Amgeli Wadi by Mahesh D Kalyanpur
ORIGIN AND PROGRESS
The residents of Talmakiwadi should consider themselves lucky fortunate that Talmakiwadi Cooperative Housing Society is the only co-operative housing society of the community which is blessed with by the Mathadhipati of Shri Chitrapur Math as a member since H H Shrimat Anandashram Swamiji as a Member.
It was the wish and desire of Parama Pujya Shrimat Anandashram Swamiji to have a housing society for the lower middle class members of the Chitrapur Saraswat community who had migrated to Mumbai
Wish was fulfilled by Rao Bahadur S S Talmaki and his team and TALMAKIWADI was born.
When the authorities refused to give permission to SVC Bank to give a loan for construction of the society Pujya Swamiji gave Rs.50,000/- to construct the buildings for which we are eternally grateful.
“Someone is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.” – Warren Buffett
This is a powerful reminder of our great ancestors sowing the seeds of Wisdom, Intellect and Integrity within for we Saraswat Brahmins to bask in the glory and respect showered upon us across the globe today
We are seekers of knowledge and are always conscious of respect and honour and are known for our intelligence, steadfast ideals, undying faith, clear vision, relentless optimism and an exemplary entrepreneurial spirit fine-balancing Wisdom and Wealth with grace and élan.
We are known for our Ethical dealings, Philanthropy and channeling and harnessing our energies for the collective excellence of society.
We are the ones who pioneered the Co-operative movement in the country
It is a matter of gratification and pleasure that The Talmakiwadi Co-operative Housing Society has completed more than eighty years of its existence.
The Society it is in the fitness of things that we pay our respects to innumerable selfless, foresighted public spirited men who conceived the idea of starting the Society for providing cheap residential accommodation on the cooperative basis and executed this idea amidst many difficulties.
The Talmakiwadi Co-operative Housing Society Ltd. was conceived and had its spiritual as well as physical being a little over seventy-five years ago, although it took two and quarter years more to be formally cherished and have its own individual legal status. It owes its parentage and childhood care to the Saraswat Co-operative Housing Society Ltd., Gamdevi.
The Saraswat Society was the first Co-operative Housing Society in India having been registered in the year 1915. The originator of the basic idea of Co-operative Housing Society was the late Rao Bahadur Shripad Subrao Talmaki and the Saraswat Co-operative Housing Society Ltd., took upon itself the task of developing his brilliant idea and giving it a concrete form. In the initial stages, as could be expected, this novel scheme required a great deal of persuasion before people could take interest in it. The Saraswat Society is a Co-partnership Society (as also the others) other persons also sponsored by it. The benefits of Shri Talmaki’s original scheme first came to be appreciated when acute shortage of housing was felt in the City of Mumbai (then Bombay) on the advance of boom after World War I. Harassment by some greedy landlords and rent rackets on a large scale forced the then Government of Bombay to enact legislation to control rents and provide other reliefs. The vision of Late Talmaki of constructing ownership Residential Buildings on basis of Cooperation and on basis of No Profit & Loss truly realized when acute shortage of housing felt in Mumbai (then Mumbai) after World War I when Government of Bombay had to enact legislation to control Rent & giving relief to harassed tenants to from greedy landlords.
It was left to the Saraswat Society under the guidance of Chairman, the late Shri G. P. Murdeshwar to take a lead in extending the housing movement. The Saraswat Society acquired on 999 years’ lease a plot of land on Proctor Road, Bombay, in 1936 and developed it as its “Anandashram Estate”.
ARCHTECTURE & DESIGN
The original plans drawn up for Talmakiwadi were for 17 buildings all of 3 room flats (2 rooms and kitchen with independent services). But the plan for such type of tenements, was altered to suit the prevailing demand for a mixed variety. The Society decided to build some 2 room (living room and kitchen) tenements with common services.
Members opting to reside in Talmakiwadi were primarily agriculturist migrants from Kanara’s who typically belonged to the lower middle class and were residing in surrounding chawls by paying exorbitant rent to the landlords. The Chawls were a common with Common amenities structure in early nineties providing a social support-system to the residents that made life easier for the residents. Chawls were buildings with one room or two room units of around two hundred square feet attached by a common corridor with shared toilets on each floor.
The original idea of forming a Housing Society for the lower Middle Class families was an outcome of a suggestion from H.H. Shrimat Anandashram Swamiji made at the time of laying a Foundation Stone of the Anandashram Co-operative Housing Society. His Holiness had observed that while the higher income group of the community is being provided with residential accommodation, the lower income group members, living in chawls like Topiwala, Chikalwadi, Merwan Building, Khotachiwadi, etc. also be provided with some independent two room tenements, within the vicinity of Grant Road area.
Accepting this suggestion, the Managing Committee members of the Saraswat Co-op. Hsg. Society Ltd., Gamdevi devised a scheme under the guidance of Rao Bahadur S. S. Talmaki with the help of S/S M/S S K Talgeri and Nadkarni Architect/ Engineer and Shri G P Murdeshwar.
In November 1936, the Saraswat Co-op. Hsg. Society Ltd. acquired an extensive large free-hold estate then known as “Dubashwadi” at Tardeo Road comprising 8,439 square yards at a cost of Rs.2,32,000/- was purchased as free-hold land. The foundation stone of the first instalment of 3 buildings was laid by Rao Bahadur S.S. Talmaki on 15th April 1938 and this estate was named as “Talmakiwadi” to commemorate his services to the community.
The property had a bungalow with water fountain & an old chawl (now building no. 16), a Gujrati school, five wells with lot of forest. It took almost 2 years to develop this estate. Shri Naik was appointed as a Civil Engineer and M/s. Davji Dharsi (Ratilal) was appointed as the contractor for the project.
Thus the first set of buildings No. 9 consisting of 8 ‘Flat’ type tenements and Nos. 15 and 17 each consisting of 24 two room tenements were constructed and were occupied on 1st January 1939 (constructed in a short period of 7 months).
The foundation stone of the next 4 buildings was laid by Shri N S Kowshik on 1st May 1939. These buildings viz. Building Nos. 1 and 2 — two room type with common services and 4 shops on the roadside, Building No. 1A-two-room tenements with independent bath but with one W.C. for two tenements and Building No. 7 —3 room tenements of ‘flat’ type — in all 72 tenements, 9 shops, 4 ‘servants’ quarters and one garage were made available for occupation from 1st December, 1939 (again constructed in 7 months).
The foundation stone of the next 2 buildings viz. Building no.3-5 and 4-6 was laid by Shri G P Murdeshwar on 16th December 1939. These buildings were occupied in August 1940; The Building No. 3-5 containing eight 3-room ‘flats’ and 24 two-room ‘flats’ with independent services and Building No. 4-6 with four 3-room ‘flats’ and twenty 2-room tenements with independent services were occupied in August 1940.
On the 1st December 1941, Building No. 8 consisting of sixteen 2-room tenements with independent bath room but with common W.C. was occupied. An additional garage was constructed to house an ambulance van in 1949. Later, on the 16th August 1951 14 two-room tenements and 37 single-room tenements were constructed as fourth floor tenements on Buildings Nos. 1A, 2, 3-5, 4-6, 7, 8, 9, 15 and 17. The total accommodation in the structures of the Talmakiwadi Cooperative Housing Ltd. today consists of 246 tenements. In addition to these there are 4 servants’ quarters, 9 shops, 2 garages and twenty- 3-room tenements in the old chawl which have all been rented out to tenants where TCHS is the landlord.
Management
The affairs of the all 3 Saraswat Societies , were managed by Saraswat Housing Society, Gamdevi consisting of were conducted by a Managing Committee consisting of 12 members, all honorary workers. The office-bearers were a Chairman, an Honorary Secretary with two Joint Honorary Secretaries — one each for the new societies and one Honorary Treasurer. It was later found that the management and supervision of the three distinct estates of the society lying at different places, by a single Managing Committee of honorary workers was rather inconvenient and difficult and imposed an unreasonable strain on the time and energy of the honorary workers. It was accordingly considered desirable to have a separate Society for each of the estates of the Saraswat Society. Consequently, on the 5th of April 1941, two new Societies, viz. The Anandashram Co-operative Housing Society Ltd., for Proctor Road estate and The Talmakiwadi Cooperative Housing Society Ltd., for the Tardeo Road estate were registered, the Saraswat Society retaining the financial control in its own hands. The link was maintained by having, two nominees of the Saraswat Society on each of the new units and by co-option of a member from each of these Societies to sit on its own Managing Committee. This arrangement continued until the new Societies cleared off their respective liabilities to the Saraswat Society.
Now, this Society’s management is looked after by a committee consisting of 11 members, all working on honorary capacity.
Finance
This is a major item which influences the formation, conduct and the future of all ventures and cooperative housing cannot be an exception.
At the initial stage the question of the purchase of the land at what was then considered a big price confronted the venture which was considered risky, as housing was comparatively easy being mainly in the hands of private investors who held the field. It is all to the credit of the Saraswat Society’s then management that they took a bold decision. The Saraswat Society was able to raise the required funds for the purchase of land by way of Bank credit and fixed deposits.
At initial stage the venture was considered risky due uncertainty about raising money for purchase of freehold land at market rate prevalent at that time which was considered too big. The housings were mainly Landlords Fiefdom who had money in their hands and rentals were lucrative and tenants were at their mercy. All credit goes to then management of Saraswat Society , Gamdevi for their bold decision to purchase land by raising required funds by way of Bank credit and Fixed Deposits from individuals.
They devised for this estate a scheme on the pattern of its own original scheme, viz. the allottee to pay one-third of cost of their allotted tenements and the balance of two-third was to he met from borrowings in the first instance. Thereafter the borrowings were to be gradually reduced by the accumulation of dividends declared annually on the initial one-third contributed by the allottees until such accumulations amounted to another one-third of the cost. The remaining one-third to make up the full cost was to be made up from the accumulated reserves viz. Reserve Fund, Sinking Fund, etc.
They devised a scheme on the pattern of their own original scheme viz members pay one-third of cost of their allotted tenements and the balance of two-third met by borrowings. There after two-third borrowings were to be gradually reduced by accumulation of dividends declared on initial one-third contributed annually by allottees until it reaches one-third of the cost. The remaining one-third was to pay out of Reserve & Sinking Fund etc.
However, the economic and housing conditions then prevailing were such that these terms did not hold out any attraction. To keep out a failure of the scheme, the Saraswat Society decided to change the terms to suit the circumstances prevailing from time to time.
No alteration was, however, made in the conditions of capital contribution in the case of three-room tenements. In the case of two-room tenements the allottees were permitted to pay only one-fifth of the cost of construction, dividends being paid in cash instead of being accumulated as provided in the earlier Scheme. The capital contributions were thus as small as Rs. 400/- per two-room tenements. In this scheme, of course, the balance of the capital naturally came from borrowings to be gradually reduced to the barest and met from Reserves.
This scheme was further modified in 1940 in case of several tenements in respect of buildings No. 3-5 and 4-6 in the case of several tenements. Those who could not subscribe the minimum of one-fifth cost viz. Rs. 500/- were given special consideration and were permitted subscribe for only 3 shares of the value of Rs. 60/- and make up the balance by subscribing annually for one share in monthly instalments of Rs. 1-3-0 (now Rs. 1.50). The shortfall in the members’ contributions by way of capital was made up by the issue of non-terminable Loan Stock Bonds carrying interest at 3%, 3 1/2 % and 4% and time deposits at the prevailing rates of interest. It is worth recording here that those who desired to make a minimum capital contribution in a lump sum were assisted by the Shamrao Vithal Co-operative Bank Ltd., to the extent of 60% of the contribution against the security of shares of which such member had paid and mortgage of the tenancy rights to the Bank.
While the Loan Stock Bonds were repayable at the option the Society by giving 2 months’ notice, the time-deposits were of necessity to be met at maturity. These borrowings were intended to be reduced gradually by accumulation of various reserves. But owing to insufficient accumulation of these reserves occasioned by higher rates of revenue expenditure, it was not been possible for the Society to build up adequate funds to match the borrowings. In order to meet the shortfall, the Society decided to increase tenants’ contributions from one-fifth of the cost to two-thirds.
H. H. Shrimat Anandashram Swamiji had lent Rs.50,000/- in those times so that the society can undertake and complete the construction of the buildings. There were many individuals from the community who also came forward helping the society by providing the amount in the form of deposits. These deposits carried ¼% higher rate of interest than that offered to Bank deposits at that period. Since interest on deposits from members was not subject to tax these , individuals were allotted one share of the society as nominal members with the share not linked to the allotment of tenement in the society.
Tenant Members & Tenancy
In the peculiar circumstances prevailing at the time, there were persons who did not or could not accept the tenancy but were willing to and did occupy some of the tenements as sub-tenants of subscribing tenant members. There were few liberal minded persons who came forward to help the Society and persons wishing to occupy tenements without investing the requisite funds. Residents of such tenements were later enrolled as members. Thus a recognised sub-tenancy developed.
Rent Structure
The rents were so fixed as to provide for all outgoings, viz. interest on borrowed capital, taxes, maintenance and management, depreciation, insurance and return of 5% on the members share capital. However, with the increasing costs of repairs and maintenance, the return to shareholders was reduced to 4% p.a. This rate of return was maintained. Although the Society was entitled to collect from the tenants the increased taxes as permitted by the Rent Control Act, it did not do so till 1962.
However, with the continuous rise in the costs of taxes and maintenance, the provision that was made in the rent structure based on the cost of construction was not only found insufficient but was cutting into other items of provision. The Society, therefore, decided to charge such of the increases in Municipal taxes from 1-10-1962 and levy a contingency charge of Re. 1/-per room in a tenement from 1-10-1962.
The structure since then has undergone many changes. However even today the rental basis of the Society is more favourable than any comparable tenements in the City.
Wadi Maidan & Taki (RCC Water Tank)
The Maidan has been a witness to the talents of the residents since inception of the society. The Taki (Water tank) has acted as a stage for the residents to display their talents. Many established artistes had their maiden performance on this stage. This stage has helped youngsters remove their stage fright fear and inhibition. of stage performances. There have been several memorable performances during Annual Diwali programmes of KSA and other occasions. This maidan has witnessed various forms of art like Yakshagana, Ram Leela, skits, full length dramas, musical performances, dances, etc.
Garden
In 1968 a few youths of the Wadi staged Konkani drama ‘Diva Jalo Sagli Raat’ and the surplus realised amounting to Rs.443/- was handed over to the Society, for the development of the open space. Again in 1973, Rs.234/- was collected as donations by a film show in the Shrimat Anandashram Hall. These amount were utilized for levelling the ground as also for planting some trees and plants under the leadership of late Shri. Vasant P. Nadkarni. In 1988 the garden was further improved with decorative fencing. However the thrust of developing the beautiful garden as it stands today was taken up in December 2008 under the leadership of Shri Bipin Nadkarni who created separate areas for children, lawn and pathway. We acknowledge donations received from Shri Bipin Nadkarni (in memory of Late Shri Vasant P Nadkarni) and Shri Sudhir S Puthli (in memory of Late Shri Shekhar Puthli) for the redesigning of garden. The cost of pathway was sponsored by Shri Mangalprabhat Lodha, MLA. The garden provides a beautiful pathway for the residents to have their morning and evening walks amidst the greenery.
For the last 25 years, Samuhik Laxmi Poojan is performed in the garden on the occasion of Deepavali.
Audumbar Katto
The Holy Katto of Audumbar and Ashvatha (Pimpal) have been gracing our garden for over six decades. These trees were planted by Late Gopalmam R Kalyanpur and residents of wadi have been performing Pooja of these trees since then. On 05 December 1987 Bombay Chitrapur Saraswat Youths under the leadership of Late Shri Ramkrishnabhat Ullal, constructed a Katto and performed Upanayan of the Holy Ashvatha tree. Since the original tree was planted by Late Gopalmam, the Upanayan ceremony of the tree was performed by his grandson Late Shri Dinesh D Kalyanpur and Smt. Malini Kalyanpur.
Residents of the colony gather near the Katto every evening to recite Deep Namaskar. Special poojas are performed here on the occasion of Mahashivratri, Shankar Jayanti, Tulsi Vivaha Pooja and Guru Poojan. The Naag Shila was shifted from behind Building no.4-6 to the present location on the Katto and a Naag Pratistha ceremony with Ashlesha Bali was performed on 12 July 2009 in the wadi garden.
Amenities
The parent society sold to a sister institution, viz. The Kanara Saraswat Association, 2 plots numbered 11 and 13 admeasuring 1000 square yards realising only half the cost of plot 11 on the understanding that it be kept open for all time and available to the Society for recreation purposes free of charge. On plot No. 13, The Kanara Saraswat Association has built its own building with a hall, mezannine floor and 6 residential flats. The hall and mezzanine floor are used for social and recreational purposes including indoor games.
The Wadi maidan provides a beautiful platform for talented residents of the society to display their talent during Diwali programmes. The garden provides a beautiful pathway for the residents to have their morning and evening walks amidst the greenery.
A primary and secondary school of the Balak Vrinda Education Society is located in a building on an adjoining plot.
A volunteer organisation called the Saraswati Volunteer and Athletic League is conducting a gymnasium in a ground floor tenement in the old chawl provided by the Society.
The Social workers of the colony with the active help of the Society had organised in 1941 a cooperative consumers’ society called the Popular Co-operative Buying Club Ltd., which is now being conducted for the benefit of all communities and housed in the two shops owned by the Society with PCBC as a tenant. An Ambulance Service was conducted by the Popular Ambulance Association for the benefit of all irrespective of caste and creed. This premises is now used as a health centre under the aegis of KSA.
The establishment of Shree Sadananda Ashram Datta Mandir and the Audumbar Katto has sanctified Talmakiwadi. The Canara Saraswat Bhajan Mandal is another religious institution housed in the Talmakiwadi. Shri Chitrapur Math Mumbai Grant Road Local Sabha has also its office in this wadi. All Chitrapur Saraswat Youth Trust was setup by H H Shrimat Parijnanashram Swamiji to inculcate spiritual values in the youth of the community. As per wishes of Parama Pujya Swamiji, this institution started Shree Datta Jayanti Utsav in the society which is graced every year by the Mathadhipati of Shri Chitrapur Math. This event has become a major event in Shri Chitrapur Math calendar.
The establishment of this big colony has thus given birth to many institutions which meet the social, cultural, educational and religious needs of the residents. These institutions together have imbibed a cooperative spirit among the people and have evolved a community life of its own. Amidst such a life, almost three new generations have grown in these seventy five years. The Talmakiwadi has been one of the chief centres of our community and a source of inspiration and guidance to many a cooperative Housing societies started later. Thus the Talmakiwadi Cooperative Housing Society has not only fulfilled its aim of providing residential accommodation, but has gone beyond it in providing the amenities for the all round growth of the community.
Introspection
Completion of 75 years is also an occasion for introspection so that efforts could be made to shape a future better than the past.
In India with millions of our country-men steeped in illiteracy and poverty afflicted by malnutrition and disease, we must consider ourselves fortunate. For, we have not only cent per cent literacy but the benefits of education, with few, if at all, as school dropouts. Hardly any family could be considered to be below the poverty line, though all may not be classed as affluent. None is a slum dweller, all of us having decent houses to live in.
We were not as well off a century back. But the institutions started by our elders in the early years of this century with great vision, nursed and strengthened with self-less dedication over the years, helped us to be what we are today. Those institutions have contributed to stabilize, strengthen and enrich our economic, social and cultural life. Are we on our part making any contribution at least by way of preserving the values, working for the ideologies in the same spirit that had inspired our elders who built up these institutions? The old values of selfless service are yielding precedence to what is fashionable today as ‘Pragmatism’. Individual interest and personal ambition for positions of status and power, factionalism are affecting a number of our institutions adversely. In the co-operatives we proclaim to be successful business enterprises, satisfied with adherence to the co-operative form and the facade of democratic structure, least concerned about the spirit of co-operation and the soul of democracy.
Co-operative housing was started to save those in need of housing accommodation from exploitation by the unscrupulous landlords. But today those who got the benefit of accommodation through co-operative housing at far lesser cost than the then prevailing market rate have themselves developed tendencies to take advantage and earn commercially by selling their tenements at the prevailing market rates to outsiders. These were not the original objective of the co-operative and the sacrifices the founders had made so that the generations then yet unborn should have decent houses to live in free from exploitation. It would be a fitting tribute to the founders that we change this perception and reignite the co-operative spirit amongst the present generation and educate the younger generation on the sacrifices made.
References: TCHS records
