Adieu Artek Apartments

 50 years is more than half life and if this happen to be one’s formative years - they become significant part of our life . Lest Alzaimer sets in and take away some of my neurons - let me pen some the memories associated with people & events in Artek that has shaped me .

Amol , Chetan , Pramod were my batch mates while Milind Vagal , Shekhar Shirodkar, Pradyut Borkar, Kuber+Hira+Manik +Charu Rane were few years either side but my growing years were more influenced watching & observing some of the stalwarts who made Artek Apartments an identity of cultural & learned persons 

Not many people would now believe that Artek was the first building in Bandra East to have an elevator . 

Coconut trees that have grown tall and big - some of the original members undertook a day trip on Sunday to Vasai to bring coconuts to plant them . Each coconut tree has a story to narrate of Artek’s founder members 

Open space between two buildings would house Cricket 🏏  tournament ( well before Badminton started ). Senior Vankudre ( V Shantaram’s brother ) in his Brown Elliptical Kolhapuri Topi  would inaugurate the event . Also Sr Mulay - Amar Mulay’s daddy would be present to cheer . 

32 Kalpak - house was sports club of artek , it had TT table / Carrom boards . Later this was moved to the parking lot of Roopak

Mr Amberkar ( Papa was fondly called )was a vibrant personality who played excellent TT . He be joined by his bosom buddy from Patrakar ( Mr Kitto ) who would play competitive TT match keeping cigarette in his mouth. I would always be adjudicator in their cat & dog fight over every one point.

Mrs Amberkar during afternoon would conduct doll making and culinary classes . I have had experience of relishing many of these dishes and still have some dolls  .

Not many would that Artek had legend like Mr Ramchandra Korgaonkar who devoted all his life to Tennis . 🎾 . Bombay Tennis world & Cooprej would know him as Korey and TOI would often have results of the results of Shailesh & Mohesh in sports column . 

Another Sports Personality that was well respected was Mr Neelkath ( Deepak Father ) for his Badminton prowess .

Thanks to him , i became MIG club life member for Rs 500.00

Many of Artek people had association from south mumbaj and often i would hear woman folk them talk fondly about their association at Giragum / Thakurdwar/ Majestic Cinema 

Only handful families had cars Dayama , Joshi , Gore and few  others : car parking was used by girls to play छिप्री (Chhipri)

Another person  that influenced me with his sharp knowledge of technology & hsi frequent US trips was Mr C V Wagal . He contributed a lot to the development of Society .

Bhonsule family was epitome of culture  , - music , scupture , archtecture ,  photogrpahy . For many years whenever i mentioned Artek in photography or cultural world , people would associate Artek with their home .

Vankudre family was Mr Vankudre ( Prashant Dad ) was known as sound Specialist and his name would flash in movie credits while his younger brother was instrumental in doing interiors of many artek flats . 

Actor Srikanth Moghe’s brief presence added to celebrity status of Artek.

I was awed by Dr kelkar who in those days shuttled between US & India and also academic success of nextgen of Vankudre. family and Pramod Nandikar . Pramod was NES ideal student and Artek be known in school because of him . 

some of the images that has etched in the memory :

Kelkar family organizing concert of Pandit Jitendra Abhishekhi on Terrace.

Prof Joshi - On holi - his home being swarmed by students from JJ school hostel . 

Borkar Family : Siemens ; His brother from Photophone 

Prakash Naik family : His Sandoz association and Nikhil charming guy . 

Mr Karnik ( Gauri’s dad ) , Mr Kolhatkar : Always be eager to offer me ride to Shivaji Park and help me save my precious money .

Mr Risbud , Mr B T Rane : I was amazed by their enduring entrepreneurial spirit. 

Mr Phadnis : BARC : He was epitome of knowledge mixed with Hollywood persona 

Shirodkar family : Shekhar, Durga 

Advocate Nevgi legal luminary with his black coat 

Dayama Family : Anil & Sunil and their cute little car 

Dipa Karnik : His model of Vidhan Sabha was set uo at the parking lot of artek . I fondly remember his parents. 

Dabholkar brothers : Middle one worked for Corn Products and oozed youthful charm while younger one aficionado of Hindi movies & showed permanent pass of Kalamandir , Nandi , Neptune , Gaeity & Galaxy theaters . 

Mr Kolhatkar & Mr Shrikhand : Gem of persons whose wisdom & chivalrous & courteous behavior left lasting impression of me . 

Mr Mehra : His enthusiam during holi was infectious and 

Kenkre Bros : Each of the brothers had distinct persona 

Mr Kadne : Forever bachelor man Classical music afficinido 

Mr P D Gholap : I would see him often in his official attire & at Band box building in Prabhadevi where both of us worked but in different companies 

Mr Manya Kulkarni : I didn’t interact with him buy I admired his jovial persona in jean attire 

Me Pradeep Amberkar & Avinash Amberkar : Tata Press who brought SSC results for 

Those were the days of Bal Thackeray ( He wasn’t Balasaheb then ) would walk with his two dogs along Madhusudan Kalekar Marg without any bodyguards 

It’s ironical that Financial gains from Redevelopment of Artek has surpassed annual savings of my entire life .Gratitude be small word to our parental generation who took decision to come to this mosquitoes infested locality of Bandra that was considered and known for booth leggers in खाडी behind us ( they would make liqour in boat and trasoortbin car tyre ) 

Artek would became coveted address in this commercial hub of Mumbai but i do hope it retains the cultural essence that was the genesis of the society.