Imagine your grandfather walking around Connaught Place in 1939-40. Would he be trying to tear through the milling crowds hurrying along the roads? Was the skyline in CP as dazzling as it is now?

What sort of place was CP then? 

According to Khorshed Italia, a Parsee lady, who shifted to CP in 1939 when she was just 16, it was a quiet, serene and majestic place. There were no crowds, no traffic and no sky scrappers. You could only see a few horse driven tongas. The CP has obviously lost that old world charm and beauty.

At 86, Italia is the oldest resident here and is aptly called the Grand Old Lady of Connaught Place. Her memories of those days are still vivid. 

CP was much whiter than it is today.  She names the famous shops of those days such as Davicos, Empire Store, Bhavani Books and Manohar Bakery. Empire Store sold every thing including groceries and liquors. Her house is situated opposite to Odeon Cinema, which was being constructed when she shifted here.