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October 15, 2014 by tomdalzell

The Signs of Little India

"Quirky Berkeley"

I was at first going to name this post “Little Bombay,” but that would lead into the geopolitical/linguistic morass of Mumbai vs. Bombay.

Mumba-Devi-temple-Tourism-Mumbai

Mumba Devi Temple (मुंबा देवी मंदिर), Mumbai

Yes, I understand, “Bombay” is an English corruption of a Portuguese colonial name for the city.

view1703

I am all for rejecting the language of the colonial power, but I am not convinced that Shiv Sena, the political party that drove the name change in 1995, is admirable.  More importantly, I am not prepared to read enough about Shiv Sena and Hindu nationalist politics to pass judgment, even if as an outsider I were entitled to pass judgment.

So let’s just stick with Little India.

"Quirky Berkeley"

Berkeley has long been fertile ground for Indian businesses.  In the late 1970s, there were perhaps ten Indian shops in Berkeley, predominantly along western University Avenue.  Even so, Berkeley provided the strongest connection to India in the Bay Area.  The number of Indian businesses peaked during the Dot-Com (or is it .com?) boom, but the tide has not gone all the way out.  The Indian grocery, spice, music, movie, and clothing stores all lend to the mix that is Berkeley, reverberating among our images of exotic India.

UNKNOWN ADDRESSS SAN PABLO JUST SOUTH OF UNIVERSITY

So here are the signs of Indian (and a few Pakistani and Afghani) businesses as they existed in 2014, cultural markers of a cultural presence.

2011 University

2011 University

2160 University

2160 University

2160 University

2160 University

2101 University

2101 University

2011 University

2011 University

1903 University

1903 University

2111 Channing

2111 Channing

2449 Sacxramento

2449 Sacxramento

2448 Sacramento

2448 Sacramento

2006 9th

2006 9th

1810  University (demolished several days after this photo was taken)

1810 University (demolished several days after this photo was taken)

1776  University

1776 University

1196  University

1196 University

1085  University

1085 University

"Quirky Berkeley"

1044 University

"Quirky Berkeley"

1044 University

Having avoided linguistic conflict over Bombay vs. Mumbai, I am not about to step into the spelling debate of “sari” vs. “saree.”  Have at it if you want.  I’ll pass.

1042  University

1042 University

1942  University

1942 University

1038  University

1038 University

1036  University

1036 University

1027  University

1027 University

1025  University

1025 University

1006  University

1006 University

1000 University

1000 University

1000

1000 University

990  University

990 University

824  University

824 University

824 University

824 University

 

1920 San Pablo

1920 San Pablo

1888 Solano

1888 Solano

1889 Solano

1889 Solano

 

1889 Solano

1889 Solano

"Quirky Berkeley"

2520 Durant

2520 Durant

2520 Durant

This last one makes me think of V.S. Naiipaul’s A House for Mr. Biswas.

There are more signs, to follow, but I wanted to put this out there now.

I showed the photos to my friend, who is a big fan of Bollywood.  “You know how you and your friends go out on Saturday mornings and walk around taking pictures?”   I am not sure where this is going but I play along – yes,  I know.  “Well, I just saw a movie last night that I rented on 9th Street.”  Whether I want to see the movie or not, I know that I am going to.

"Quirky Berkeley"

3 idiots 2 3 idiots 3 3 idiots 4

Thanks pal!

I ask what he thinks about the photos of signs of Indian businesses.   Still chuckling about the Three Idiots, he smiles and says:

IMG_3677

 

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