During the late fifties, the centers of activity were the original 'Cafe de Phoos' near Sir Syed Hall and the 'Paradise' Restaurant near the Faculty of Science, close to Viqarul Mulk Hall and next to 'Banwari's' studio.   My friends and I, engaged in an apparently pointless  pursuit of a research career (pointless because research facilities in Biochemistry were non-existent to rudimentary at that time), staying in a holding pattern (until our real objectives like going abroad for higher education materialized) and flush with easy money thanks to the largesse of CSIR would visit in Paradise at least four times a day and spend hours over a cup of tea and an order of potato cutlets.  This was over and above the round the clock Tea service that our supposed Lab. Assistant whom we had endearingly nicknamed 'Hameed-ul-Lazi' provided. Equally enamored of the charms of the Paradise was the late Rahi Masoom Raza who was doing his Ph.D in Urdu (a better prospect than attempting to do a Ph.D in Biochemistry) and was at the ascending slope of his incredible popularity later on.  He would visit the Paradise even more frequently than us surrounded by his entourage of friends.  This hedonistic escapism only lasted two years before the harsh demands of real life sent us scurrying in all corners of the globe, however, much to our delight. 

Masood Haider
M.Sc (1959)
Ph.D Univ.Calif.Medical Center, SF

Courtesy :http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AMUNetwork/ 

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rehan - interesting Unregistered | Sep-17-07 It is interesting to read of the things so far back in time and to realize that even though things change with time but they dont change a lot. Around the year 1993, a group of eight of us, would just sip tea at "Cafe de Phoos" and all eight are spead all over the globe now. Reply 1   0

Guru - thanks Author | Oct-02-07 thanks for sharing with us.. Reply 0   0

Haider Aqeel - Cafe de Phoos Unregistered | May-14-08 Cafe de Phoos - a favorite hang out for our gang from 1987 to 1997 is still fresh in my memories. After playing 3-4 hours in the evening at Roller Skating club, we use to chill out at Cafe de Phoos. 'Dalmoth fry' was our main course there. I have tried to make Dalmoth Fry at home but I am unable to find the same people and that great taste at home. Here I would like to mention that I never tasted tea at Cafe de Phoos. I am not a tea drinker and still Cafe de Phoos was my fav hangout. Reply 1   0

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