Ludhiana chowks time-keepers of the past 

Growing up in Ludhiana, two roundabouts of the city defined the map of my childhood — Campa Cola Chowk and Fountain Chowk. Campa Cola Chowk was more than a traffic circle; it was a landmark etched in my imagination. At its centre stood huge, sculpted bottles nestled in an ice bucket. They looked so realistic that I often wondered if they held real Campa Cola. That chowk helped me navigate the city: the bus stand was a few kilometres away, and the legendary Pannu pakore wala tempted us with his sizzling delights nearby.

Over time, due to the city’s growing pace, the chowk was replaced by traffic lights, and with that change, a cherished chapter of my childhood quietly vanished.

Fountain Chowk, locally called Fawara Chowk, was, and still is, a serene oasis in the heart of the city. Its cascading waters glimmered in the summer twilight, offering a soothing spectacle. It marked proximity to my father’s office and my go-to-place for piping hot samosas and syrupy gulab jamuns. Thankfully, this roundabout still remains, now adorned with lush landscaping and radiant LED lights.

Today, as I pass it en route to work, I feel a tug, a gentle reminder from the past, to slow down and notice life’s simple beauty. Ludhiana has changed, and so have I. But these roundabouts still carry whispers of the little joys that made my childhood magical, offering fleeting glimpses of a slower, sweeter world I once knew.

Manav Mander, Ludhiana