Did you know that the iconic Shivaji Park was originally called Mahim Park? Coinciding with the 300th birth anniversary celebrations of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, it became known by its present name resonating with the spirit, pride, and identity of the city's ethos.
After an in-depth exploration of the unique diasporas that shaped the city, Avid Learning presents the next installment of its acclaimed programming series Uncovering Urban Legacies, turning the focus to precincts – areas of heritage and cultural significance. Each episode of this series will spotlight one iconic precinct, exploring its historical significance, architectural splendor, diverse cultural expressions, and culinary landscape shaping the city’s multicultural fabric and cosmopolitan character. Shivaji Park embodies the profound significance of political and social gatherings witnessed before and after India's independence. This hallowed ground is not only the cradle of Indian cricket, but has been a canvas where diverse artistic expressions have flourished across music, theatre, and architecture.
Join us as we unveil the multifaceted layers of Shivaji Park's legacy and explore the evolving narrative of this storied neighborhood.
Mahim Park to Shivaji Park- The History
The city of Bombay
witnessed the outbreak of the Bubonic Plague, also known as the Bombay Plague
in 1896. The British believed the cause of this outbreak was sanitation issues
arising out of overpopulation in neighborhoods like Parel and Girgaum. They
formed Bombay City Improvement Trust(BCIT), their task was to decongest the
city in a way that would reduce the density of the population and open up the
landlocked central and eastern regions to the sea breeze. This led to the
emergence of apartment typology in the expansion of the Dadar- Matunga areas.
The development of the Shivaji Park precinct spread across 28 acres which
included the Art Deco style buildings designed by Indian architects and the
park was also part of the vision which began in 1920. The massive park opened
to the public in 1925 as the Mahim Park. In 1927, it was renamed Shivaji Park
by the Municipal Corporation.
Hub of Creativity, Cricket, and Celebrations
The Shivaji Park
and the surrounding precinct being one of the earliest planned neighbourhoods
of Bombay opened a new avenue of life with opportunities to explore an upgraded
lifestyle for the residents. The locality became home to several sports clubs, cultural
institutions, schools, and other social institutions. The Shivaji Park Gymkhana
is one of the oldest sports clubs in India and it has produced well-known
international players like Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar, Pravin Amre, Vinod
Kambli, Dilip Vengasarkar, and many more. It was a significant place of public
discussion for creative professionals like writers, editors, and critics. The
park has a distinctive journey associated with politics, whether during
Yashwantrao Chavan’s farewell as Mumbai’s Chief Minister, Balasaheb Thackrey’s
speeches, or the annual gathering during Dr Ambedkar Jayanti in December. The
park and the social and cultural institutions in the vicinity continue to be in
light with unique occasions like Dusshera Celebrations by Bengal Club,
Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj Art Festival in February and more.
Everyday Narratives around the Shivaji Park ‘Katta’
The periphery of
the boundary wall of the park has been familiar as the ‘katta’. Originally the
term has been used in many cultures for an informal gathering of people at a
community space like a temple, open grounds, under a tree, or any public place
exchanging thoughts and ideas.
The lower height is welcoming and perfect for people to sit, relax, or nap. The park is open to all people during the day or night or one can stroll around the katta, jog, exercise, or treat themselves to ice-gola, or a kulfi for old time sake or just walk past the signal to grab a Starbucks coffee followed by some leisure time starring the waves of the Arabia sea across the road. These encounters with different corners of the park and the precinct keep shaping the lives of residents and visitors.
The Next Chapter- Skyline of Towers
The city of Bombay,
now Mumbai has entered a new era of redevelopment. The Park is still listed
under the Grade I Heritage list however the precinct surrounding the park has
been removed from the heritage list. Hence, there are no restraints on the
development around the park. Shanta Gokhale author of the book Shivaji Park – Dadar
28: History, Places, People, also mentions the presence of an engaging tree
cover line across the park is now replaced with a more or less uniform skyline
of highrises.