There we were — a friend and I — walking along the Central Avenue in Chembur last Sunday animatedly discussing forthcoming travel plans when we met this family.
Naturally, we stopped to say hello. The Junction Box Family, that was their name, had taken up residence in Chembur earlier this year during the Chembur Festival.
“We like this place,” said Mr. Junction Box.
“Oh yes, we do,” repeated Mrs. Junction Box looking adoringly at her husband.
Sulky Master Junction grumbled, “I don’t like it here. Don’t have anyone to play with.”
“Don’t mind him,” said Mrs. Junction Box, sotto voce. “Junior’s always like this after church service.”
We left after the family (except Junior) happily posed for photographs and with promises to meet again soon.
It was such a pleasant surprise to come across street art in a place that had none before. And what a wonderful way to cover up ugly and rusty junction boxes. Central Avenue in Chembur is a lovely road, broad and tree-lined and it is a real pleasure to walk on the road. But till that day, I had never seen any street art on that road. I did come across a couple more that I hope to share later.
I am really liking the way that Mumbai is slowly and surely adapting to street art in its own way. And I look forward to being surprised in my forays into various parts of the city.
What did you think of the Junction Box Family? Do tell 🙂
Note:
Though I didn’t have my camera with me that morning, I could manage to get a couple of photographs thanks to the Dell Venue Tablet (sent to me as part of the Dell blogger review programme) that I was carrying in my handbag. I also edited the photographs and typed out this short post on the Tablet. Must say, I’m getting better at using the Tablet as a blogging tool ! 🙂
I am loving them 🙂
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So am I, Desi Traveler. So am I 🙂
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Loved the colourful junction boxes. As you say, I am sure it would make the entire street look vibrant and cheerful. 🙂
Love these little snippets you post about the city you live in, Sudha! Keep them coming!
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Thanks, TGND. In a concrete and vertical city like Mumbai, it is things like these that make the city more human, more bearable and so much ore fun. I wish there was more of this all around us. 🙂
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🙂
what do you mean by a vertical city?
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lovely captures, Sudha! I saw them during the Chembur festival, but i would never have thought of writing a post like this on them!!! btw, the year before, they had painted some lovely artwork on the monorail pillars… unfortunately, they are all covered with stickers and ads now.
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exactly! People will paste stickers and bills everywhere 😦
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You never told me about them, Anu ! And this also makes me realise that I haven’t walked down Central Avenue in ages. I have seen the street art on the monorail pillars in passing, always meaning to see them another time. Looks like I’m too late. An important lesson learnt about street art – its impermanance ;-/
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I love your blog and this post is definitely my favourite.
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Welcome here, Maverickbird. Thank you so much for your lovely comments. I really appreciate it and your likes on my other posts. 🙂
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You are welcome.
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Junction Box family is is simply awesome n mind blowing. Truly Mumbai.
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Yes, its truly Mumbai and truly awesome. Couldn’t agree more with you. 🙂
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Loved the post; and am praying that the warring political parties of Mumbai leaves the family alone. BTW, the family is also a reminder of what Chembur was in the ye good old days which, depending on one’s point of view, ended between the 1960s and the mid 70s.
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Warring political parties and their supporters have already covered the graffiti and art on the monorail pillars. Let’s see how long these will last.
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LOVE this post 😀
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Thank you so much, Ishita 😀
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The post is as Artistic as the Junction Box Family ! Lovely way of putting it all together .
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Hello Chandrika. Welcome to ‘My Favourite Things’. Thank you for stopping by and sharing your appreciation of this post. Hope to see you you around. 🙂
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This is bang opposite by house! 🙂 And i Love them totally! 🙂
They were painted during the Chembur fest by volunteers 🙂 sad to see people sticking bills on these!
Loved your story and glad to have stumbled upon your blog!
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Welcome here, Quirky Wanderer. Thank you very much for stopping by and leaving such a lovely comment. Glad to have you here and hope that you keep visiting 🙂
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This is one of the best blogs I have ever read. Loved your blog.Keep it up.
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Welcome here, Tania. Thank you very much for stopping by and commenting and also reblogging about it. 🙂
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Reblogged this on TaniaWebmaster and commented:
Simple and best..
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Thanks for reblogging this, Tania. 😉
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This was done during the Chembur Festival and I loved them too.. A pity that people don’t see the cheer they bring when they stick silly pamphlets on it 😦 It is the same with the fantastic graffiti that was once visible on the monorail pillars before certain Bhais came and adorned their photos instead
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I missed the Chembur Festival completely. 😦 Don’t know what I was doing at that time.
Right now, the junction box family is the only one that doesn’t have anything plastered on it. Every other surface is liberally plastered with something or the other. Let’s see how long this family remains free of defacement.
The current state of monorail pillars is really sad. I’m waiting to see if anything comes up on the Eastern Freeway pillars.
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Ha ha! Loved the junction box family to bits. The sulky junior was the best despite his grumpy face 🙂
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The grumpy face is what makes Junior so special. 😉
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I love Master Junction box and it’s in apna Chembur. This, I am definitely going to see when I am in Mumbai next
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Then please keep your fingers crossed. The rate at with bills are being slapped on walls and any vertical stuff in Chembur, you have to hope that they leave the Junction Box Family alone.
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Lovely post. My favourites are these little sharings and reflections of yours – chhota aur meetha 🙂
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Thanks, Havovi. The Junction Box Family has unfortunately been almost completely covered up with posters of political parties and people selling miraculous cures and what not. Another piece of street art lost to vandalism of a different kind. 😦
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