Why this blog is called "Gallimaufry".

gal-uh-MAW-free\, noun.

Originally meaning "a hash of various kinds of meats," "gallimaufry" comes from French galimafrée; in Old French, from the word galer, "to rejoice, to make merry"; in old English: gala + mafrer: "to eat much," and from Medieval Dutch maffelen: "to open one's mouth wide."

It's also a dish made by hashing up odds and ends of food; a heterogeneous mixture; a hodge-podge; a ragout; a confused jumble; a ridiculous medley; a promiscuous (!) assemblage of persons.

Those of you who know me, will, I’m sure, understand how well some of these phrases (barring the "promiscuous" bit!) fit me.

More importantly, this blog is an ode to my love for Shimla. I hope to show you this little town through my eyes. If you don't see too many people in it, forgive me, because I'm a little chary of turning this into a human zoo.

Stop by for a spell, look at my pictures, ask me questions about Shimla, if you wish. I shall try and answer them as best as I can. Let's be friends for a while....

28 April 2006

Railway Board Building


Located at the foot of the Mall, this building was constructed by the Bombay firm Rishardson and Cruddas in 1896-97. It is a cast-iron & steel structure and once housed the offices of the Railway Board.
I was an officer-in-training in this building for a year & a half. Loved its four floors, three basements and gorgeous cast-iron staircases.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

I am Sharad a former resident of Shimla.
We used to stay in a small building named " Aircliff" located
just below this majestic Railway board bldg;
This was of course way back in the year 1955-65. almost
45 years ago.

Geetali said...

Thanks for your post. Would you like to go and look if Airlcliff still exists? Was this towards the State Bank (towards Fingask) or towards the Victory Tunnel?

Geetali said...

I meant, would you like *me* to go look for Aircliff....

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