There is a famous saying, ‘Fathers make cities and cities make sons’. Little did I know that my own life would be sculpted on those lines.

Way back in late 1960s studying at Patiala, I found the old city quite magnificent with its royal buildings along the Mall, lined with gulmohar trees that bloomed with scarlet flowers every spring. Patiala’s architectural beauty and royal gardens were etched on my adolescent mind.

But then we heard stories about a new city called Chandigarh, coming up not too far from Patiala. We were eager to see it — especially its famed Sector 17 where big luxury stores had opened up, and an ultra-modern theatre, Neelam, screened latest English movies.

Three of us close friends decided to visit the dream town. To save money on local transport in Chandigarh, we car

See Full Page