Mr Dollasi Das, 76, grew up in the kampung of Jalan Kayu, among wooden houses, narrow roads, and open spaces where children created their own fun.
“Today, the playgrounds have a lot of facilities,” he says, “but in those days, it wasn’t really a playground. We made it ourselves. We put up goal posts to play soccer.”
Football was a favourite pastime, along with games like horse fighting, even if it sometimes meant injuries — he recalls breaking his elbow and being taken to the hospital to have it set. But upon recovery, Mr Das was back outdoors with his friends. He says, “By nature, I am a sportsman.”
One of his fondest memories from the kampung was the theatre. With wooden seats and no air conditioning, it was a far cry from the cinemas of today, but it left a lasting impression on his younger self. He especially enjoyed Tamil films starring M.G.Ramachandran. “He was a very popular guy, a politician. In the films he talks about sincerity, establishing truth. When he became a politician, he also lived by what he spoke. So I admire him.”
Over the years, he has returned to Jalan Kayu, but it is no longer the same — flats have replaced the wooden houses, and the well-trodden paths are gone. “I have to accept changes, you know?” he reflects. “The good old days — I cherish them. But today, the city is something practical. It’s a requirement. So you have to adjust yourself.”
Several years ago, he had to have his leg amputated due to an infected wound following a bypass. He started coming to SLEC for physiotherapy, and today he takes part in a range of activities — from ball games to using AI to document and preserve memories of his childhood for a book project.
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