Ahmedabad: From Pols to Societies

Where change is the only constant, the city of Ahmedabad is changing. On the city’s 603rd birthday, dna delves into the memories of some celebrated Amdavadis to document the change through their eyes.

One of the most celebrated Amdavadis in recent times is humourist and popular author Tarak Mehta. At 83, though Mehta suffers from poor eyesight, the philosophical vision through his ‘Ooltah chashma’ of the city he grew up in is riveting like his stories.

“Amdavad has changed, but it does not surprise me at all. In fact, I have gladly absorbed these changes. When I grew up, it was in the Pols; we were called Poliyas. Today, people have shifted into ‘societies’. The emotions are the same, but the language has changed, lingo has changed. English language has cast a strong influence and it is not a passing phase,” the keenly observant author says in a rare interview at his residence in the city last week.

Mehta’s sensitive characterisation of Tapudo, a boy in early teens, through 1971-2007 has won him millions of dedicated fans. The author cracks his humourous whips on the society through Tapudo’s innocent perception of the world. For over three decades, Mehta’s characters were seen as a reflection of Gujarati society through his columns in Gujarati publications.

“Today’s Tapudo would be different. He would of course be naughty, more talkative and more social. But broad-minded about sex – like his father (Jethalal),” Mehta chuckles with delight as if the evolved character of Tapudo is clearly etched in his mind.

While his stories have been adapted of late into a blockbuster television serial — Tarak Mehta ka Ulta Chashma — Mehta has always been a Gujarati writer. Reflecting further on the declining glory of Gujarati language, he concedes there is a good deal of inferiority complex associated with the language now. “Influence of English is the reason. It cannot be simply wished away,” he postulates.

Though conceding once more that the changing society does not surprise him, he quietly admits to a preference for the ‘Poliyo Amdavadi’. “There was more love and kinship in the Pols; there was a sense of belonging. Though people are still as caring…” he reminisces silently.