Srinagar, April 11 -- ​BySyed Nissar Hussain Gilani

​To many, the sprawling metropolis of Bombay, now Mumbai, can feel like a labyrinth of strangers, but for me, it was never a strange place.

My relationship with the city began in 1969, during a 15-day educational tour as a post-graduate Zoology student at Kashmir University. We were guided by the world-renowned zoologist, the late Prof. Dr. M. K. Das, whose mentorship made that trip unforgettable.

Dr. Das went beyond the curriculum, even arranging a visit to a film studio where the shooting of the iconic movieAradhanawas taking place. It was there that we, as wide-eyed students, had the rare privilege of meeting and shaking hands with the "First Superstar," Rajesh Khanna, ...