Photography in the Politics of Memory: Mumbai, not plain

Mumbai, not plain (Continuation) 2

Altamash التمش — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 06:31:01 GMT

This marble plaque is from the city’s British colonial era, it is around 113 years old, and it was used to mark a starting point and to celebrate the opening of the nearby ‘Turner Road’ (presently ‘Guru Nanak Marg’). Even as it is classified as a grade I heritage structure, the condition of the plaque (presently and from the point of its discovery according to the coverage) is quite dilapidated.

References:

Memorial at Turner Road spruced up, Mumbai Mirror (2019).
M. Thaver, Turner road opened on March 1, 1913: The road that witnessed changes over 100 years, including its name, the Indian Express (2018).
Anil S., Hawkers’ eviction uncovers a piece of Mumbai history, Rediff News (2017).

Mumbai, not plain (Continuation) 1

Altamash التمش — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 06:21:37 GMT

Even as this titular peoples’ Urdu library had graced this city for over seven decades from this location, this entry is sort of akin to a requiem for the building in focus (as I am sure a lot of this series is or will end up becoming eventually), since the area is presently being redeveloped and the structure must have gotten demolished by now (I luckily shot these entries earlier this year). Though, the library has luckily been shifted to a different nearby geography for now.

Urdu libraries have increasingly become rare within the spatiality of our contemporary Indian culture, and socialist libraries, even rarer still. The first floor was built in 1952, while the second was built in 1972. Folklore points to Kaifi Azmi being the one to have named the library ‘Awami Idara’ and this location has been instrumental to all (if not, most) Urdu-speaking progressive movements in Mumbai, notably, the PWA/PWM and IPTA.

References:

Saranya S., Still Standing: Awami Idara, Urdu Literature and Public Amnesia, Hammock (2025).
Amanda L., The Muslim-left legacy of an Urdu library in Mumbai, Himal Southasian (2023).
M. Wajihuddin, From Trotsky, they move to tailoring, ΤΟΙ (2009).

Mumbai, not plain (After Colony) 7/7

Altamash التمش — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 04:44:26 GMT

Inasmuch as Singh is usually referred to as the ‘Greatest Martyr’ around the Indian Subcontinent, his memorialisation (imo) is insufficient in Mumbai (barring some reminders including the iconic marg/causeway in his name in the south and the maidan housing this memorial), & further, this installation is the sole bust/statue/sculpture of the beloved revolutionary in this city (as of 2019 at the least). I would have loved to have placed this entry right next to S. Rajguru’s (alas, I could not locate the memorial in time), though, the two entries should be read in conjunction nevertheless, since their stories set the spirit for decolonization afire harmoniously. Singh, along with notably inter alia, Rajguru, S. Thapar, A. Khan, & B.Dutt, is the bedrock of the anti-colonial Hindustani Socialist Republican Association that was instrumental to the removal of the British Raj from the subcontinent. The anniversary of his sacrifice (23rd March) is commemorated as Shaheedi Diwas (coincidentally, his birthday on the other hand, arrives a exactly day before mine does). Singh is not only the quintessential hero of the revolution pan-subcontinently, but even ‘Inqilaab Zindabaad’ itself became a primary chant against Indian-colonization, because of Singh’s use of the slogan in the 1920s (he went as far as publishing a reply with the tribune defending his use of it to a critic in the 1929). This bust of Bhagat Singh was erected by N. Ghagre in 1998.

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Mumbai, not plain (After Colony) 6/7

Altamash التمش — Thu, 18 Jul 2024 12:31:19 GMT

Insofar as this armed conflict too has many epithets, ranging from the titular ‘uprising’ to ‘revolt’ to ‘insurrections’ to even, ‘mutiny’, the event is often considered the final widespread war against the British Raj. An estimated 400, military and civilian alike, were martyred by the British forces in the Indian Naval Uprising of 1946. Even as 9 naval mutinies occurred between 1942 to 1945, this is the largest, spreading to bases near Kolkata (then Calcutta), Kochi (then Cochin), Karachi, and Chennai (then Madras), to 78 ships and 21 bases with around 20,000 ratings. These revolutionaries helped combat Fascism in the WWII, only to come back to a colony, this apparently caused disillusionment within their minds about the Raj. Inspired by S. Bose’s Azad Hind Fauj (and with the release of these POWs being among their demands), the Indian National Navy (a name they chose after discarding ‘Royal Indian Navy’, with the mutineer calling themselves ‘Azad Hindi’) was agitated further by the racism and the religious bigotry they faced. Not only did the movement seem to not possess any formal leadership, barring the initial direction provided by S. Shyam, B. Dutt, M. Singh, R. Puri, and M. Khan, it did not even receive any significant political support, barring the Communist Party and of course, the around 3 lakh local volunteers. Even so, the navy surrendered (convinced by the anti-colonial leadership in the region) on the condition that they wouldn’t be punished, this promise was never respected (detained in camps, around 400 dismissed, many never to be reinstated into the armies). Some think that this event is immaterial to decolonization, while others believe that this war was among the most significant pivots for our land that ensured the complete removal of the British from the Indian Subcontinent. I align with the latter belief (tbh). This memorial was built in 2001 by the Western Naval Command.

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Mumbai, not plain (After Colony) 5/7

Altamash التمش — Thu, 18 Jul 2024 12:24:57 GMT

Kotwal’s first epithet refers to the bravery in his conduct during the decolonization of the Indian Subcontinent, while the latter denotes his communist influences (synonymous with ‘comrade’), he set-up the Azad Dasta (the parallel Karjat government), immediately after the August Revolution, through the Quit India movement of 1942, was launched by M. Gandhi, becoming instrumental in incapacitating the British in Mumbai (then, Bombay) through notably, the destruction of electricity-supply towers, and derailment of trains. In 1943, while the group was in the middle of shifting from Murbad’s jungle, they were attacked by British officers, and Kotwal was murdered. Hansali Tank was constructed in this location in the mid-1800s for the provision of water, primarily used by mill workers and vegetable sellers. After the Plague of 1920, it was decided that it be sealed with processed coal, creating Kale Maidan, named for the colour of its ground. In 1943, it renamed to its current moniker, as Veer Hutatma Bhai Kotwal Udyan. Other than the bust, it contains a community discussion area and the historical Pyau (named after I. Sahasrabudhe). The park was reportedly renovated in 2011.

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Mumbai, not plain (After Colony) 4/7

Altamash التمش — Thu, 18 Jul 2024 12:18:40 GMT

Since this site provided no epithets for the titular revolutionary, I added my favourite descriptor of him. Rajguru is considered among the most crucial members of the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association and among the closest allies of its leader, B. Singh. Together along with S. Thapar, the trio assassinated J. Saunders (attempting to assassinate J. Scott) to avenge the brutalization of L. Rai (leading to his demise) by Lathi, during his peaceful protest against the Simon Commission of 1928, leading to the unethical conclusions of the Lahore Conspiracy case. Not only were they denied crucial legal remedies such as the right to defend themselves, as a result of their popularity as symbols of revolution for colonial subjects, their executions in Hussainiwala were pre-poned by 11 hours without any notice to the public and with no magistrate willing to supervise (and the police superintendent even cried) in 1931. During their murder by the British Raj disguised as an execution, Singh, Rajguru, and Thapar sang patriotic songs and shouted anti-imperial slogans together, each kissed the noose, and it is believed that the Shaheed-e-Azam even smiled. Their bodies were subsequently chopped up, stuffed into bags, and transported to the banks of the Sutlej. Even the funeral rites conducted by the British were inadequate and disrespectful. It was decided that their charred body parts would be thrown into the river before the pyre had burnt completely. The nearby villagers had to retrieve the remains to complete the cremation when the colonial forces left the area that night. This memorial was built in 2022, after demands from the Mumbai Dabbawala Association, since apparently 70% of the Dabbawalas in this city come from Rajguru Nagar in Pune (previously, Khed), where the Gunman of the HSRA was born.

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Mumbai, not plain (After Colony) 3/7

Altamash التمش — Wed, 17 Jul 2024 05:51:47 GMT

Not only is Phadke referred to by his titular epithet for being considered the first revolutionary in the modern times, he is also called the ‘Father of the Armed Struggle’ for the nature of his actions against the British Raj within the initial waves of the Swaraj movement, inspired by L. Salve, and Swadeshi movement, inspired by M. Ranade. His band of anti-colonial forces broke into government treasuries, with the first target being Shirur, to redistribute wealth to aid the victims of the Deccan Famines. He was captured in Kaladgi in 1779, tried in Pune, and subsequently, moved to Aden (in Yemen). He managed to escape from the prison in 1833. Even so, he was captured again. He died while on a hunger strike a couple of days later. The first piece of documentation that I found on this bust is from 2008. Further, the mural behind the sculpture seems to have been made after 2014, since photos of the location from before do not possess the same.

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Mumbai, not plain (After Colony) 2/7

Altamash التمش — Wed, 17 Jul 2024 05:37:22 GMT

Said is classified within the prominent intersection between the final wave of the Swadeshi movement and the Civil Disobediences of 1930 that were both spearheaded by M. Gandhi, with his epithet likely denoting the knowledge he held on the socio-political realities of the the colonial British Raj in the Indian Subcontinent. Said was peacefully protesting the imposition of foreign-made cloth, specifically a truck heading to the city port. He was brutally crushed by a British Sergeant with the same vehicle on a road (that is now named after the titular revolutionary) in Kalbadevi, after the native driver refused to murder his fellow Indian. His death created mass unrest within the city with his funeral processions reportedly having thousands of participants mourning. Even as I couldn’t date the construction of this memorial, it is likely the oldest structure dedicated to the titular figure (as it is mentioned in about every list, with little to no details though). The adjoining Kamgar Maidan has been instrumental to worker-oriented strikes, ranging from the one-day strike against the Trade Disputes Act in 1938 to the rallies against the death sentences passed in the Chimur Trials in 1945. The installation of two defunct historical canons into the circle near the bust of Babu Genu was announced in 2020. However, I was unable to locate the same. Further, the mural behind the bust seems to have been painted after 2015, since photos of the location from before do not possess the same.

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Mumbai, not plain (After Colony) 1/7

Altamash التمش — Wed, 17 Jul 2024 05:29:46 GMT

Inasmuch as this armed conflict has as many epithets as it had implications, ranging from the titular ‘rebellion’ to ‘uprising’ to ‘mutiny’ to ‘revolt’ to even ‘insurrection’, the one near-universally agreed upon descriptor for the event in 1857 is that it considered the first widespread war against the British in the decolonization of the region. Thus, accordingly, Gadiya and Hussain are the first two martyrs from Mumbai (then, Bombay) and among the first from the Indian subcontinent. An estimated 8,00,000, indirectly and directly, military and civilian alike, were martyred by the British forces in the Indian Sepoy Rebellion of 1857. The movement began with M. Pandey’s bullet, solidified with the Sultan of old Delhi being declared the Badshah of Hindustan, and led by factional commanders, notably, the Rani of Jhansi, the Peshwa of the Maratha Confederacy, the regent Begum of Awadh, the ruler of Jagdishpur, along with T. Tope, and B. Khan. Gadiya was a Sepoy, while Hussain was a Drill Havaldar, and both of them were arrested, alleged to have been strengthening the spread of the Rebellion to the city, by organising anti-colonial action on Diwali. They were brutally murdered on the day of the same festival that year in public, tied to and blown by canons. The Amar Jawan memorial was built near Azad Maidan (then, Esplanade), right outside the location where they were murdered in 2009. The structure was vandalized during riots in 2012 and was proactively restored soon after. The nearby ground is where M. Gandhi gave many prominent speeches, including the one on the anniversary of the Purna Swaraj declaration in 1931, and where his arrest was staunchly rallied against in 1930.

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Mumbai, not plain (Omake) 3/3

Altamash التمش — Tue, 23 Apr 2024 16:18:05 GMT

The Coppersmith Barbet is the official bird of Mumbai (chosen in 2011), and the distinct metronome of their tuk/kuk/puk (often compared to the sound of a hammer hitting a metal, hence, the species name) has echoed throughout its districts every single day. The little creature in these entries is my neighbour from when he was first moving into the tree (using a telephoto lens). Even as the titular barbet has a common rank spawn-rate, it has been referred to as a ghost for being notoriously difficult to spot. The Indian Subcontinent (and Mumbai) is home to the 𝘐𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘶𝘴 sub-species. These birds are inter alia, Tambat, Pukpukya and Juktuk in Marathi, Tuktukiyo and Kansaro in Gujarati, Thathera, Tambayat, Chhota Basanta and Basanta Lisora in Hindustani, Gutra in Kannada, Chinna and Kukuruvan in Tamil, Tokoji and Kamsali Pitta in Telugu, Chempukotti in Malayalam, Chhota Basanta as well in Punjabi, Chhota Basanta Bauri in Bengali, and Basanta Sorai in Assamese. These creatures have evolved through urbanisation with human beings, but have never changed diet (it still consists of insects and fruits, unlike most other common urban birds that eat whatever is fed to them). This was among the reasons for it becoming this city’s official bird (great choice imo, if the rest of them are anywhere as polite as my neighbour).

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Mumbai, not plain (Omake) 2/3

Altamash التمش — Tue, 23 Apr 2024 16:14:50 GMT

Some pigeon-houses have disappeared from this city over the past few years (e.g., Khar’s was demolished in 2022 after causing problems for the nearby residents for over a decade). This location is rather unique, in the sense that it is not only a (Grade II) heritage site, but sick pigeons are also nursed to health here. It is a polarising location, as there have been both demands for its closure (reported in 2017) as well as vocal support for its continued existence (reported in 2018). In 2009, plans for structural replacement, in 2015, restructuring, and in 2023, plans for beautification were announced. I have found no writing on the completion of any of the aforementioned. This pigeon-house does look different from some of the older photos of it though, so there must have been reconstruction of some sort.

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Mumbai, not plain (Omake) 1/3

Altamash التمش — Tue, 23 Apr 2024 16:12:25 GMT

Pyaus (or Piaus/Pyavs) are a form of water fountains that are indigenous to Mumbai. Most were built from 1860 to 1930 (as a form of charity, including the one featured which was presented by J. Chatu) until water became more readily accessible at homes with pipelines. There used to be a tram route from Fort to Dadar, and thus, most of such structures can be found there. This Gothic Pyau is differently located, since it was primarily intended for the horses (it even has trough) on Ramdas Nayak Road (then, Hill Road). Around 2 decades ago, it was in ruins with many pieces mixed with debris. In 2003, as a part of the Celebrate Bandra festival, it was restored by A. Sarbadhikary. Water was reported to have returned to the fountain in 2018, after having been reportedly inactive for over a decade (not sure if the 03 repairs failed to address this, or it broke down afterwards). This Pyau has been functional, decorative, and even, debris. Its colloquial names include Jafferbhai Ludha Chatu Pyau (after the donor), ‘Primetime Water Fountain’ (after the sponsor for the restoration), & ‘Fountain at St. Andrew’s’.

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Mumbai, not plain (Final Chapters) 3/3

Altamash التمش — Tue, 23 Apr 2024 15:09:59 GMT

The moniker of the 17.8 km stream may be ‘sweet’, but it contained 93% residential and 7% industrial sewage in 2015. Mithi is believed to be 60 million years old (among the world’s oldest, and probably the oldest in Mumbai). Mithi used to flow in monsoon initially, until becoming permanent after the dams at Vihar (1860) and Powai (1891) were built. Even as the water was clean enough for swimming until 1980s, it was Maharashtra’s most polluted river in 2018. The excesses from Vihar Lake create this waterbody, and those from Powai Lake add to it, until Mithi joins with the Arabian Sea by draining into Mahim Bay through Mahim Creek (the part of the river depicted in the first three photos). In 2005 (26th July), an unprecedented cloudburst [It is the most rain this city has ever seen in one day (even the 27th surpassed the previous highest from 1974), and among the most (8th) the world has ever seen] wrecked havoc on the city [I was luckily at home before the downpour peaked, it was half-day (for a test) at school, I had to walk through shoulder-deep levels though]. Regions near waterbodies bore the brunt of the deluge [I live close to a beach, and we were trapped in our apartment (those on lower floors, and the homlesss did not share this fortune)]. Since Mithi was unable to contain the incessant rainfall well (due to pollution and not possessing an exit), its broken riverbanks were pivotal to Mumbai flooding in such a manner [approximately 1,094 died throughout the city, and around 14,000 lost their homes]. Not only has Mithi seen floods subsequently, but it has also become a breeding ground for disease-carrying mosquitoes, and unsuitable as an ecosystem to most other lifeforms. There has been effort to address this condition over the years (BMC even invited tenders for the same earlier last month), I hope one day Mithi is truly revived.

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Mumbai, not plain (Final Chapters) 2/3

Altamash التمش — Tue, 23 Apr 2024 15:04:46 GMT

The Socialist-Realist memorial is dedicated to Marathi Nationalism. It is a reminder of the brutalist policing against the working class of Maharashtra (then, Bombay) from 1955 to 1956. Further, it is reclamation of the geography that was drawn and defined by the colonial British rule. The smarak was built in 1963 out of bronze by H. Talim. It depicts an urban worker and a farmer in unison. Maharashtra Samyukta Samiti was founded in 1956 in Pune. It was backed by and mobilised around the Communist Party of India, the Praja Samajwadi Party, Kirti Kisan Party, and the Republican Party of India. It was not only led by socialist politicians such as inter alia, S. Dange, S. Joshi, P. Atre, N. Gore, N. Patil, M. Dandavate, but also by creatives such as inter alia, A. Sathe, P. Thackery, and A. Shaikh (pennames). Freedom fighters such as B. Ambedkar and P. Bapat also supported the unification of Maharashtra. The working class formed the vanguard of this struggle, and thus, Maharashtra Day is yearly celebrated on May Day. An estimated 107 (a list containing all their names is on display near the memorial) citizens were massacred by the police and 15 demonstrators were killed in an open firing at this very location (while 200 more were injured). Hutatma Smarak Chowk also contains the Flora Fountain [the chowk used referred to by this 1864-built structure (itself named after the Roman goddess of flowers,) until 1960]. It is where the Church Gate to Mumbai’s (then, Bombay) Fort geography used to once stand, the namesake for a nearby railway station. This memorial is intentionally placed to distort the viewing of colonial architecture.

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Mumbai, not plain (Final Chapters) 1/3

Altamash التمش — Tue, 23 Apr 2024 14:59:42 GMT

Even as both of these revolutionaries have had an unparalleled and positive impact on the very fabric of India, the slowly (and steadily) growing acknowledgement of the same is quite nascent. This mural is the sole monument to their legendary comradery [there are of course, statues of Phule in Pune and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, and one of Shaikh in Emmiganur (which was inaugurated a couple of weeks before this location)]. They were each other’s most dependable allies (a phrase Phule chose to describe Shaikh). When Phule (along with her husband) was made to leave their family home (because of caste and gender politics), it was Shaikh (and her brother) that sheltered them. When Shaikh was getting married, not only were the Phules her Wali, but her comrade was the one who convinced her guardian in favour of the wedding. While some of their contemporary Hindus and Muslims opposed the modernity of their ideas (and others helped out), both Phule and Shaikh were actually very dedicated to their respective faiths. They operated many schools together (for marginalised communities), and they often got attacked on their way to teach. Phule is the first Indian woman that became a teacher and a headmistress. Similarly, Shaikh is the second Indian woman to be in those same roles (and the first Muslim woman teacher). They are both key figures in the Satyashodhak Samaj movement, and have been pivotal to Bhaujan, Dalit, Pasmanda, and Feminist thought in India. Phule passed away in 1897's Third Pandemic of the Bubonic Plague, and there is no record of Shaikh after 1856. Thus, insofar as this mural is primarily dedicated to Phule and Shaikh, there are many other iconic women (such as L. Mangeshkar, S. Mirza, T. Thomas, A. Sinha, and S. Thukral) featured on here along with U. Shaikh and J. Phule. The concept was formulated initially in 2022 by S. Hameed, and D. Shinde along with T. Shinde designed the piece.

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Mumbai, not plain (Cour 2/2) 12/12

Altamash التمش — Tue, 23 Apr 2024 14:26:12 GMT

This Palladian is adorned with Doric pillars, Minton tiles, and a design featuring the Star of David (likely to respect D. Sassoon). It was called the ‘Central Museum of Natural History, Economy, Geology, Industry and Arts’ from 1855, and subsequently, the ‘Victoria and Albert Museum, Bombay’ from 1872, until eventually, being named after the titular first Indian Sheriff of Mumbai (then, Bombay Presidency) in 1975. Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum is Mumbai’s first, and has been dedicated to presenting the city’s history throughout. Its permanent collection highlights a portion of the evolution from an occupied port to a metropolitan juggernaut in the form of artworks and artifacts. There are even colonial statues from the city’s in an adjoining site (placed in 1965). It was first formed by J. Elphinstone with significant help from G. Buist. Although, it was shut to public shortly afterwards in 1853. Lad, G. Birwood, and J. Murkute served on a committee to raise funds for re-building the museum in 1958. The construction ran from 1962 to 1871 with funding coming from people like Sassoon, Murkute, and J. Jeejeebhoy. There was award-winning (inter alia, Asia-Pacific Award of Excellence by UNESCO) restoration work conducted at Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum in 2003–2008 (as a part of the first public-private governance partnership of the sort), and further structural restoration was announced in 2022 as well (with a budget of around 3 crore INR).

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Mumbai, not plain (Cour 2/2) 11/12

Altamash التمش — Tue, 23 Apr 2024 14:04:20 GMT

Not only may the water well increase the suburb’s water supply, it may also revive the Eastern Catholic practice of Umbracha Paani (since the tradition required a well, it had been impractical previously). The original structure was built by the North Salsette Society for practising this very ceremony. The structure was initially discovered by V. Pereira back in 2017 within the available land records of an Eksar Gaothan. He was permitted to dig at a site full of garbage at a power substation (with the actual station’s location being changed to make this well publically accessible) owned by Reliance Energy (which had gotten control from Bombay Suburban Electric Supply) in 2018. The restored and beautified well was inaugurated in early 2020, with V. Ghosalkar reportedly having spearheaded the revival project. These entries were captured in the company of Atharva.

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Mumbai, not plain (Cour 2/2) 10/12

Altamash التمش — Tue, 23 Apr 2024 14:01:27 GMT

Inasmuch as the moniker isn’t inaccurate, the ‘Bombay Gothic, Indo-Deco, Neo Classical, and Indo-Saracenic’ (at least) would ring more precisely (imo). This UNESCO World Heritage site came to exist as a result of expansionary waves in the 19th (with the construction of the Oval Maidan and Gothic public institutions in the 1880s) and in the 20th (with Art Deco buildings of all sorts near the then, newly created Marine Drive facing the Arabian Sea) centuries that were coordinated by the colonial British administration of Mumbai City (then, Bombay Presidency). Presently, the ensemble features and protects a total of 94 locations. Merely a third (or around that) have been documented in these photos. Inasmuch as both the titular Victorian Gothic (Traditional and Neo) and the titular Art Deco are featured (in the ensemble and the set), there is more to this collection. The entries were captured in the company of Ritika. After around a decade of citizen-led demand, it was labeled a World Heritage site in 2018. The various Gothic and Art Deco styles (blended with local design tradition) are often (collectively) called Bombay Gothic, and Indo-Deco, respectively. The beginning of the Gothic wave can be attributed Governor H. Frere’s 5-year tenure after 1862, where he wanted to shape the city to look akin Britain (juxtaposed to colonial Calcutta’s Greek and Roman inspired Neo Classical). A. Pugin designed the first Gothic structure in the city, and H. Conybeare, J. Fuller, and F. Williams are other prominent architects within the movmenent. This city posses the second largest number of Art Deco buildings on the planet with this ensemble’s spread (76 of the locations) around Oval Maidan, Marine Drive, and SP Mukherjee Chowk being the primary driving force. Most of these structures were commissioned by the local capitalists and reportedly designed by architects such as inter alia, G. Mhatre, S. Bhedwar, P. Dastur in the 1930s.

The first two entries feature the Victorian Neo Gothic style (Cowasji Jehangir Convocation Hall and Rajabai Clock Tower built in 1869, and University Library and the High Court built in 1878). The third is Oval Maidan, the ground around which this titular townscape formed. The fourth (with the Western Railway Headquarters built in 1899) is in the Indo Saracenic Revival style. The subsequent three feature the Art Deco style with all but one being built in the 1930s (Rajesh Mansion, Empress Court, Shiv Shanti Bhavan built, Rajjab Mahal, Belvedere Court built in 1940s, Oval View, and Palm Court, respectively). The last three entries depict architecture in Victorian Gothic (Elphinstone College built in 1889), Venetian Gothic (David Sasoon Library and Reading Room built in 1870), Neo Classical (Army and Navy Building built in 1904) and Early Post-industrial (Mahendra Mansion or Wastson’s Hotel built in 1869) styles.

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Mumbai, not plain (Cour 2/2) 9/12

Altamash التمش — Tue, 23 Apr 2024 13:02:41 GMT

Even as the date of construction for this titular building is uncertain, it is still likely among the oldest (still functional) Gurudwaras (claimed as the very oldest by some) in the city. Much like the other contender dubbed as such, this is the second location for this institution with the first iteration in the nearby Bazaar Road (which was built in 1945). Another Gurudwara with the same name in Dadar too is the second iteration (there was no date available for its construction either) with the first being the very first in the city that was located in Shahid Bhagat Singh Road (then, Dockyard Road) once (Inasmuch as there is record of not only it being the oldest, but also having been constructed before 1919, I could not locate it, and eitherway, it does not seem functional). This first Sri Guru Singh Sabha became instrumental in the provision of langar to Punjabi refugees from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (then, Hazara) of Guru Tegh Bahadur Nagar’s (then, Sion-Koliwada) and its own locality’s camps during the consequences of partitioning Punjab between India and Pakistan in 1947. Similarly, both of the second iterations (Dadar and Khar, and I assume the first iteration of the latter as well) are presently engaged in the provision of food. Khar Gurudwara was even reported to have been providing around 300 meals daily in 2020.

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Mumbai, not plain (Cour 2/2) 8/12

Altamash التمش — Tue, 23 Apr 2024 12:45:12 GMT

It is a common misconception that another with the same name (in Pydhonie) is the oldest Jain temple in Mumbai. However, it was actually built in 1815, around 7 years after Kot Shantinath. Grand Ghar-derasar architecture (with the temples disguised as an ordinary building, while possessing Kalpa-Sutra murals and detailed woodwork) had gained prominence in the 17th and the 18th century. While this was supposed to be only remaining building in the style in this city, it has since become unclear whether this Kot Shantinath Derasar can still be classified as such. In 2010, Mumbai Heritage Conservation Committee (since this is a II-B heritage structure) reportedly levied a fine of 10 lakh INR upon the custodian trust of the location for the loss in its historically relevant characteristics (by their repairs, only the replacement of the colourful exterior and the wooden interior to the present Makrana marble was permitted along with the construction of a new tower, apparently) and for the negligence in maintaining its decorative wall after an investigation.

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