Delhiwale: “Room boy” and his world | Latest News Delhi

The sun sets every evening at Connaught Place (CP). But the sun refuses to set at CP’s Sunny Guest House. More than fifty years old, the lodge on the upper floor is a lesser-known but enduring CP institution, which continues to survive even though many such establishments have closed shop in this colonial-era neighborhood. It found honorable mention in the third edition of Lonely Planet India (1993), then titled India: A Survival Kit.

This long-standing monument has its own long-standing living monument: its ‘houseboy’, the venerable Murari Lal (real name: Brij Lal). In his 60s, he has been working in the guest house since 1985. “I had come from Moradabad to Delhi in search of work, I got a job in a garment export factory in Okhla, later I ‘I landed here,’ he said, his head raised. , arms crossed. This afternoon, Murari Lal (see photo) is standing at the reception, run by the new guest house manager, Rishabh. This young man with a tattooed arm notices that all nine rooms are currently occupied. Murali Lal notes that “previously, most of the guests were foreign backpackers.”

The guesthouse is quiet, the only sound is the deep whir of the stairway air cooler. The staircase descends into the exterior aisle through a discreetly positioned door, next to which faded painted text warns against “boasting and misleading information.” A lot has changed in the CP side lane outside the guest house. Many similar guesthouses have closed their doors one by one. Murali Lal lists some names, taking the time to dig each one out of his memory: Asian Guest House, Gandhi Guest House, Ringo Guest House, Sona Rupa Guest House. Ringo enjoyed cult status among foreign backpackers in the 80s and 90s; sleeping on a charpoy on the roof cost 40 rupees.

Illustrating the duties of a “houseboy,” Murari Lal explains the typical tasks of a hotel housekeeper: making the bed, replenishing supplies, and more. The elderly man confirms that he has remained a “chamber boy” over the years. “This work provided dal-roti for me and my family for many years. »

Soon the sun will begin to set and Sunny’s “room boy” will board bus no. 602 for his house in Vasant Vihar.