhi and Hindi songs. She affirms that Sindhis have created a city out of a jungle and everyone, especially the citizens, deserves to know about the history of Ulhasnagar. Listern to her story here: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:23_Heena_Tej_Shahdadpuri_Relates_the_History_of_Ulhasnagar_and_Sees_the_Story_of_a_Second_Displacement_of_Sindhis_in_This_History.ogg 

Harcharankaur Arjan Singh Khalsa, a sixty two year old retired teacher, has lived her entire life in Ulhasnagar’s 4 Camp barracks, where she was born and continues to reside. She recalls the barracks as open houses that have gradually been renovated and expanded over time, sometimes moving from one barrack to another as families grew, with some houses now becoming two storeyed. For her, the body itself carries memories of Ulhasnagar and she feels she will never leave the place. She notes that the neighbourhood has changed physically as people expand their homes to accommodate families and small home based workshops, causing lanes to become narrower and space to shrink. In her childhood, the barracks fostered a strong sense of belonging where neighbours and children shared everyday life. Children would go together to collect wood or ask for donations during festivals, while elders narrated stories about Lohri and Holi. She remembers that the area once felt quieter, partly because it had been a military camp surrounded by a wall, though the sound of hawkers has always been present and has in fact increased today as vendors sell vessels, clothes, and other goods door to door rather than people going to shops themselves. She also observes the rise of illegal constructions in the city, some of which have led to loss of life and property, though she emphasises that her own family’s expansion of their barrack was done legally after obtaining permission, which took time. In terms of government support, she mentions the MHADA housing scheme through a lottery system but feels that Ulhasnagar has largely received little attention beyond earlier rehabilitation efforts. Despite infrastructural challenges such as poor roads, unreliable electricity in the past, and serious shortages of good quality water which now forces residents to order bottles of mineral water, she says she has never felt discriminated against and remembers that most neighbours earlier shared similar refugee backgrounds. She feels the city has materially developed but not ethically or in terms of safety, and laments that public spaces such as parks have been turned into commercial areas. Many Sindhis, she says, are leaving Ulhasnagar for places like Kalyan or Thane either for their children’s futures or for business, and she appeals to the Sindhi community not to abandon what she calls their native place but to keep its fragrance alive. Among her fondest memories are childhood visits to the 2 Camp bazaar before Diwali to buy toys and lights, though she feels the bazaar no longer carries the same charm today. While basic amenities such as electricity and water are provided by the government and municipal staff collect waste from outside homes, she feels the city still lacks good hospitals and adequate infrastructure. She also reflects on how outsiders often see Ulhasnagar primarily as a shopping destination known for affordable clothes, electronics, and furniture, though some also view it negatively. Concluding her reflections, she stresses the need to keep the Sindhi language alive and to make younger generations aware of their literature, festivals, culture, history, and origins, urging community leaders to create greater awareness so that these traditions are not forgotten. Listen to her story here: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:24_Harcharankaur_A_Khalsa_Appeals_to_Fellow_Sindhis_That_They_Should_Not_Leave_Ulhasnagar,_Their_Birthplace.ogg

Dilip Manoherlal Punjabi is an Ulhasnagar resident who grew up in the government-allotted "barracks" given to Sindhi refugees after Partition. He describes his childhood in Barrack No. 970 near the railway station as safe and highly community-oriented, characterized by open doors, shared food, and traditional games, despite the buildings lacking basic amenities like proper bathrooms and water supply, which the residents built themselves. He touches on the widespread issue of illegal construction. He explains that the Conveyance Deed (CD) was given as a "gift" by the President to the Sindhi communities who were allotted the barracks. However, he notes that a clause in the deed allows the government to take the property back if a need arises. Furthermore, he mentions that many residents have not yet received their CDs, and even after 70-75 years, obtaining one for certain plots still requires difficult and often non-straightforward application processes with the SDO and Konkan Board. Mr. Punjabi explains that while the original barracks were government-allotted, many residents extended their structures, often with unofficial political consent, leading to an environment where innocent people bought flats in buildings that were legally unsound. He laments the lack of change and political will to resolve the issue of illegal structures, poor infrastructure (roads and water), and the subsequent deterioration of the strong community spirit, which he believes has been replaced by a "practical" and money-focused life. He concludes by expressing deep gratitude for all Ulhasnagar has given him, acknowledging the Sindhi community's hard work and self-reliance in building the town, while also noting that those who can afford it are now leaving the city due to the unresolved basic issues. Listen to his story here: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dilip_Manoherlal_Punjabi_Talks_about_Technical_Intricacies_Related_to_Housing_in_Ulhasnagar.ogg 

Nand Nichaldas Chhugani, 81, is a retired Bank of Baroda manager. In this interview, he shares his life and the history of Ulhasnagar. Born in Halani, Nawabshah District, Sindh, Pakistan, he arrived in Ulhasnagar around the age of three and settled with his large family in Barrack No. 946 in Camp No. 3 (later Section 21), which was a 10x30 ft hall later converted into a kothi with a kitchen and a bathroom. He recalls the initial lack of security, the late arrival of electricity which required an expensive meter, and the eventual development of military-built roads by the Municipality. Socially, he remembers a tight-knit community with shared meals and distinct hawkers, such as the oil seller who would call out "तेल कचो खोपड़ो" (Oil and raw coconut/kernel). Regarding civic development, he mentions that buildings were often constructed first, out of necessity, and then legalized later, with little government support for housing. He credits a couple of leaders for Ulhasnagar's development, with Devantram Vishindas Gurbani being the first Municipality President. He notes a significant change in the town's population, which has shifted from being solely Sindhi to including many other communities, and observed a resulting social stratification where those living in barracks are now viewed differently from those in flats. Regarding construction, he recalls that the initial building was driven by a dire 'need-based' necessity for shelter, which later evolved into 'luxury' construction as the community's circumstances improved. While the initial barrack structures included a kitchen and a 'bathroom' (which was only a bathing area), residents reportedly had to spend their own money to construct proper toilet facilities. Initially, the municipality allowed these constructions because there was no other option. The community had to develop these amenities on their own. There were also social organisations that were helping families build toilets. His memories include spirituality in the city, the opening of colleges, and more. Listen to his story here: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Eminent_Sindhi_Writer_and_Editor_Nand_Nichaldas_Chhugani_Shares_Memories_of_Ulhasnagar.ogg 

Manoj Chandwani lived in Ulhasnagar from 1986 to 2001. Since 2001, he has been living in Kalyan but continues to work in Ulhasnagar. He chose to commute everyday rather than live in Ulhasnagar. Because he grew up in almost all districts of Maharashtra, he has witnessed different urban environments. His civic imagination includes the presence of parks and good hygiene. While he found himself safe while living in the barracks, what made him leave were the problems of water, electricity, hygiene, and roads. His memory of Ulhasnagar includes trivia such as this was a city where the first municipality swimming pool and first good cinema theatres were built. Regarding the illegal construction of buildings in the city, he recalls that citizens did not pay attention to usual procedure and regulation such as registration. This lack of concern encouraged wrong doers to take more liberties with law. He has found Sindh in Ulhasnagar and loves the city and its culture but is concerned that this culture and language are disappearing. His civic sense extends beyond infrastructure to include the presence of performance spaces such as auditoriums for literature and culture. He appreciates the fact that Ulhasnagar has a river and it is a big thing for a city to have a river but unfortunately not many people care for it. Listen to his story here: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:27_Manoj_Chandwani_Shares_His_Observations_on_Civic_Challenges_in_Ulhasnagar_on_Issues_Ranging_from_the_River_and_Traffic_to_Culture.ogg 

This part one of the interview with 81-year-old Kaushalya Newandram Lilwani, nee Komal Jani, a retired teacher, provides reflections on her life, extensive career in education, and voluntary efforts to promote the Sindhi language and culture. Born in Sukpul, Pakistan, in 1945, she moved to Ulhasnagar post-Partition, where her family initially experienced poverty, living in military barracks (B-883). Her father, a lawyer, secured land claims for Sindhi refugees, eventually allowing the community to move from barracks to built homes. Jani notes the decline of traditional Sindhi games like Vanj Vati Raand (a brain game) and Tikri Raand (played with cowries). She discusses Sindhi cultural practices, including the historical context of Akho Paan, a ritual linked to the deity Jhulelal saving Sindhis from forced conversion. Although now retired and limiting her activities due to reduced mobility, she feels a sense of satisfaction in the growing cultural awareness around the Sindhi language. What started as an interview about barracks of Ulhasnagar turned out to be a rich recollection of personal and collective stories about the city. She refers to things as diverse as kauris (shells used for playing Sindhi games), gul beda (a delicacy of biscuit and colourful sugar candy on top not much known outside Ulhasnagar), the pothi that Sindhi deity Jhulelal holds in his hands, Sindhi attire, Sindhi jewellery, and ladaa or days’ long music programmes in celebration of an upcoming wedding in families, among others. She breaks into reciting the lyrics of a song as she narrates their story. She also touches upon castes among Sindhis, a phenomenon not widely talked about.  Listen to her story here: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:28_Kaushalya_Newandram_Lilwani_Part_1_Starts_with_Her_Life_Story_and_Her_Career.ogg 

In Part 2 of her oral narrative, Kaushalya Newandram Lilwani, nee Komal Jani, provides an account of Ulhasnagar, saying it was originally a military "Kalyan Camp" built on a "barrack system." She highlights persistent civic issues and a severe lack of essential facilities. The initial housing consisted of large halls partitioned by curtains, offering no privacy and relying on shared, outdoor latrines and bathrooms. A major ongoing challenge is infrastructure failure, specifically a constant shortage of water and electricity, which is driving Sindhis to leave the city. Development is severely hampered by corruption within the Corporation and a very slow system. Historically, widespread illegal construction was facilitated by "gundagardi" and the support of corporators, leading to poor building quality where builders mixed soil instead of sand, resulting in collapsing structures. Roads remain severely damaged, and construction projects are often poorly executed or timed, leading to wasted funds. Furthermore, the city lacks adequate higher education and medical facilities, forcing youth to seek colleges in Mumbai and resulting in poor government hospitals. Kaushalya also lamented a moral crisis, noting a growing trend of religious conversion among Sindhis for financial gain, and the corruption of aid systems, where "middlemen" take significant percentages of financial help meant for poor students. Despite these significant problems, she views Ulhasnagar as her "home and life". Listen to the Part 2 of her story here: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:29_Kaushalya_Newandram_(Lilwani_Part_2)_Talks_about_Ulhasnagar,_Its_Barracks,_and_Infrastructure.ogg 

Bhavisha Makhija, a 61-year-old retired Chemistry lecturer who spent 47 years of her life in Ulhasnagar, provides an account of the city's history and its contemporary challenges. Born in 1965, she initially resided for 32 years in a "barracks system" in Japanese Bazaar, Camp Number 2, where homes were simple structures with tin roofs and basic layouts, and the neighborhood was predominantly Sindhi. She recalls the city's early infrastructure suffering from kaccha (unpaved) roads and significant power issues, with electricity sometimes being cut for several hours. While noting that later development has occurred, such as improved roads and the construction of the Shahad and Valdhuni bridges, she adds that several critical problems continue to plague the city. The main persistent issues in Ulhasnagar are severe road congestion due to a lack of dedicated parking space and poor traffic management, making it difficult to walk. She also highlights the urgent need for better civic amenities, specifically improved air quality, reliable water facilities, and better maintenance of cleanliness. Additionally, the city suffers from a lack of well-maintained public gardens for children's outdoor activities and a need for higher-standard schools. She also mentions the ongoing presence of illegal buildings and the community's unfulfilled desire to have Ulhasnagar renamed "Sindhunagar". Listen to her story here: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:30_Bhavisha_Makhija_Recalls_the_37_Years_of_Her_Life_Spent_in_Ulhasnagar.ogg 

Vasudev Mohandas Brijwani, a 79-year-old retired resident of Ulhasnagar, was born in 1947 in Peer Goth, Sindh province, Pakistan, and arrived in Ulhasnagar at the age of three months immediately following the Partition. He currently lives with his wife in a barrack in Section 22, Ulhasnagar, and spends his retirement reading, writing poetry, and listening to music, often attending poetry gatherings (Mushaira) at the nearby Sindhu Circle; he previously worked for a Mafatlal Group company in Kalyan, while his father was a street vendor (feri) selling clothes, and his paternal grandfather owned a grocery store in the Main Bazaar of Ulhasnagar. Brijwani's reflection on Ulhasnagar contrasts a community-focused past with a compromised and difficult present across all aspects, beginning with housing, where, upon arrival, his family was housed in military halls, partitioned into small 10-foot sections with planks for 10-15 years, enduring a severe lack of basic facilities, including no internal water taps, toilets, or kitchens, which forced residents to rely on shared public facilities and outside water collection; eventually, in 1983, the government constructed the barracks—small rooms (kothis) (17-18 units per barracks)—which initially provided very little space (e.g., a 5x10 ft area designated as a kitchen), forcing residents like Brijwani to personally fund and construct modern necessities like bathrooms, indoor toilets, and running water. Despite the physical hardships of the early years, he cherishes the memory of a close-knit, loving neighborhood atmosphere where neighbors offered great help and cooperation to one another, watching each other's children and sharing a communal life with minimal noise. He recounts the dedicated efforts of local youth, who, including himself, engaged in Shramdaan (voluntary labor) to level and prepare empty plots for sports like volleyball and badminton, a communal effort that led to the formation of the Sindhu Circle, which later established a book bank to provide free textbooks and school supplies to students. Reflecting on the political landscape, he recalls that past leaders were good people who genuinely helped the masses, arranging for free education, fee waivers, and protection from prevalent thuggery (Goondagiri). His final, urgent message to the remaining Sindhi community is to preserve the Sindhi language, as less than 10% of people speak it among themselves, which he views as essential to maintaining their identity as a "pious" (Dharmi) and "charitable" (Daanveer) nation.  Listen to his story here: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:31_Vashdev_Mohandas_Brijwani_Remembers_the_hard_Work_Put_in_by_Youth_of_the_Yesteryears_in_the_Making_of_the_City.ogg 

Santosh Purohit, is a 54-year-old Sindhi professional, who has been living in Ulhasnagar Camp Number One since his birth in 1972. His views on Ulhasnagar's past are tied to his family’s post-Partition journey from Karachi, Pakistan, through Bhuj. He describes the past living conditions in the military barracks as very poor, with weak structures, shared outdoor toilets, and severe issues with water and electricity, though he notes these utility problems are now 98–99% resolved. In the present, Purohit laments that the city has become a congested, "commercialized" area plagued by noise pollution, poor public sanitation, and widespread illegal buildings that lack proper planning. Despite the current issues, he feels a strong attachment towards the city. He has preserved original 1948–1949 electricity bills from when his family first settled in Ulhasnagar as refugees. Listen to his story here: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:32_Santosh_Purshottam_Purohit_Narrates_His_Family_History_from_Karachi_to_Ulhasnagar_via_Bhuj.ogg 

Kamlesh Hardaslal Goplani is a 49-year-old makeup artist by profession. Goplani expresses a deep, lifelong connection to the city, calling it the "land of smile, land of happiness" and a place that feels like day even at night, stating he has received "name, fame, financial status, and love" from Ulhasnagar. Reflecting on the past, he cherishes the atmosphere of the old barracks neighborhood, describing it as closely-knit and lovely, where families lived together without any discrimination based on wealth, fostering a sense of community where people looked out for one another. He recalls the past as a time of simpler, more satisfying life where small things brought happiness. However, in the present, he notes a negative shift due to the widespread construction of narrow, illegal buildings that have turned the area into a "concrete jungle" by blocking air, water, and light. He also observes that there is now "show off" and discrimination based on status that did not exist before. Goplani states his greatest concern is the severe issue of garbage on the streets, emphasizing that cleanliness is the primary responsibility of every citizen, and his main hope for the city's improvement is better roads and overall sanitation.  Listen to his story here: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:33_Kamlesh_Hardasmal_Goplani_Calls_Ulhasnagar_a_Land_of_Happiness.ogg 

Bhavisha Ramesh Jaisinghani, a 48-year-old chef who runs an in-home and online cooking class business along with a homemade sweets business, expresses a deep connection to her birthplace, declaring that "Ulhasnagar is my life". She cherishes the memory of her childhood in the barracks, recalling a time of great community spirit, where neighbors were like one family, sharing strong affection and safety, a communal feeling she notes is absent in the modern buildings where everyone keeps their doors shut. However, Jaisinghani is critical of the city's current state, lamenting that Ulhasnagar has become "Khadda Nagar" (a city of potholes) and stating that the community’s back is broken from the poor roads, which cause traffic issues, accidents, and extend travel times drastically. She also highlights the failure of the local government to provide facilities like parking, noting that citizens are unfairly fined for no-parking violations. Furthermore, she addresses the issue of illegal and poorly constructed buildings from the 1980s that are now collapsing, causing many to lose their homes, and urges the government to focus on the rise of crime and drug use among children in the city. Listen to her story here: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:34_Bhavisha_Ramesh_Jaisinghani_Shares_Her_Views_on_the_Issues_Faced_by_Those_Who_Live_in_the_Barracks.ogg 

Ramesh Makhija, a 65-year-old retired employee of the Indian Bank who now runs a business in financial products like mutual funds and home loans, was born in the barracks of Ulhasnagar. His family experienced considerable struggle, with his father working as a truck driver and the entire family, including his four brothers, two sisters, and mother, sewing children's garments for income after school during the 1970s. Makhija describes the barracks life as pleasant and safe, with neighbors treated like siblings, but the small, tile-roofed houses faced systemic issues, prompting their eventual shift to Kalyan. The main problems in Ulhasnagar included severe water shortages, sometimes requiring them to fetch water from 2 kilometers away or wait until 2:00-2:30 AM, and frequent electricity cuts, especially during summer. He recalls a lack of clarity regarding property history, where people initially purchased "illegal" buildings with simple stamp paper agreements until the case of 855 buildings brought the legal issues to light. While the area has seen development, such as the construction of cement-block roads, he believes there is still a major need for good, large hospitals, and notes that most gardens are not well-maintained, though some are currently being improved. Despite people from his community gradually shifting to other areas like Kalyan and Ambernath, Makhija remains closely connected to Ulhasnagar, visiting the area weekly.  Listen to his story here: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:35_Ramesh_Fatandas_Makhija_Remembers_Hustling_Like_Many_Children_of_His_Age_in_Ulhasnagar.ogg 

Rajkumar Hariram Hargunani, a 68-year-old retired Deputy Manager and current social work trustee, shares his perspective on life in Ulhasnagar. He was born and still lives in Barrack Number 894, recalling that their original three rooms eventually became a modern three-storey RCC building in 1990 after getting official approval, though the general structure of surrounding barracks remains similar. His fondest memories of the barracks are centered on the friendship and high social interaction of his childhood neighborhood, which he notes is largely gone now, with 95% of the old residents replaced. He recounts that Ulhasnagar was originally army barracks given to the Sindhi community during the Partition, which they developed immensely through hard work and unity. However, he views the current city as fundamentally not well-planned, suffering from widespread encroachment, poor drainage, and illegal seven or eight-storey buildings. While acknowledging past leaders' efforts to improve roads, he suggests the entire city, which is sometimes looked down upon by former residents despite its cheap goods, requires a comprehensive, planned redevelopment of all barracks coordinated by the government. Listen to his story here: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:36_Rajkumar_Hariram_Hargunani_Talks_about_Unplanned_Growth_of_Ulhasnagar.ogg 

Beena Purshottam Amarnani, 76, is a distinguished Sindhi figure whose eventful life began with her birth in Nashik, followed by a childhood in Gandhidham. Married at just 15 and moving to Ulhasnagar in 1964, she overcame initial poverty and raised two children while dedicating herself to academics, earning her B.A. and M.A. in English Literature through correspondence and evening classes. This relentless pursuit of knowledge fueled a career spanning 27 years at a school in Ulhasnagar, where she started as a teacher in 1980 and swiftly rose to hold the position of Principal for 24 continuous years until her retirement in 2007. Simultaneously, Amarnani established herself as a successful author of novels like Intakhaab and later transitioned into a profound spiritual life, becoming a recognized Master, receiving the 'Saraswati Award,' and writing seven spiritual books. This transcript represents Part 1 of her story, detailing her personal journey and professional achievements, with Part 2 scheduled to build on this background to discuss the life, work, and history of Ulhasnagar. Listen to her story here: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:37_Beena_Purshottam_Amarnani_Part_1_Shares_Her_Background_Story_before_Talking_about_Ulhasnagar.ogg