Sharjah's Rolla: Rock and 'rolla' to the good ol' days

Rolla Square is home to a giant, green-and-white monument of a banyan tree, commemorating an even larger tree that once stood at its centre.- Photos by M. Sajjad

For 27-year-old Indian expat Anand Rajeev, growing up in the Rolla neighbourhood of Sharjah was far more impressive compared to his experience of the community today.
He remembers getting on his bike and zipping through the narrow alleys of tightly packed buildings to meet his friends at their favourite spot, the Rolla Square.
As he walks around the neighbourhood, he can't help but smile at the thought of a young Anand waiting for his school bus near the old Al Maya supermarket and accompanying his mother to Al Ghuwair Market to shop for clothes.
And who can forget the hot, fresh-from-the-oven chicken puffs of Reem Bakery? He said it was another iconic hotspot in the heart of the bustling area of Al Ghuwair, popularly called 'Rolla' among expatriates and locals.
For several millennial expats who grew up in Sharjah in the late '80s and early '90s, Rolla was an important hub in their growing up years.
"My parents still live in Rolla. When I visit them, I fondly remember my childhood days and with small exceptions, not much has changed. It is still one of the busiest localities in Sharjah," Anand said.
Everyone, who has lived or has done any business in the neighbourhood, could attest to the fact that the Rolla Square is its most recognisable feature.
"The Rolla Square is a landmark for our community and a landmark for the nationals," said Rijo Matthew, an employee of a gold store located right across the square.
It doubles as a roundabout that is home to a giant, green-and-white monument of a banyan tree, commemorating an even larger tree that once stood at its centre.
"I was told that there used to be a tree instead of the statue and people would usually sit under the tree to escape the scorching sun. Kids would also play under it and some would dare climb it and swing on its branches. The tree fell in the '70s and the current monument was built to commemorate that tree," Rijo said.
Vivek Menon, 28, a cinematographer and former resident of the area, could clearly remember cycling around the park.
The current generation of Sharjah residents has been enjoying a 3.7-hectare-wide park since 2014.
"I remember workers used to squat in the grassy patches around the square and enjoy their time during a cool evening," said Menon.
"My mother used to be embarrassed to walk around it in the evenings due to the stares she would usually get. And my brother or I had to accompany her anytime she went shopping," said Menon.
"What I miss the most about Rolla is the Concorde movie theatre that shut down in 2012. We would go there as kids, watch Bollywood and Hollywood movies. A real pity they closed it down. It had a massive screen and the audio was great, too," he said.
Located near the Sharjah Clock Tower, Concord Cinema was taken over by Al Zahra Hospital in 2012.
Shopping is also not a problem for the locality's residents. From textiles, electronics and watches, to traditional herbal products, sweets and spices - even kitchenware and toys - the Ghuwair Market is their go-to, one-stop destination.
Jamil Abdul Mohammad Khan, a Pakistani textile shopkeeper in the Ghuwair Market, said: "People make it a point to stroll around the narrow lanes in search of a good bargain. Everyone who comes here haggles. When we say we charge Dh50 for a metre of cloth, they, especially the ladies, want it for Dh10. This has been the case for decades."
Menaka Ravi, a long-term Sharjah resident and a schoolteacher, said she used to visit the market all the time.
"Whenever I had to go back home to my country, I would do all the shopping in Rolla," she said. "Things are different now. The kids have grown up - they have online shopping. However, in our days, we enjoyed walking around the market after having tea and shawarma."
Must know
1- Everyone's favourite spot
People who live in the neighbourhood could agree that its most popular spot is the Rolla Square. Considered a historical site, it is the place where people would hang out on weekends or relax during their free time. It was redeveloped in recent years and in 2014, a 3.7-hectare park was unveiled.
2- Well-loved tree
Back in the 19th century, a banyan tree was planted in the heart of the neighbourhood by no less than the then Ruler of Sharjah. It grew so big that it towered over the park. People would usually sit under the tree to escape the scorching sun, and kids considered it their playground. The tree fell in the '70s and a monument was built in its place.
3- A one-stop shop
From textiles, electronics and watches to traditional products, sweets and spices - even kitchenware and toys - Ghuwair Market is the one-stop destination for residents in the locality. Shopkeepers could attest that everyone who comes to the market is looking for a bargain. "When we say we charge Dh50 for a metre of cloth, they want it for Dh10," one of them said.
dhanusha@khaleejtimes.com

• Sharjah

Dhanusha Gokulan

dhanusha@khaleejtimes.com