Just a few pointers regarding Roland's The Charms of Goan Dhobitalao. The Khalistan he mentioned is not in Brampton but in Mississauga, more precisely Malton. It is here that most of the supporters of Khalistan lived in the early stages of the movement which started in India. The Malton gurdwara was the rallying point for these Khalistanis.
The place that, I believe, Roland had in mind was the new community in Springdale in Brampton. It is now famously known as Singdale because of the large number of Sikhs who moved into this area. Many Sikhs from Malton moved here and also new Sikh immigrants set up their homes. I have been around the area many times and on any given evening you can see many Sikh kids playing street hockey or basketball. Roland said "Sassani" instead of Kyani, which was on the opposite side of Bastani. If I remember correctly Sassani was at the corner of Princess Street and Girgaum Road (later named as Shankar Shett Road). On the other side of the restaurant ran Sonapur Street. it was here that what Roland called "Dhobitalao Mixed Band" gathered. I am guilty of having tea at C. D'Souza during the homily. It was only when there was no space in the church that I and some friends occupied the road space near the cafe and darted in when the homily began. Sometimes it was a relief :-) I believe Vienna Restaurant has shut down but they still let out their hotel rooms. Snowflake Restaurant is still running. The sons, Francis and Tony (now both deceased) were my friends, Tony being my classmate. In fact, a week ago I called the restaurant to check about my other good friend Irineo Vaz, a former Central Railway football goalkeeper who married one of the daughters of the Ribeiro family. Just as both Kyani and Bastani were famous for their "pani-kum" chai they were also known to serve their favourite "market" (tea and coffee mixed in right proportions) and bun-maska. Their patties were crispy and tasty, just as nice as Snowflake's croquettes. It was at Bastani that I used to see our great PWD Minister come for his quota of chai and bun-maska during his days as a tarvotti. He used to stay at the Varca club in the Jer Mahal where Bastani was located on the Girgaum side. The Varca club faced Kalbadevi Road where I was born and grew up at the intersection of Kalbadevi Road and Princess Street. I am sad to learn from Marshall that Bastani has closed down. It was at the restaurant that I spent lot of my time talking football, tiatr and issues relating to Goa and Goans in Mumbai. The owner of the restaurant would jokingly call me "salazar" and the last time I went there I had my chai and bun-maska and the owner refused to accept my money. Jolly-good guys, these Iranis. Those were the days. Thanks Roalnd from bring back some memories. Eugene PS: I have deliberately left out the aunties.... maybe some day.
