The Mackinnon Mackenzie building was a grand building to say the least. My Dad took me there once to show me an atrium. It must be admitted that my education has been always a little weird. In London, I had seen an atrium (I think at Selfridge's) and I wanted to know how it was built. Dad took me to Mackinnon Mackenzie building. And WOW!....wasn't it a grand atrium. The sun shining through sparkling glass panes gave the lobby a silver light. And yet it was a cool and hushed atmosphere.Dark emerald green carpets, broad staircase, and the atrium. Oh, the atrium.I was perhaps around 8 at that time, and I was filled with wonder. Dad also gave me lunch there. I don't remember much of the lunch, except that there were several courses, and quite neverending. When we came out, at the end of the day, I remember the building stood golden in the 4pm sun shining across the river. Dad said it was made of red sandstone, the setting sun lent the golden hue.
Next time I visited the grand old building on 16, Strand Road was to visit Bhubu Dada ( Pradip Mohanty) who worked there. He was the guy I would turn to for Slazenger Tennis balls, he took me to my first Test Match at Edens, he took me to Olympia to have the famous pepper steak. He took me to his office to have lunch. The same atrium with a silver sheen, the same lunch room with its old world grandeur, perhaps there was no great change in the menu either....not since I last had lunch there with my Dad. I harboured a secret wish that some day I would work here.
The beautiful building burnt down in 1998 (or was it '97?). It broke my heart. In the same period a few other structures got demolished.....does anybody at all remember Lord Inchcape's house on Camac Street?????? The old Fairy House on Southern Avenue, near the Anderson Swimming Club???? Anyway I do remember taking Shantam (and later Adi) to see the warehouses on the Strand, and on one such trip Shantam and I went inside the Mackinnon Mackenzie building. The atrium was broken, all the plaster was missing. There was virtually a vegetation growth in the lobby and on the roof because of the sunlight coming in through the large gap where the atrium and the ceiling used to be. A few labourers were in residence, and they were cooking their lunch on the marble floor, and a huge bath tub was being used to store water. This was too disheartening. I came way. Shantam wandered about a bit. Drew a few sketches and we came away.
Another building which was mentioned in today Telegraph was the Great Eastern Hotel. Another grand structure which has been completely demolished from the inside. Only the facade remains today, and I understand a 'renovated' new hotel is on the cards. I have been to Great Eatern many times. With my parents for dinner, to meet cricket stars.....with Bhubudada to the bar, with Baba .... once again to the bar on the last day the bar was open to the public. The Great Eastern closed down soon after.
In 2005 or may be 2006 in the dead of summer Shantam and I had gone to Rita's office on Waterloo Street and there was a big crowd outside. Great Eastern was auctioning off their furniture and such things. We went in. The lobby, the dining rooms, the kitchens, the rooms upstairs were full of the 'sharks' looking for a 'deal'...ready to buy the napery, the linen, the drapery, the cutlery, the crockery, the furniture..... everything. Horrible sharp eyed guys with the single minded idea of a business deal in mind, on a sad day when the great hotel was closing its doors. I wandered around aimlessly. I was carrying very little money, and anyway everything was going in lots. What would I do with 50 grey carpets of 6x4 size??? With great difficulty and after much haggling I 'purchased' a teaspoon with the GEH embossed logo from a dealer. It cost me 50 bucks, and I was cursing myself for not carrying much money.
Incidentally, I still have the teaspoon.
Then I realised Shantam was missing, and Shantam did have the habit of doing a disappearing act if and when he got edgy. I came down the main staircase and called on his cellphone. He didn't take the call. I realised some one was playing the piano in the main hall, and there was a crowd around the piano. The music sounded ethereal in the great and empty hall and I stopped by to listen. The music sounded familiar... all too familiar, till from the height (I was on the staircase) I realised the pianist was Shantam. It was his pale blue T shirt clad back. It was his music. It was Bach he was playing !!!!! I stood and listened a long, long while. The frail thin figure on the piano was so very inconsequential when compared to the music.The music filled the hall and we all stood and listened. After a while I went down to the piano. Shantam stopped playing immediately (which is rare) and said something like "You're done? Let's go". We came out of Great Eastern Hotel , out of the spell of music, out of the old fashioned plaster casts, out of the musty air.... bang on to to real world of the wall of heat, the noise of the traffic, the sea of people on Old Court House Street. Later, at night I told Shantam how the closing of the hotel was softened a bit...to me... because of the music. He answered with a deep"Hmmm."
I am somehow glad that the Great Eastern Hotel closure was not too bad for me. On the last Bar day, Dad took me there. On the last auction day, I took Shantam there. Both times there was music
