Learn to embrace the mall culture

Malls are an extension of what, in the good old days, used to be known as Departmental Stores – these were large shops where one could get a variety of items under one roof.
I remember the Samabaiyka – a Government of West Bengal initiative where goods used to be sold at reasonable price because they had less profit margin and the pricing was done to share the profits.
Then there was a private Departmental Store in Kolkata – it was in a central location on Dharamtola Street very near to Wellington Square.
The name of this store was Kamalalaya – it can be said to be the forerunner of malls in Kolkata. It had every conceivable department starting from apparel to utensils to furniture, crockery and traveling gear to books and toys. There was even a section devoted to music – mostly 78rpm records, and record players. And, the refreshment room was an added attraction.

The system of buying was flawless. Once the customer made a purchase, the item would be sent to the dispatch section at the exit gate. He would have to pay the money at the counter and collect the items. There used to be a uniformed guard at the gate and, in case required, he would hail a taxi for you.
Mall culture is a fast paced one with customers continuously on the move. There are more of window-shoppers as compared to actual shoppers and they seldom come single. Either there are a bunch of giggling girls or happy-go-lucky boys or women out for a fashion break from their kitty parties. They stop to watch, review and pass on. The staff at the counters try to impress upon the would-be customers but they are better informed.
The shelves are full of tempting offers – ‘buy 2, get 2 free’. It is equally applicable to biscuits and cold drinks as well as T-shirts. The attractive items are displayed in huge glass showcases and the items are spread over several floors with escalators to go from one level to the next.
As to refreshments – they are in the Food Courts – the 21st century definition of restaurant.
And, all carry-away items have security tags attached – to prevent theft. These tags are removed only at the payment counter.(to be continued …)

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School days – Mahalaya and Durga Puja shopping

Mahalaya was, and still is, a very important day in the lives of Bengalis because that was the auspicious day when Goddess Durga left her abode in the Himalayas to come down to her parental home in Bengal. She would come down with her four children Lakshmi, Saraswati, Kartik and Ganesh. Mahalaya was also the day when shopping for Durga Puja would usually begin.

The day would take-off with the all-famous Chandi Path by Birendra Krishna Bhadra transmitted over All India Radio (that was the name in the 1950s) – the transmission would start at 4am and go on for one-and-half hours. We brothers would lie curled up between the blanket s and listen to how Ma Durga, armed with weapons given by other Gods, killed the demon King Asura.
Her annual visit would last for four days and Bengalis, wherever they may be, would celebrate the occasion and enjoy to the fullest.

Well – for the Puja marketing we would usually go to Kamalalaya Stores, the famous departmental store of those days. It had separate sections for dress, utensils, bedding, suitcase, shoes, toys, books and even a mini-restaurant where we would invariably drop in to taste some new dish before proceeding to the exit to collect our purchases.
Kamalalaya Stores was an ancient edition of today’s shopping malls with practically everything under one roof. (to be continued…)
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