Mapping histories

English Fort of Bombay, 1710

As an explorer on a virtual quest across fantasy kingdoms, the compass rose - a tiny star-like symbol for directions ­ - makes this writer miss a physical map. Finding worlds brought indoors on a sheet of paper and covering distances condensed on scale, paint a tactile beauty. A beauty that's deficient until the textures on laid paper are felt; or an index finger is moved along thumb lines.

Beyond eastings, northings, and facts and figures, maps are physical repositories of aesthetics. Meandering Through a Mapped Canvas, a month-long exhibition put together by Rotary Club of Bombay and The Asiatic Society of Mumbai, will encourage viewers to see maps as artistic creations. The display also aims to involve them in the conservation of these records.

Native Town of Bombay, 1855

Under the guidance of Vispi Balaporia, president, The Asiatic Society of Mumbai, 100 maps from the society's collection were undertaken for restoration in 2019. Of these, 32 will be put on show. Every cartographical document will come with a narrative to aid the common man, informs archivist Deepti Anand. "While we have this whole arc of imaginative and decorative maps of India, there are windows into the country's coastlines, trading posts, and cities. We pan through then Pondicherry, Calcutta, Goa, and Bombay. The oldest map in this assortment goes back to 1652. In it, we see a rare depiction of India, but that too, introduces us to a map-maker's perception of the times," she says. Anand, who is the founder of Past Perfect, explains the narratives have a two-point purpose - they will describe the intent and techniques behind each map and the complexities that governed their restoration.

The process of removing previous restorations; check out a seven-and-a-half ft map of one section of Punjab, and smaller maps with a distorted L'Inde, too

Visitors can take note of Bombay maps when they step into the neoclassical building that is one of the city's oldest operational public buildings. Anand tells us, a pictorial map of Bombay Fort from 1710 is accompanied by another map that captures a Portuguese cartographer's idea of the island. Henry Conybeare's Native Town of Bombay and Fort of Bombay from 1855 are a deep dive into planning improvements for the early city. "Instead of listing out historical details, we have presented stories in the context of how people view the city today. The Plague Map of Bombay might resonate with viewers. Although a devastating memory, it led to reconfiguration of spaces and the birth of our suburbs," the archivist shares.

Deepti Anand

Consultant conservator Amalina Dave came on board to take up what's uncommon or attractive to the eye, and to preserve the most degraded maps. She elaborates, "The maps decide, and we follow suit. Depending on their condition or material, the kind of treatment each map will need is dictated by them. For instance, The Native Town of Bombay gave way when we began to unravel it from previous preservations. It didn't tear; it broke like thin glass. To clean it, we had to use a low-pressure table instead of water. In a way, that decision was made by the record."

Amalina Dave

Priyasri Patodia, chairperson of urban heritage committee, Rotary Club of Bombay, spoke about the stories that highlight these pieces of art: "This display was the result of many people working closely and cohesively. When I see maps, I am forming interesting tales in my head. These tales take me to fictitious lands. Like in one map, we see a Hindoostan that we have no knowledge of. A Hindoostan that allowed you to travel freely. I wanted visitors to have some background while stitching their own wordy versions."

Priyasri Patodia

On: April 1 to 30
Time: 11 am to 7 pm (Monday to Saturday); 11 am to 5 pm (Sunday)
At: Durbar Hall, Asiatic Society of Mumbai, Town Hall, Fort
Log on to: @rcb1929/@asiaticsocietymumbai on Instagram