Opening BMC’s headquarters, a heritage building, to the public should widen the knowledge net for those willing to explore the city’s rich and vibrant past
This picture has been used for representational purpose
In his latest documentary series, Empire Journey, presenter Michael Portillo wonders why a free and republic nation like India wants to restore colonial history. An Indian Police Service officer, in-charge of restoring the then British governor’s house in Kolkata, tells Portillo, “It’s a part of our shared history. It was built with the hard work of Indian craftsmen. It might have been designed by the British, but it’s a part of our shared global history. How can we deny our past?” Kolkata, Mumbai or any other place where the British set foot, stamped their authority and exhibited grandeur by building palatial residential and administrative buildings, showcase our the meaningful pieces of history that need to be presented to the people, Indian and foreigners, who yearn to know the subcontinent’s intricate past.
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‘One of the best initiatives’
Last week, Mumbai’s administration took a welcome step by opening to the public, the 128-year old British-built headquarters of the city municipal corporation, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). It didn’t happen just like that. It needed political will and personal drive by a millennial Mumbaikar, Aaditya Thackeray, who, after being drafted in his father’s cabinet, sought to steer the tourism department. Showing a certain foresight, he has pushed through some good proposals to explore the state’s enormous tourism potential. A heritage walk through the iconic BMC headquarters is surely one of his best initiatives. Certain parts of the BMC building aren’t out of bounds for visitors who go there for official work, but enjoying a guided tour of the colonial architecture was hardly imagined. Now, the system has been institutionalised, and the promoters won’t expect heritage enthusiasts — professionals and amateurs — to miss this particular guided tour. The stories these serious visitors narrate through various platforms should encourage others to experience the beauty, the grandeur, and the undying strength of the heritage site. The walks should also answer the concerns expressed over conservation work which is carried out frequently by the BMC. The taxpayers must be told what it takes to conserve heritage and why we shouldn’t ignore our history by neglecting such sites that punctuate the city’s expanse.
Explore the glorious history
In google searches, you find over a dozen Mumbai heritage walks that nonprofits, private parties and individuals conduct. Some are purely commercial and some are executed with a sense of making enthusiasts understand what the city is all about. One may ignore the tours that market poverty of places like Dharavi instead of telling its resilience and entrepreneurship. One has to pick and choose carefully to suit one’s liking. The heritage lovers may not face any such dilemma because we know it from our experience. mid-day has been doing its bit by conducting heritage walks under the leadership of our features editor, Fiona Fernandez, who has authored a best-seller ‘Ten Heritage Walks of Mumbai,’ which chronicles a fascinating journey through a different city altogether, and its forgotten sights, sounds and roads. There are other veterans and promising youngsters who have been exploring Mumbai’s glorious history. A senior journalist-historian Rafique Baghdadi takes you through India’s film history which is synonymous with Mumbai. Baghdadi presents legendary writer, Saadat Hasan Manto, who stayed in south Mumbai for long before migrating to Pakistan, like none else does. During the lockdown period, some stunning videos on the city’s heritage were shared by YouTubers who are dedicated to rediscovering Mumbai. Aaditya Thackeray’s team can collect these experts, depending on the depth of their knowledge and presentation, to widen the net that can collect more knowledge at an affordable cost. The government’s assistance might open doors to heritage sites that the enthusiasts want to explore but can’t because of restricted access.
Mumbai isn’t bland information we share in our normal talks. Many firsts have happened here and shaped the republic that we are today. Mumbai’s priceless heritage must be unfolded before those willing to traverse through the past.
Dharmendra Jore is political editor, mid-day. He tweets @dharmendrajore. Send your feedback to mailbag@mid-day.com
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