Commemorating Independence with glimpses of history

On the occasion of Independence Day, take a special walk through the streets that outlined the fortified commercial capital of British India.

Mumbai was once the commerce capital of the British Empire in India. With a history of the British reign that spans over two centuries, the city is rich in Victorian architecture and its ties to England can be felt easily — all one needs to do is take a stroll down the streets of South Mumbai, which was once a fortified city of the British Raj. However, much has changed since the days of foreign rule and the same streets have now embraced a desi flavour. On the occasion of Independence Day, Seek Sherpa’s guide Jaynish Shah will be conducting a tour of the old city streets and drawing comparisons between pre-Independence Bombay and aamchi Mumbai.

The group will assemble in front of the old town hall, which now houses the Asiatic Society of Bombay (Mumbai). From there, the walk will meander through the old city streets past distinct Victorian landmarks like Horniman Circle and the Flora Fountain, which commemorates Flora Sassoon’s contribution during the plague. The walk will also cover the Kala Ghoda area with its vibrant art and culture scene, a testament to how far the city has come since the days of the British rule.

“The Sherpas, who are locals with pockets of knowledge about a particular area put a spin on the stories that comes from personal experience and helps connect with the place,” explains Akash Ahuja of Seek Sherpa. In this case, Sherpa Jaynish is an architect who has been visiting the area for long now, and his stories revolve around the history and architecture of that era,” he adds.

“Being an architect and a history enthusiast, I can tell people about the Victorian era architecture and also correlate that to the historic anecdotes about the British past of Mumbai,” explains Jainish. “There are some very characteristic things about the architecture of that era, be it the façades or the arches, and since I understand these features, I like to tell people about them. Many people participate in the walk to understand the history of the area, and they go back with some interesting stories to share.”

Some of the stories that Jaynish will narrate include an anecdote about the three gates of fortified Bombay, especially Churchgate, which was named after the St Thomas Cathedral, a church built in the 18th Century around the Horniman Circle, and the arrival of the British through the spot along the Mumbai shoreline, now marked by the Gateway of India. He will also talk about the unification of the seven islands to form one Bombay. The walk will take place today and on August 19, at 7 am. Meeting spot: Town Hall, Shahid Bhagat Singh Road, Kala Ghoda, Fort. Entry: Rs 700