the CENTRAL LAUNDRY
1. Shubhangi Dinanath Joshi has been sitting at the Central Laundry since she joined the Joshi family in 2006. From 9 to 12 in the morning, since she finishes her housework early, and from 6 to 8 in the evening, she gives her husband company.
2. In her father-in-law’s time there was no afternoon closing. Raghunath Vishwanath Joshi had two laundries - Central in Girgaum’s Bhaji Market and New Power Laundry in Bhuleshwar’s Phool Gully.
3. Today, her husband Dinanath can come in leisurely. They continue to reside in the same building compound as the laundry.
4. The area is cosmopolitan- Gujarati, Marathi, Christian. Khotachiwadi, the Christian hamlet nearby, they say is like VT Station - it cannot be broken. Yet all around them buildings with chawl systems are being replaced by towers. Only their Kallian Buildings, 8 in total, stand as originals.
5. Right opposite, Dada Maharaj Wadi has gone for development. Achrekar, a former tenant, has temporarily moved to Thakurdwar. He swings by Central Laundry, his father was the original customer. Achrekar will return to Dada Maharaj Heights, an owner.
6. The new towers have washing machines. So the loads the laundry gives to the dhobi for washing are, in turn, lighter.
7. Yet, heavy items like blankets still need washing, saris and bhariwalla dupattas roll pressing, and everybody still needs ironing.
8. Harichand, the ironing man from UP, has been with them for 25 years.
9. Raghunath Joshi (1914-2006) had also started ironing at a laundry down the road when he migrated from Raigad to Bombay. The owner of Arunodaya (Sunrise) Laundry ended up giving Raghunath the unit. When Kallian Buildings were constructed, he opened the Central Laundry. Then he started New Power Laundry, which they sold in 1990.
the CENTRAL laundry
1939
Kallian Building, No. 6, 138 Kandewadi Lane, Girgaum.
1st February, 2022.
Supported by:
Photos by Philippe Calia.
FANCY LAUNDRY OR ANTIQUE?
