Monday, July 30, 2012

Mumbai for me: Bandra residents united multiple government agencies Bella Jaisinghani, TNN | Jul 30, 2012, 05.42AM IST


0

MUMBAI: The challenge to beautify the precincts of Mumbai's forts arises from the fact that multiple agencies own the land on which the monuments stand. Bandra's residents, who refurbished Land's End garden on the precincts of the Portuguese fort, were able to bring these different arms of the government to common ground, which was the secret of their success.

The project was completed in 2001 at a cost of nearly Rs 1 crore. Arup Sarbadhikary , of the Bandra Bandstand Residents' Association , takes a deep breath as he recalls the struggle put up before the dream was realized. "The main garden, where the amphitheatre stands, belongs to the BMC, while the lawns that stretch to the shore come under the collector. The broken wall with the gate is owned by the state department of archaeology and museums. We collaborated with all three guardians and, with MP funds from Shabana Azmi, Dilip Kumar and Priya Dutt, created this verdant haven," he says. "We continue to pay staff salaries for the upkeep and water the garden as well."

The road was littered with legal battles against land sharks who were hoping to appropriate the prime proper ty. However, the Land's End garden was finally beautified in keeping with heritage norms. Old stones from the fort's ruins and Behramjee Jeejeebhoy's mansion were used. Hundreds of trees were planted as well.

Architect P K Das, who undertook the project, says, "In Mumbai, a fort may come under the Archaeological Survey of India or state department of archaeology , while the land may variously belong to the BMC, state government, collector or Mumbai Port Trust. That is the tragedy of Mumbai's development, several agencies often work at cross purposes . Citizens, who remain the neutral factor, can bring these conflicting interests to common ground. We at Open Mumbai have demanded that each fort and its precinct be considered an area that needs to be conserved so that a comprehensive plan is implemented ."

The Land's End experiment has served as an inspiration to residents of Carter Road and Juhu, with residents investing serious sums to develop parks.
==========================================================================


Mumbai for me: Rendezvous at the ruins anyone?


The precincts of Mumbai's six forts have been neglected, abused and encroached. The organizers of Open Mumbai, an exhibition currently on at Nehru Centre, have proposed that spaces for public leisure be created in their precincts.

In fact, the state department of archaeology as well as central Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) had earlier announced similar plans to develop gardens, promenades and cafes in the precincts of the Sewri, Worli and Bandra forts. A similar plan was also in place for Vasai Fort in Thane district. But so severe was the damage to the monuments during restoration work that the larger plan to create public spaces in the precincts was truncated.

The only site where the dream took shape was in the precincts of Bandra Fort, where residents along with architect P K Das managed to create public and cultural spaces, though here too the state department of archaeology's restoration of the fort itself was a tragedy.


The six forts are at Sewri, Bandra, Worli, Mahim and Sion (two forts). Of these, Sion Fort is the largest, covering 53,810 sq m, and Kala Killa, also at Sion, is the smallest at 1,293 sq m.


Architect Vikas Dilawari agrees that the precincts surrounding forts should be turned into public spaces and tourist destinations. Indeed, all planners seem to be on common ground on certain issues, including demarcating these natural assets in the city's Development Plan (DP). It is another matter that these structures are anyway supposed to be 'protected' due to their historic status.


Dilawari suggests, "The revised DP, being prepared right now, should acknowledge these forts as our rich cultural assets, something missing in the earlier DPs. Once this is done, the restoration interventions proposed should encourage local, regional and national tourism . The easiest way to protect the historical structure is to have a recreational zone that serves the area, as in the case of Bandra Fort."


He adds that the precinct around the fort should be regulated but residents should be allowed to perform necessary repairs. "However, there should be no highrises , which engulf the very presence and setting of the monument," Dilawari says. The ASI monuments now have a new central law to protect them, which needs to be integrated with the revised DP, he adds.


Architect Chetan Raikar says the government neither has the resources nor the willingness to conserve forts, and hence "adaptive reuse" is the only viable option to maintain them. "This is possible if these places are converted into open spaces to attract tourists and locals. Mumbai is devoid of such open spaces and the public would be more than willing to even pay if these forts are developed as parks while maintaining the identity of the ruins. This does require willingness from the government, though," he says.


Dilawari says the government should also encourage small history museums as part of the adaptive reuse. The museums could have information about the forts as well as the locality. Subtle illumination could also draw attention to the structures. For instance, commuters who use the Bandra-Worli sea link pass the Worli Fort, but hardly know of its presence.


The organizers of the Open Mumbai exhibit say that by connecting the fort precincts to neighbourhoods, their isolation and abuse would be halted.
============================================================================
SION FORT 
 

 





























































































































































































































SEWRI FORT
File:Sewri fort courtyard.jpg

 SEWRI FORT 17TH CENTURY BELOW
 






Sunday, July 29, 2012

The course that’s been changing lives in Mumbai

MUMBAI: Every evening, when St Xavier's College turns on its yellow lights, a thousand canteen boys, sweepers, hawkers, labourers, milk vendors, clerks and receptionists wrap up a tough day's work and rush in for their lectures. Once in, they are in a world where all they are expected to do is hold a pen and pay attention.

Few in the city know about the evening course at the college. Started 24 years ago, the commerce section is perhaps a little out of sync with the loud Malhar and the campus fashion a sharp contrast to what one sees in top colleges. Also, most students don't return to a home or comforting security each day. Principal Errol Fernandes said, "The morning section was started to provide excellent education. The criterion to admit students is merit. The evening classes were started to cater to the distressed section of society and give them hope of a better life."

The classes begin with a short prayer of silence. "Students are asked to take a deep breath so they can get rid of the grime and tiredness of the day," Fernandes explained.

As the section enters its silver jubilee year, it has turned autonomous. Unlike other colleges, the attendance here is high, probably because the reason to study is different. There are no free lectures, and very often extra classes for weaker students are held on the train, during the faculty's journey back home.

For long, excellent education has mostly been the privilege of the moneyed and the meritorious. The commerce section at St Xavier's was started with the aim of breaking away from that norm. "These students are the ones who really need the help," said economics professor Kamaji Bokare. "The rate of change of life you see here is really high."

Akshay Shetty, who used to run a roadside stall outside Old Custom's House, is today a senior executive at a mutual fund firm. "I went on to do my master's and am also a cost accountant. The biggest change has been the respect I get today," says a proud Shetty. Till about five years ago, Prabhakar Poojary was a canteen boy in BEST earning Rs 600 a month. Today, he heads the Singapore, Dubai and Mauritius markets of a private fund and takes home an enviable pay packet of Rs 30 lakh. "When tough life becomes a routine, the rest becomes easy," he says.

Teachers take pride in the fact that two ex-students have made the Indian Institute of Management-Ahmedabad—one is the vice-president of a private bank—but most importantly, they speak of the values the course has instilled in their students. Ravi Gaba was always a bright student; he bagged several cash awards in his years at St Xavier's. "When he graduated, he gave us all the cash prizes (totaling Rs 18,000) that he had won and said he wanted to leave it back for another needy student," recalled accounts professor Rajesh Vora.

Going to college means different things to different people. For some, collegiate education rebuilds their lives, for some others it is the bridge to a better path. For many others, it's a plunge out of a dark night...to a day that shines as bright as the lights on the campus they walk to each evening.

Mumbai’s ‘oldest’ school to shift to new-age International Baccalaureate

MUMBAI: It's a fact that the only thing constant in society is change. And keeping this in mind, possibly the oldest school of Mumbai has decided to change its affiliation to International Baccalaureate (IB). Robert Money Technical High School in Grant Road completed 176 years of imparting education in the city and is currently busy renovating its century-old structure. Their IB section will start from the next academic year.

"We still have close to 330 students from the SSC section who will finish their schooling the same board but, simultaneously , we will start the new IB batch in our renovated building," said Rev Sharad Balid, administrator of the school. As of now, the Marathi medium and junior college sections have been receiving grants from the government while the rest is run by the Bombay Diocesan Society BCS). The IB school is a joint effort of BCS and Chanakya Gyan Kendra, and will be open students from 2013.

The trend of changing affiliations from state board to other central and internation-boards has been a part of the educational system for ages now. Christ Church School in Byculla has weathered the ups and downs of academia for more than a century . "Old schools are awakened by the challenges put forth by newer schools. We have an advantage because of our history but we cannot rest on our laurels," said principal Carl Laurie. After changing their affiliation to ICSE in the 1970s, the school also introduced the CIPP program (an evaluation model) a year ago. Similarly, the school may be looking to launch the IGCSE program in the near future. Since we didn't want to be a has-been school, we realized that we had to make certain changes that would help us adapt to this rapidly changing environment," added Laurie.

The Cathedral and John Connon School is considered one of the city's premier institutions for junior education. The key is to embrace the new without throwing out the old," said principal Meera Isaacs. Cathedral has never had any trouble keeping up with changing times. In fact, the school was the first in the city to establish a Learning Resource Center. To celebrate its 150th anniversary, Cathedral released a special commemorative stamp in 2010.

Tradition has proven to be equally important to St Mary's High School in Mazgaon to the extent that it has maintained its uniform for more than a century. "Tradition implies that there is something good in . There is a sentimental value attached to the boys' uniforms. No one has ever tried to change this tradition," said principal Fr Kenneth Misquitta.

The Alexandra Girls English Institution in Fort is one of the oldest girls schools in the city and is ready to celebrate 150 years of existence. The school is preparing for an enormous celebration, which includes the release of a special postal cover, an interschool fest, ex-students' reunion and a grand show in April where the school souvenir will be released. However, it has no intention of changing affiliation any time soon. "The state board syllabus has evolved over the years and is at par with other boards, so we will continue our loyalty to the board. We'd rather focus on co-curricular activities to encourage children in all aspects of life," said principal Freny Mehta. The school will start its 150 years celebration from September 1.

Saturday, July 28, 2012

Mumbai’s oldest girls school turns 150

Published: Monday, Apr 16, 2012, 8:26 IST
By Puja Pednekar | Place: Mumbai | Agency: DNA

At a time when most schools are opting for non-state boards and turning towards co-education, one of the city’s oldest girls state board school will enter into the 150th year of its inception in September 2012. The Alexandra Girls English Institution, Fort, is all set to celebrate its sesquicentennial year through a series of programmes so that the next generation of students can remember them.

Founded by social reformer, Manockjee Cursetjee in 1836, it is one of the first educational institutions started in the city to raise the social status of women. Interestingly, around 1863, Cursetjee started teaching 13 girls in the English medium at his residence ‘Villa Byculla’. Later, the school, then called ‘Alexandra Native Girls’ English Institution’, shifted to Waudby Road, now called Hazarimal Somani Marg. The school had on its board of directors, stalwarts of Indian society such as Sir Phirozeshah Mehta and alumni such as Madame Bhikaijee Cama.
The school also has one of oldest Parent Teachers Association (PTA) in the city. While many schools are drawing flak for not having a PTA, this school’s PTA has completed 56 years. The Ex-student’s Association is on the verge of celebrating its Platinum Jubilee. Principal Freny Mehta, said, “In 150 years, the school has achieved many milestones and the legacy continues. Alexandra’s 150 is a celebration of the continuing tradition of teaching young girls how to be critical thinkers and compassionate individuals. We have achieved a lot but there are still many miles to go.’’
On the occasion of its 150 years, the school management will introduce ‘Smart Class Technology’ for all the classes from I to X, apart from organising a series of events involving city schools. “To share our school’s values and culture, we will invite the participation of schools across the city in competitions ranging from academics to creative fields,’’ she added.
As per the founder’s wish, even today, value-education is provided with the object of developing the overall personality its students.
The school also allows its premises to be used by NGOs working for the under-privileged. “We collect goods and cash every year for the Junior Red Cross and the Army to inculcate the habit of giving and sharing among our students," Mehta said.

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

George Fernandes ends ties with city

A few decades ago, when George Fernandes was on top of his game as the country's most powerful trade union leader, his hold over the BMC, BEST and the taxi drivers was so complete that every time he called for a Mumbai bandh, the city was brought to its knees.

Last Friday (July 20), 82-year-old Fernandes, battling Alzheimer's disease, ended his last remaining connection with Mumbai's trade unions when he quit as Mumbai Taximen's Union president.

The Union, which he founded in 1960, not only accepted the resignation - forwarded by Fernandes's wife Leila Kabir - it also announced a new president: Rajya Sabha member Hussain Dalwai.

The Union's general secretary, A L Quadros confirmed the development, saying: "The decision to co-opt Hussain Dalwai as the Union's president was taken at the managing committee meeting on July 20. Mr Fernandes has conveyed that he was no longer able to carry out the duties required of him as the Union's president due to health reasons. The election to the post was due only in 2014; hence we used a special provision to co-opt Dalwai as president."

Dalwai confirmed that he had accepted the Union's offer, and said he will take over as the Union's president at a meeting on July 29. Senior union leader and Fernandes's former colleague Frederick D'Sa, who is president of the Mumbai Autorickshawmen's Union and the taxi union-backed Taximen's Services Limited, said that deteriorating health was the only reason for Fernandes's resignation. "I have known him for the past 41 years, and can't express the sadness with which we had to accept his decision to quit. We are letting him go with a heavy heart," he said.

Despite repeated attempts, Leila Kabir remained unavailable for comment.

The Taximen's Services Limited, which owns three petrol pumps (at Dadar, Bandra and Goregaon), was Fernandes's idea, to give the union members quality fuel on monthly credit and also soft loans to buy cabs, spare-parts and other such facilities. He also set up the Bombay Labour Co-operative Bank in 1968, now known as the New India Co-operative Bank, which has Quadros, D'Sa and Fernandes's other colleagues on the managing committee.

 George and Mumbai

» A native of Mangalore, George Fernandes was sent to Bangalore in 1946 to be trained as a priest. He arrived in Mumbai in 1949, and joined the socialist trade union movement.


» Fernandes's first shot at glory came in 1967, when he was offered a ticket by the Samyukta Socialist Party to contest the general elections. He defeated S K Patil of the Congress, and earned the nickname George the Giantkiller, while the defeat ended Patil's political career.

» As a fiery trade union leader, Fernandes organised countless strikes and bandhs in the city in the 1950s and 1960s.

» Fernandes went underground during the Emergency in 1975, but was arrested in 1976.


Saturday, July 21, 2012

why not mumbai retain the legacy of victoria horse wagons ;for Tourists;for Newly weds;for Future generations .Dont buckle to pressure to ban it.In many western countries it is not banned

Gosport Carriages "Victoria" carriage 01

The "Victoria" built in 1888 is a splendid example of Victorian manufacture, and is extremely popular with our customers, not only for weddings, but for corporate and pleasure rides.

This elegant and practical open carriage also has a hood in case of rain, completely sheltering it's passengers from the elements.


Victoria's Horse Drawn Carriages-canada

Carriage Ride 

image

Location: corner of Belleville
and Menzies Streets (beside the Legislative Buildings - look for the
burgundy umbrella!)

Tally-Ho is Victoria’s original horse-drawn tour company that has been creating unforgettable memories for visitors and locals alike since 1903. We love seeing the same customers come back year after year to share their experience with family and friends! Or are you new to Victoria?


Enjoying downtown Victoria in a horse carriage
victoria at vancour -canada 

Victoria Carriage

Victoria carriage Our Black and Burgundy Horse Drawn Carriage offers the ultimate Wedding experience that will stay with the bride and groom forever. You will travel in timeless tradition and style in our authentic Victoria Carriage.
The carriage is built to the highest specification and is properly maintained and immaculately clean with the attention to detail being second to none. It has leather upholstery with tapestry detail and ornate carriage lamps.

Company building image 
 
 


Monday, July 16, 2012

Rane Ashish brings you pictures of a scintillating musical evening in Juhu, where Kathak dancers enthralled the audience with some memorable performances

Rane Ashish brings you pictures of a scintillating musical evening in Juhu, where Kathak dancers enthralled the audience with some memorable performances
Spinning act: Powerful spin is a speciality of this dance form

Bombay place-names and street-namesOn openlibrary.org

Thursday, July 12, 2012

CALL IT A HAUNTED HOUSE?

Laila Khan case: Human remains found at her farmhouse, say sources
Nashik: A team of officials from the Mumbai Police crime branch has reportedly found human remains at Bollywood starlet Laila Khan's Igatpuri farmhouse, where she was allegedly killed along with her relatives. The remains will now be sent for analysis to ascertain identity, say sources.

Around 1000 policemen had launched the search after main accused Parvez Tak told the Jammu and Kashmir Police that the actor and her five relatives were murdered and their bodies were buried around her farm house in Untdari behind Ghatan Devi. Tak had reportedly told the Jammu Police that Laila, who had been missing for 11 months, was murdered along with her mother, Celina, her two siblings and two half-sisters.

During interrogation, he reportedly revealed that they were shot dead near Mumbai by three men who included Celina's second husband, Asif Sheikh, and a man named Afghan Khan, who was allegedly Laila's lover. Tak, who is Celina's third and current husband, was the other man involved in the murders, he confessed, according to sources.

Tak was brought to Mumbai from Jammu on Sunday night by the Crime Branch of the Mumbai Police for questioning in connection with the case.

The Mumbai Crime Branch had begun investigations immediately after taking custody of Tak. A team of officers reached Laila's farmhouse in Igatpuri early on Monday morning. During the search at the farmhouse, four kilometers of the area around was cordoned-off and barricades put up.

Crime Branch officials have also detained Jolly Guilder and Mehboob, who Tak had hired to drive the Mitsubishi Outlander from Igatpuri to Indore and onward to Delhi, and finally to Kishtwar.

Laila lived in a suburban Mumbai flat with her mother, three siblings, and another relative. They disappeared from their flat on February 7, 2011.  The Mumbai police say they were taken by her stepfather, Parvez Tak, to the farmhouse in the Nashik district. This was the last location traced through Laila's cellphone records. A few days later, the farmhouse was set on fire.

The motive for the murder was allegedly the property owned by Laila and her mother. They owned two flats in Mumbai, and Celina's second husband and Laila's boyfriend wanted to stop her from selling these apartments.

Laila was last seen in a movie 'Wafaa' with actor Rajesh Khanna in 20
===========================================================================

6 persons' remains unearthed at Laila's Igatpuri farmhouse

Crime Branch closer to solving year-old mystery surrounding disappearance of actress and 5 members of her family with recovery of bodies, 2 cellphones

July 11, 2012

Mumbai
Shiva Devnath
The Mumbai Crime Branch (CB) finally made a much-awaited breakthrough in the Laila Khan case with the discovery of human remains of six individuals buried in the backyard of the starlet’s farmhouse in Igatpuri along with two mobile phones.

After descending on the spot early on Monday morning and working throughout the day and late into the night with no success, the sleuths found the remains buried around six feet deep on the premises yesterday evening.

Where the bodies lay: Cops cordon off Laila Khan’s home and laid a barricade around the home stretching for over 12-km. The police dug up five spots before they found the remains. Tak who until now had been booked for kidnapping, will now be booked for murders. Pics/Sameer Markande
Crime Branch official resumed the search operations yesterday by 11 am and finally made the discovery around 5 pm.
Police personnel from eight police stations in Igatpuri and personnel from various police training schools in Nashik district were roped in to keep the media at bay.
Over a thousand personnel turned the location into an impenetrable fortress by laying siege and barricading a 12-km radius surrounding the property and the routes leading to it, including the three kilometre stretch from the highway.
Digging deep
Five buses full of police personnel from Mumbai reached the spot, Parvez Ahmed Tak was secretly brought in a police mobile van and three teams of forensic experts followed suit.
According to the police, Tak has proved a hard nut to crack and had been misleading his interrogators.
After pointing out five spots, which were dug up with no success, they finally found the right spot after Tak was treated to stronger measures.
A temporary tent was erected over the spot and the digging began.
By 5 pm and four feet into the dig, the sleuths began finding bones.
The digging continued till the trench was six feet deep and besides human remains, the sleuths found two mobile phones and a pillow, which they suspect was used in the crime.
Forensic experts have taken the bones, fingerprints and other vital evidence, which will be sent to the Kalina lab.
DNA taken from the spot will be matched with Nadir Patel to ascertain if they belong to Laila and the rest of her family.
Tak who until now had been booked for kidnapping, will now be booked for murders.
DCP Ambadas Pote of the CB confirmed the findings. He said, “The investigation is progressing in the right direction and only after the forensic reports it will be established if the remains are of Laila and her family.”
Sonu returns from Dubai
Tak in his confession to the J&K Police said he and Shakir Hussein, both residents of Nali Bhunzwah, Kishtwar District, J&K, murdered all six family members a few days before the victims were to leave for Dubai. Laila Khan was going to Dubai to solemnise her marriage with Sonu alias Vafi Khan, who is the son of close Dawood aide Kamal Jadhwani. Based on Tak’s confession, the Mumbai Crime Branch summoned Jadhwani for questioning. Six hours later, he spoke to his son in Dubai and convinced him to return. Sonu reached Mumbai on Saturday and will be questioned by the CB today to ascertain his involvement in the case.
 =========================================================================
 NE
 NEXT HOUSE TO BE HAUNTED ?
 
 PHOTO OF A GHOST FROM ANOTHER SITE

Sunday, July 8, 2012

A brick in time saves nine-Jul 8, 2012


Marzban Colony, opposite Nair Hospital at Mumbai Central, is a complex of five buildings in the vernacular style of architecture. All are over 100 years old. Until a few years ago, the colony blended right into the neighbourhood's tapestry of greys, such was its degree of dereliction. Today, it leaps out of its high-rise surrounds like a newly painted bas relief. It owes its new life to three years of architectural conservation.

Conservation is often the road less travelled in Mumbai, while redevelopment has become the common way. The blocks of Marzban Colony (or Lal Chimney as it is alternatively called after a long-gone red chimney stack in the vicinity) with apartments that are 300 to 400 sq ft in area, were originally designed to accommodate Parsis with low incomes. A century of wear, ad hoc masonry, and ill-conceived efforts to optimise limited space by switching kitchens and bathrooms and diverting plumbing and drainage, had taken its toll on the property. Despite the oversight that left Marzban Colony out of the city's heritage list — and gave Garib Zarthostiona Rehethan Fund, the trust that runs the colony, free run to raze it — residents voted for conservation. "The alternative would have been demolition and redevelopment," says Muncherji Cama, one of the trustees. "But we're old-fashioned that way."

Old ideals won for Lal Chimney and four other estates run by the trust, an extended life. Vikas Dilawari, the conservation architect, tasked with revival of Lal Chimney, says, "It is economical; people who have lived in these spaces retain their social cultural behavioural/character, that is, talking to neighbours across the balcony; and it's safer. Moreover, restoration does not tax the local infrastructure with regards to water supply, drainage, car parking, etc."

Conservation takes the route of minimum intervention and adheres as much as possible to original material and methods. At Lal Chimney Dilawari knocked off plaster slapped over teakwood balustrades but he lost the battle to the box window. While he wanted architectural authenticity, the tenants wanted security. The restoration cost close to Rs 3 crore.

Ashok Gupta knew he'd have to meet his tenants halfway if his Art Deco building, Zaver Mahal was to be restored. This 69-year-old piece on Marine Drive was not only patched up at the expense of landlord and tenants (Gupta footed half the bill), but restoration also attempted to set right earlier infractions. "We banned chapras (aluminium awnings on windows) and had tenants get rid of their box ACs that violated the building's facade," says Gupta, who came into ownership of the building seven years ago.



Most buildings in disrepair choose redevelopment because landlords and tenants lack the wherewithal and to preserve them.

Dilawari faults the Rent Control Act for Mumbai's dismal spectacle. "If our heritage was protected a decade ago it was not merely because of heritage regulations but because the FSI for reconstruction was less than what it enjoys presently," he says. "The problem started with old cessed properties dilapidating on account of very low rents. The government's solution was reconstruction (with higher FSI), instead of repair."

There are presently 14,995 cessed buildings in the island city, of which approximately 200 apply for redevelopment every year. Buildings constructed up to 1969 are deemed cessed by the Mumbai municipality (which means they fork out a cess tax every year that entitles them to repairs by Mhada).

Perhaps the most vulnerable of cessed properties reside in the gaothans, where restrictions on redevelopment are routinely impugned. At a meeting of the Bombay East Indian Association, housing activist H S D'Lima suggested that the body establish a fund for the disbursal of loans at low interest to those East Indians who need money for house repairs. "The excuse they'd use is that they don't get permission for repairs, but as per section 342 of the BMC Act no sanction is required unless changes are being made to the structure," D'Lima says.


Saturday, July 7, 2012

View Of Bombay, From Mazagon Hill.and other views of Bombay -18th ,19th century

View Of Bombay, From Mazagon Hill.

 




Plate one from J M Gonsalves' "Views at Bombay". Mazagon hill was an outlying suburb of Bombay and became a fashionable place to live in the 18th century. Bungalows and plantation houses were built by the British and more affluent Indians moving out of the crowded fort area. During the 19th century, Mazagon experienced a decline as residents moved into the fashionable Bycullah area nearby. The docks were reclaimed towards the end of the century and Mazagon was left landlocked; eventually the fumes from the developing mills drove out any remaining affluent residents.


View of Bombay, from Malabar Hills, with the Island of Caranjah and part of the Indian Continent in the Distance

View of Bombay, from Malabar Hills, with the Island of Caranjah and part of the Indian Continent in the distance - 1813


Plate twenty-two from the first volume of James Forbes'"Oriental Memoirs". Forbes(1749-1819)had arrived in Bombay in 1766 and spent eighteen years of his working-life in this region. Referring to the plate, Forbes(1749--1814)wrote,'This view contains the fortified town, and harbour of Bombay, connected with Colaba, or Old Woman's Island; beyond the harbour and shipping are the Island of Caranjah, and the high land on the continent. The nearer landscape represents the country at Bombay, consisting chiefly of Cocoanut woods and rice-fields, interspersed with English villas and plantations. Those in this engraving are the Retreat and Tankaville, on the borders of a tank of fresh water, near Malabar Hill; on which is seen one of the Parsee tombs, or large open sepulchres, where the corpses are exposed, to be consumed by vultures and other birds of Prey.'



Plate twenty-two from the first volume of James Forbes'"Oriental Memoirs". Forbes(1749-1819)had arrived in Bombay in 1766 and spent eighteen years of his working-life in this region. Referring to the plate, Forbes(1749--1814)wrote,'This view contains the fortified town, and harbour of Bombay, connected with Colaba, or Old Woman's Island; beyond the harbour and shipping are the Island of Caranjah, and the high land on the continent. The nearer landscape represents the country at Bombay, consisting chiefly of Cocoanut woods and rice-fields, interspersed with English villas and plantations. Those in this engraving are the Retreat and Tankaville, on the borders of a tank of fresh water, near Malabar Hill; on which is seen one of the Parsee tombs, or large open sepulchres, where the corpses are exposed, to be consumed by vultures and other birds of Prey.'

'View of Bombay', after the painting by Lambert & Scott.  Mezzotint by Elisha Kirkall, c.1735.  Printed for T. & J. Bowles.  Presented by Sir George Birdwood.



Mezzotint with etching of a view of Bombay by Elisha Kirkall dated c.1735 after the painting by George Lambert (1710-65) and Samuel Scott (1701/2-72). Inscribed on the front is: 'To the Honourable the Court of Directors of the United-Company of Merchants of England trading to the East-Indies this view of Bombay done after the Painting in the Court Room of the Company house in Leaden Hall Street is most humbly Dedicated by their Honours most obliged and most devoted Servant John Bowles.'

The area of Bombay was composed of seven islands separated by a marshy swamp and inhabited by Koli fisherman. Its deep natural harbour led the Portuguese settlers of the 16th century to name the settlement Bom Bahia 'the Good Bay'. The British Crown acquired the islands as part of the marriage dowry of Catherine of Braganza when she married Charles II in 1661. Bombay was then presented to the East India Company in 1668. The East India Company’s navy was founded at the beginning of the 18th century to protect shipping against pirates and the maritime Mahratta states. Ships were built both locally and in Britain and eventually the fleet was sufficiently powerful to be able to go into action anywhere between the Red Sea and China. The second governor of Bombay, Gerald Aungier offered inducements for skilled workers and traders to settle here and the town quickly developed into a thriving trading port and commercial centre
View of Bombay from colaba island in 1773 by James Medium Forbes. Engraving Date, 1813

View of Bombay from Colaba island in 1773 by James Forbes. Engraving Date, 1813. Courtesy of Old Photos Bombay.

View of Bombay in 1773
Plate twenty-one from the first volume of James Forbes'"Oriental Memoirs". Forbes(1749-1819)had arrived in Bombay in 1766 and spent eighteen years of his working-life in this region. 'This view contains the general face of the town towards the harbour; commencing with the Dock-yard, and including the Admiralty, Marine-House, English Church, Pier, Bunder, Castle, Dungaree Fort, or Fort George, and other conspicuous buildings, taken from the shipping opposite Bunder Pier.'

View of Bombay Harbour. January 1870 1071
Water-colour painting of Mumbai Harbour by Nicholas Chevalier (1828-1902) in January 1870. Inscribed on the back in pencil is: 'Bombay.'






Originally, Mumbai (Bombay) was composed of seven islands separated by a marshy swamp. Its deep natural harbour led the Portuguese settlers of the 16th century to call it Bom Bahia (the Good Bay). The British Crown acquired the islands in 1661 when Catherine of Braganza married Charles II, as part of her marriage dowry. It was then presented to the East India Company in 1668. The second governor, Gerald Aungier, developed Bombay into a trading port and centre for commerce and inducements were offered to skilled workers and traders to move here. European merchants and shipbuilders from western India were encouraged to settle here and Mumbai soon became a bustling cosmopolitan town.



View of Bombay Green from the Town Hall, with the rotunda housing the statue of the Marquess Cornwallis, St. Thomas's and Church Gate.

Lithograph of Bombay Green from the Town Hall showing the Cornwallis monument, the Cathedral Church of St. Thomas and Church Gate by Jose M. Gonsalves c.1830. The Cornwallis monument is a Neo-Classical single-storey structure with a cupola supported by fluted columns that contained a statue of Cornwallis by John Bacon. In the early 19th century, Cornwallis (1738-1805) was honoured through portraits, statues and monuments across India. Cornwallis was was the Governor-General and Commander in Chief in India from 1786 to 1793. He is credited with laying the administrative foundation of British rule in India and was given the title of Marquis in 1792 for his pivotal role in the Third Mysore War. The Church of St. Thomas, commenced in 1672 and formally opened in 1718, is the oldest English church in Bombay. In 1838, it became the Cathedral of St Thomas. Churchgate street led off Bombay Green to the west next to the church. In the 1860s, Bombay Green was remodelled to form Elphinstone Circle, which was renamed Horniman Circle in 1947.


'View in Basseen Fort'.  Captain James Barton's 12 Views of Hill Forts in the Western Ghats near Bombay, London, c.1820.  Pl. 7.

Coloured lithograph of a view in Bassein Fort by Rudolph Ackermann (1764-1834) after Captain James Barton (1793-1829) plate 7 of Barton's 12 Views of Hill Forts in the Western Ghats near Bombay published in London c.1820. Bassein (Vasai) is situated at the mouth of the Ulhas River north of Bombay. In 1534, the Portuguese seized Bassein from Bahadur Shah, the Sultan of Gujarat, and the town remained in their control for just over 200 years. At the height of its prosperity, Bassein had 5 convents and 13 churches. In 1739, Bassein was taken by the Marathas. In 1802, the British secured the Treaty of Bassein with Peshwa Baji Rao II, which allowed British forces to be stationed in Maratha territory.

View from the top of the Bore Ghaut, drawn in 1803





his is plate 10 from Robert Melville Grindlay's 'Scenery, Costumes and Architecture chiefly on the Western Side of India'. Grindlay (1786-1877) was only 17 when he arrived in India in 1803. He served with the Bombay Native Infantry from 1804 to 1820 and during this period made a large collection of sketches and drawings.

The Bhor (or Bhore) Ghat is the northern part of today's Maharashtra state and is the main pass over the Western Ghats and the primary means of communication between the coast and the Deccan. Bhor was a native state of India in the Poona Political Agency, situated among the highest peaks of the Western Ghats. Grindlay quotes Lord Valentia's description of the Ghat: "Towards day I came to a turn in the road, where an opening showed me the lofty mountains I had been descending, covered with forests to nearly their summits. We had passed several rivulets; here they had joined and formed a small stream. I was now able to perceive the rich vegetation around me ... the most conspicuous was the dracontium pertusum, which perfectly covered the gigantic stem of the ficus Bengalensis with its leaves.
 View in the Bore Ghaut, drawn on the spot in 1803
This is plate 9 from Robert Melville Grindlay's 'Scenery, Costumes and Architecture chiefly on the Western Side of India'. Grindlay (1786-1877) was only 17 when he arrived in India in 1803. He served with the Bombay Native Infantry from 1804 to 1820 and during this period made a large collection of sketches and drawings.
The Bhor (or Bhore) Ghat is the northern part of today's Maharashtra state. It is the main pass over the Western Ghats and the primary means of communication between the coast and the Deccan. Bhor was a native state of India in the Poona Political Agency, situated among the highest peaks of the Western Ghats. Grindlay quotes Lord Valentia to describe the difficulties of travelling here: "The road has been formed ... out of a bed of loose rock, over which the torrents in winter had run with such force as to wash away all the softer parts ... to get the palanquin over these was a tedious and difficult business ... the boys were obliged to use sticks ... to prevent themselves being thrown forward ... though I walked the whole way, not only to relieve them, but to admire the sublimity of the scenery."

View from the Island of Elephanta
This is plate 12 from James Wales' 'Bombay Views'. The series was painted for Sir Charles Malet (1752-1815), the British Resident of Poona, who met Wales in Bombay in 1791.
Wales wrote that this image was: "Taken from the Landing-Place of this celebrated Island, exhibiting the colossal statue of the Elephant whence it is named, including the little island of Butcher on the right." The rock-cut temples dating to some 6th century AD on this island are dedicated to the Hindu deity Shiva in the form of Mahadeva.

View from Malabar Hill

This is plate 3 from James Wales' 'Bombay Views'. The series was painted for Sir Charles Malet (1752-1815), the British Resident of Poona, who Wales met in Bombay in 1791.
The panoramic view (continued on plate 4) was taken across the Back Bay and includes the Flag Staff at Malabar Point, part of Old Woman's Island, the light house, Mendham's Point and Bombay. The islands of Karanja and Elephanta are pictured in the distance, with the Mahratta Mountains in the background. In 1782, the British were forced by the Treaty of Salbai to cede all the land they had won to the Marathas, in exchange for the Salsette, Elephanta, Karanja and Hog islands.

View from Belmont 00009
This is plate 9 from James Wales' 'Bombay Views'. The series was painted for Sir Charles Malet (1752-1815), the British Resident of Poona, who Wales met in Bombay in 1791.

The view represents that "part of the Island between the Hill of Belmont and the Breach Water, Malabar Hill to the left, the Breach or Causeway in front, and the country extending from Love Grove toward Mahim on the right terminating the scene". The Great Breach, or Hornby Vellard, appears in the foreground. Begun in 1782 by William Hornby, Bombay's governor, it was one of the first major engineering projects implemented to transform the seven islands of Bombay into one landmass. It was constructed to prevent the low-lying areas of Bombay from being flooded at high tide.

There is a romantic Muslim legend attached to Love Grove, on the right of the view, concerning two drowned lovers, today commemorated in Hadji Ali's mosque.
View from Belmont 00008
This is plate 8 from James Wales' 'Bombay Views'. The series was painted for Sir Charles Malet (1752-1815), the British Resident of Poona, who Wales met in Bombay in 1791.
The view shows the islands of Bombay, part of the village of Mazagaon, and the Mahratta mountains in the background. The top of Belvidere House and Cross Island are on the left; to the right is Fort George. Ships are pictured at anchor in the harbour. Across the water is Chaul and the Kanheri
 View from Belmont 00007
 This is plate 7 from James Wales' 'Bombay Views'. The series was painted for Sir Charles Malet (1752-1815), the British Resident of Poona, who Wales met in Bombay in 1791. The view shows "Belmont toward the beach of the Harbour, including part of the village of Mazagon, the island of Carranjar, Elephanta and Butcher, bounded by the hills". Mazagaon was an outlying suburb of Bombay and a fashionable place to live in the late 18th century. Moving out of the crowded fort area, the British - and more affluent Indians such as the Wadias - built bungalows and plantation houses here .