Amchi Mumbai - knowing our heritage.

Originally written by me on 21/7/2009

Know what? Often, while going about Mumbai I get sudden thoughts - how did Chinchpokli get its name? Who is the N M Joshi for whom the road is named? etc....

 

Today, since I had some time on my hands, AND since the thought recurred, I wondered enough to log on to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporations website - www.mcgm.gov.in. while I'm yet to get a grip on the original queries that made me visit the site, some stuff that I did learn was sufficient to give birth to this mail.

 

• In 1661, the islands were gifted by the Portuguese to King Charles II of England as part of his marriage dowry when he married Catherine of Braganza. (Comment: And here i was, thinking that dowry is a lamentable Indian custom!)
• In 1861, the American Civil war began and as a result of the blockade of the ports in the southern states of America; the Lancashire mills in England were unable to procure raw cotton from that country. The mills were forced to purchase cotton grown in western and central India from the Bombay markets and during the five-year period of the War, it was estimated that over £ 81 million pounds sterling came into the city. This resulted not only in a phenomenal commercial boom but also in a mania for speculation in the shares of companies that were primarily established to undertake extravagant schemes of reclamation. (Comment: Who ever said Globalisation is a 20th century phenomenon?)
• By 1864, there were 31 banks, 16 financial associations, 8 land companies, 16 press companies, 10 shipping companies, 20 insurance companies as against 10 in 1855, and 62 joint stock companies where none had existed in 1855! (Comment: It is 2009 and we have just 21 general insurance companies today!)

I'm still searching to find out about N M Joshi, Senapati Bapat, Cadell etc. Speaking of which..... in continuation of a previous mail that I wrote titled "City without Hope" I must add that I had a rather pleasant experience...

 

Last Thursday, late night I had to drop someone off at Thane station. Coming to Thane from Kanjur, along the Eastern Express Highway, approaching the Octroi Naka I was delighted to see the newly constructed flyover at Mulund Navghar was opened tp public. Surely, a record - it took less than a year, if I remember right!! And, no waiting for the PM, CM or any dignitary?? I read the next day (my favorite rag, the Indian Express) that the Shiv Sena (they do control the BMC) had inaugurated the flyover and named it after Prakash More. Don't ask "Who?" for Sub Inspector Prakash More happens to be one of the policemen who died in the 26/11 attacks. 

 

I'm sure, years later someone will (like me) wonder "Who is Prakash More?". Wouldn't it be nice if our city could not merely stop at naming roads but also build a plaque mentioning their contribution?

 

Sats