It would be most remiss of me if I did not congratulate CB for his viivd description of Dar-es-Salaam in his “Jivant Panth” column entitled “Haraka, Haraka, Hai na Baraka” in last week’s Gujarat Samachar - (GS 30-09-17 to 06-10 17). His reference to T B Sheth library and surrounding areas re-kindled nostalgic memories of the good old days.
The very iconic landmark, T B Sheth library, is named after our family, T B Sheth was my uncle, my father’s elder brother. That library, being the only one of its kind in dear old Dar, attracted people from all over the town and surrounding areas. At a stone’s throw from the library is the premises of Shree Jain Sangh, our daily haunt. Both the library and Shree Jain Sangh bear witness to the glorious past and present of our Gujarati and Jain community in Dar-es-Salaam.
Then there are the picnic spots at Bagamoyo and Khunduchi, not to forget the “Hela thathu” island which you can reach by a ferry and where you can buy basketsfull of mangos and other tropical fruts and vegetables at next to nothing price. The ever warm and clean waters there invited one to take a dip and swim side by side giant tortoises. Those were the carefree days when life was a never ending holiday where the sun always shined in the azure blue skies and the sea lashed its waves in the white sands of Oyster Bay.
Dinesh Sheth
Newbury Park, Ilford
