Panchgani’s tableland

The recent tragic airplane crash at Mangalore airport, which is built on a plateau (tableland) atop a hillock, claimed 158 lives. The incident reminded me of my school days when I was a boarder at Parsi High School for Boys in Panchgani from 1935-44.

There are tablelands in Panchgani, from which one can get spectacular views of the hill station. The main one has a vast open area where we played hockey, cricket and football, according to the seasons. Inter-school competitions were also conducted there.

When I commenced schooling in Panchgani, I heard from the senior boys that the Tatas, who were pioneers in civil aviation in the country, wanted to construct an airport on the tableland. To this end, many surveys were conducted. Ultimately, they had to abandon the project mainly because of the gravitational pull which would suck airplanes down. Had the airport been built, it would have changed the entire face and economy of Panchgani. Though we were innocent schoolboys, in our hearts we were glad that the project had to be abandoned as we would have been deprived of the open space for our sports activities.

The name of Parsi High School for Boys changed, after many years, to Billimoria High School, in honor of its founder, Nowroji Billimoria. And from this School emerged a young, strapping, dashing boy who later became Air Chief Marshal. His name was Aspy Engineer.

BHIKHAJI M. ADENWALLA