Mysore :

It’s been 61 years now. When we started the shop, the rent was Rs.75 and I was 20,” says Nagaraja Rao, one of the three brothers who started the Soda Factory at Agrahara in city.

The drinks parlour once called ‘The Soda Factory’ has been now renamed ‘Sri Prasanna Cool Centre’ but the old-timers prefer to call it ‘Soda Factory.’ The shop is a throwback to the 1950s with its white textured walls, old tables, an array of colourful rainbow of syrups filled in glass bottles that sit behind the doors. The shop offers more than 10 different soda-based drinks but their popular ones are ‘Sogade Beru soda’ (a drink made of sogade plant root which is good for heart and cholesterol) and surprisingly, a non-soda drink- ‘Rose milk’ !

The Soda Factory opened its doors on February 2, 1954. It was headed by three brothers Nagaraja Rao, Achyutha Rao and Anantha Rao. Over the years, they have experimented with various flours and have set a simple menu that is refreshing and healthy. The homemade soda simply mixes the carbonated water from the soda fountain that’s poured into a glass filled with any combination of flavours. They are known for their homemade soda paired with their locally acquired Sogade Beru and Lemon-lime.

In fact, old Mysoreans still visit them and even the ones who are living outside when they visit Mysore make sure to drop in, says Nagaraja Rao. Also the brothers take turns running the shops.

One of the brothers, Achyutha Rao, who was on a break after preparing Lime Pepper Soda says, “We have seen Mysore changing over all these years. We want people to remember how things once were. There are people who bring their grandkids here and tell them how they remember it. We sell Soda and Nostalgia” and smiles.

Today this soda shop continues to exist, but leads a quiet existence thanks to locals and old times who want a trip down the nostalgia lane.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles / by Sumukh Bharadwaj / August 21st, 2013

Mysore :

It is said, “never judge a book by its cover.” Similarly never judge a person only by his looks. Meet Dr. Abdul Rasheed, popularly referred to as Dus ka Doctor, who charges a nominal fees of Rs.10 from poor patients, and who also has the hobby of collecting coins.

This numismatist (one who collects coins) has an amazing collection of more than 3,000 coins, some of them dating back to as far as 300 BC and some as recent as of today.

When asked about what drove Dr. Rasheed to pursue such a time-consuming hobby in spite of his busy schedule, he said that it all began with a curiosity to know about coins of different countries, followed by fascination and ultimately passion.

The journey began in the year 1955 when he was studying in high school where he used to exchange coins which he had in excess from the collections of his forefathers. His grandfather was an Inspector during British rule who had the hobby of collecting coins and he continued the same.

He started with the collection of coins belonging to dynasties like Kalingas, Hoysalas, Cholas, Vijayanagar, Moghuls, coins from East India Company, all of which were made of gold, silver, copper, nickel, aluminium, lead and other alloys.

This fascinating collection further includes coins from the kingdoms of Kashmir, Juwanpur, Malwa, Diwanpur, Gujarat, Bahamanis, Bengal, Shahi and other Princely States which existed during the British period, and also from Goa, Hyderabad, Travancore, Mysore, Arcot, Wadiyars, Pudukote, Peshwas, Maratha etc. A total of 1200 coins of 93 foreign countries including those from the time of Napoleon, Hitler and Queen Victoria, Tipu Sultan; and 2000 coins of India and other unique coins of personalities, events, food, agriculture etc., are his treasure and some, his prized possession. These coins have been collected very lovingly and preserved carefully over the years. They have also been systematically classified, categorised and fixed in proper display boards.

Dr. Rasheed said that he used to collect ancient coins whenever he visited historical places and during his trip abroad and added that he has coins from 3rd century BC, Ghazni era coins from North India and from Kanishka era coins in South India.

He said that he was ably supported by his wife Dr. S.R.Nayyar Zaiba who knew Urdu, Arabic and Parsi languages who helped him read the texts on the coins and re-arrange the same. His children Mohammed Muzammil, who runs a pharmacy on Ashoka road, Mudassir Reza, Managing Director of Hotel Sunshine on Ashoka Road and daughter Dr. Sabhath Rasheed who now lives in UAE, also helped him.

Dr. Rasheed who worked for 22 years as a doctor in Saudi Arabia, Iran and Syria is now settled in Mysore and runs a clinic on Ashoka road.

In his message to the youth, Dr.Rasheed says that the youth and children of today depend a lot on computers for any information as it is readily available without any effort, but the joy and experience one can get by just looking and reliving history through these coins is beyond description. The young can develop this hobby, which would help them know history better, like important dates, inscriptions, personalities, metallurgy and also understand the kind of socio-economic conditions which prevailed during that period.

When asked about his future plans, he said he would like to have exhibitions throughout Karnataka to educate the youth and create awareness among them about these coins and the coinage era. Dr. Rasheed has put in a lot of effort in relentlessly pursuing this hobby. Here’s wishing all the best to this coin man of Mysore to achieve greater success in the years to come.

Dr. Rasheed can be contacted on e-mail: abdul.rasheed194@yahoo.com.

[Noorana is a Senior Manager-Corporate Communication, Indian Oil Corporation Limited.]

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles / by Noorana / August 21st, 2013