Down Study Lane

A small alleyway in Mumbai has shaped the careers of thousands of students for decades now, offering them a quiet, undisturbed refuge to study

- DHAVAL KULKARNI

Every evening, Sudhir Suhas Adelkar, a resident of the BDD chawls in Mumbai, heads with his books to a narrow lane in Worli located behind the R.A. Podar Ayurved Medical College building. By the time he reaches the Sudam Kalu Ahire road, many other youngsters are already there, each occupying small portions of the tree-lined pavement. Hailing from various parts of the city, these children, mostly from chawls, slums and thousands of lower-income families that populate the city, gather here for a sincere undertaking: studying. In a space-starved metropolis like Mumbai, the 'abhyas galli' (study lane) is the only dedicated place for them to study-a luxury they can't find in the matchbox houses they share with their families, nor in the noisy neighbourhoods they come from. They stay till wee hours of the night, discussing with their peers various topics, exchanging notes, or just reading by themselves. Over decades, from this very street have risen lawyers, doctors or police officers. Adelkar, who comes from a tiny 180 sq. ft house, has been studying here since Class 8. "Now, I'm preparing for the Maharashtra Public Service Commission exams. There is no space at my home. This is a quiet place for me to study," says Adelkar.