Eugene Correia: Today, it's an empty shell with both Kyani restaurant shut down and Bastani very few Goan customers. To Goans in Mumbai and elsewhere Dhobitalao is what it's to be Goan. Today's Goans staying there may not even know whose status it is inside the commpound of the Cawasji Framji Library, opposite Metro and Bastani restaurant.
Response: First of all I would like to congratulate Roland for the well written article which brought alive the spirit of goan life in the 60's and 70's in Dhobi Talao. Nothing in life remains constant and life in Dhobi Talao too has changed. However, there still remains a sizable goan presence in the area. I would like to comment on a few points on Dhobi talao today. 1. Bastani's too closed down quite many years ago. 2. Many goans have migrated to Canada, Australia, NZ and elsewhere. 3. Many goans have shifted to Borivli and Malad. Today IC Colony in Borivali could be considered a mini-Goa. You can pick up almost any goan item from there - sausages, masalas, konkani casettes, balchaos, goan sweets etc. 4. Today with direct flights to goa, very few shippies stop over in Bombay and so many of the kudds are going to the dogs. With property prices hitting the roof each day, and no one to protect these properties, many of them are threatened by land sharks. Many of these kudds are in bad shape with little funds available for repairs and maintenance, 5. There are two Institutes located here. One, The Piety Home for the Aged, which I believe is over 100 years old. It is run entirely by lay people and has around 16 inmates. It is entirely free and the inmates are well looked after- physically and medically. The other is the Goan Institute which was recently renovated. It is over 145 years old and is still the most popular meeting ground for the goans residing in this area. The membership fees are very nominal and the Institute earns its revenue from renting out the hall. For the members the charges are very nominal. 6. The jewellers in Chira Bazar who are mostly marwadis speak in fluent konkani which would put many of us goans to shame. Regards, Marshall