Memorialising Darryl D’Monte: Bandra locals name garden after veteran journalist

The plaque commemorating Darryl D`Monte`s contributions to Mumbai. Photo: Samir D`Monte

A recent initiative to name a municipal park in Bandra in the memory of Darryl D'Monte came as a pleasant surprise to the late journalist's family. The idea had been put forward by some of the area's citizens and local corporator Asif Zakaria. "We were informed after they got it passed by the corporation, and it made us really happy," shares Samir D'Monte, Darryl D'Monte's son. "My father was very active in the locality and in founding Celebrate Bandra. He was also active in citizen movements like re-doing the promenades of Bandstand and Carter Road."

On July 11, two years after the noted journalist and environment crusader passed away at the age of 75, Bandra locals along with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) named a garden in the suburb's D'Monte Street after him. It is now called the ‘Darryl D'Monte Garden'. The move was in recognition of his contribution to the Bandra neighbourhood, to the city, and also for the cause of the environment, according to the plaque.

D'Monte wrote extensively on the environment and was former resident editor of the Times Of India and Indian Express newspapers in Mumbai. Further, he was the author of two books - Temples or Tombs: Industry versus Environment (1985) and Ripping the Fabric: The Decline of Mumbai and its Mills (2002). He also promoted cultural activities as the founder of the Celebrate Bandra festival, which drew many visitors since it first started in 2003.

Darryl D'Monte's family and well-wishers at the naming ceremony in Bandra on July 11. Photo: Samir D'Monte

"We decided to pay tribute by naming that garden after Darryl because he was a lover of the arts and theatre was one of his favourites. Every year, since we started the Celebrate Bandra festival, we have been having the theatre events at this garden and every time at every play, Darryl was always present," said Patricia Nath, president of the Bandra West Residents Association, who was among those responsible for the naming of the garden. "He was instrumental in picking the plays, the players and every aspect of it till the end." The garden had showcased plays by Naseeruddin Shah and Rajat Kapoor, among others.

So, Nath along with other locals reached out to the BMC with the help of Zakaria. "We were really happy that we could do it because it was linked with an area that he loved, which was the arts, and also because it was in Bandra, a place and a people that he was extremely devoted to," adds Nath, who worked with D'Monte for 23 years. They had both been a part of the resident's association and were also responsible for building the Carter Road promenade together, which had turned into a dump before its renovation.

The naming ceremony was attended by several friends, well-wishers and colleagues who had worked together with D'Monte on projects such as promoting cultural activities, representing residents, and preserving the city's waterfronts. Nath was accompanied by city historian and author Mariam Dossal, architect PK Das and Zakaria, who also gave speeches. A local indigenous sapling was also planted to mark the occasion.

For the uninitiated, the Darryl D'Monte garden is not to be confused with D'Monte Park, a famous landmark in the area, which is on the same road. Incidentally, D'Monte Park was named after Samir's great-grandfather, who was one of the founders of the Salsette Cooperative Housing Society and the Bandra Gymkhana.

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