18
May 2025
12:00 AM to 12:00 AM
Avid Learning’s Museum Lens: Curating Collaborations, Conversations, and Cultural Futures
Online
National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), Mumbai, Kala
Ghoda Association and Avid Learning present Uncovering Urban Legacies: Icons of Mumbai – Taxis,
Public Clocks, and Statues.
Did you know that Mumbai's iconic black and
yellow taxis got their distinctive colors based on a recommendation by freedom
fighter V.B. Gandhi to Jawaharlal Nehru? The yellow top was specifically chosen
to be easily spotted from a distance, while the practical black bottom would
hide road stains and dirt.
After exploring the diverse diasporas that built
Bombay followed by historic precincts, Avid Learning proudly presents
the third installment of its acclaimed series ‘Uncovering Urban Legacies.’ This
series will spotlight the everyday emblems that have become inseparable from
the city’s character. In the inaugural episode, we explore three of Bombay’s
most recognizable urban symbols - taxis, public clocks, and statues. Through
expert-led discussions and immersive storytelling, we will explore how these
icons have adapted to change, the cultural narratives they carry, and what
their presence—or absence—reveals about the city today.
Join us as we delve into the stories behind
these urban icons chronicling Bombay’s past, present, and future.
Chirodeep’s three-decade long career began in advertising and he has since worn many hats – switching careers as a photojournalist and then as an Editor of Photography. He was, till recently, heading the Design and Photography departments of Timeout, the international arts and culture magazine’s three India editions. He has also been the Editor of Photography of National Geographic Traveler (India). Among his recent avatars, he has authored the critically feted book ‘A Village In Bengal: Photographs and an Essay’, a result of his 13-year long engagement with his ancestral village in West Bengal and his family’s two century old tradition of the Durga Puja. He is also the co-author of ‘With Great Truth & Regard: The History of the Typewriter in India’. His works documenting Bombay’s architectural heritage can also be seen featured in important publications like ‘Bombay: The Cities Within’, ‘Fort Walks’, ‘A City’s Legacy: The Indian Navy’s Heritage in Mumbai’ and ‘Anchoring A City Line’ to name a few. Chirodeep’s work documents the urban landscape and he has often been referred to as “the chronicler of Bombay”. During his career he has produced diverse documents of his home city in a range of projects like ‘Seeing Time: Public Clocks of Bombay’, ‘The One-Rupee Entrepreneur’, ‘The Commuters’ and ‘In the city, a library’ among others.
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Sandeep Dahisarkar is an archaeologist, art historian, and the youngest author on Mumbai’s history. With over a decade of experience in archaeological and historical research, he has authored three books: The Pathare Kshatriyas of Bombay (2022), Parle: Dnyata-adnyata (2023), and The Historiography of Shri Bimbakhyana (2024). He has taught at Sathaye College and as a visiting faculty at Sophia College and IES College of Architecture, Mumbai. He received the Gulestan Bilimoria Junior Research Fellowship from the Asiatic Society of Mumbai in 2017. As a cultural consultant, he trained guides for the Devi Ahilyabai Holkar Maheshwar Walk. He has delivered over 28 lectures, including for Avid Learning and IGNCA Vadodara. He also conducts heritage walks and presents research internationally. His contributions to archaeology and history have earned him the Sane Guruji Yuva Puraskar (2022) and Yuva Sanman Puraskar (2023).
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Fawzan Husain is a photojournalist, creative artist, teacher, and organic farmer. A self-taught photographer, he has spent 38 years in photojournalism. After earning a post-graduate degree from the Bombay School of Journalism, he worked at Mid-Day and later India Today for over a decade. He has held eight solo shows, 12 group exhibitions, and published three books: Between Bombay & Mumbai, The Silver Screen & Beyond and‘ Mumbai in Lockdown’ Covid Chronicles in the city of dreams. He also spoke at TEDx Ahmedabad on"Re-discovering Photography." When not taking pictures, he enjoys organic farming at his Dahanu farm, ensuring his food is 100% organic
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Eshan Sharma is a heritage activist, historian-in-training, and occasional writer with a focus on Modern Indian History. He holds a degree in History from Delhi University and a postgraduation from The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, specializing in the representation of women in New Wave Hindi cinema. With over three years of research on the New Wave in Indian cinema, Eshan has delivered guest lectures at various universities and written for publications like The Wire and Frontline. He is also known for curating cinema walks in Delhi and Mumbai, including Basu Da's Bombay and All We Imagine As Bombay with filmmaker Payal Kapadia. Eshan’s contributions have been recognized by prominent platforms, including TIME Magazine. He is also the founder of Karwaan Heritage.
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Kruti Garg is a practicing Conservation Architect with 20 years’ experience in the field of Historic preservation and restoration of Cultural heritage. She completed her education as M.Arch in Conservation from the School of Planning & Architecture, New Delhi in 2004 and has been working with Abha Narain Lambah Associates since 2006. She has undertaken a Masonry Conservation Course from RESTORE, New York and has received scholarship for attending the Attingham Summer School on Historic Interiors in UK in 2010. She has been instrumental in handling variety of projects as Director, Conservation some of which are Restoration of the Opera House, Mumbai, Adaptive reuse and design of a Heritage hotel by the PARK, Quila Mubarak, Patiala, Restoration of Town hall building, Mumbai, Restoration and Design of Lalbagh Palace Museum, Design of the Balasaheb Thackeray Rashtriya Smarak, Excavation, Reconstruction, Design and Interior design for the Art Gallery at Choti Chaupad for Jaipur Metro to name a few. She has been a recipient of Woman achiever’s award in 2017 by Young Environmentalists Programme trust, Mumbai and been part of 2 UNESCO Asia Pacific Award citations for Culture and Heritage Conservation with ANLA along with a special mention on the Lalbagh palace project headed by her which won the “Works of Wonder” by Architectural Digest where international editors collaborated to select the 20 best projects for the year 2022. She also exemplifies that creating awareness towards heritage is as important as it is to work in the field of conservation, and she has been associated with curating and heading the Heritage walks section for Kala Ghoda for 10 years. She has also co-authored a book on Kala Ghoda edited by Abha Lambah.
Read moreKaali Peelis- Symbol of Mumbai and its Culture
Mumbai's iconic Kaali Peeli cabs have become synonymous with the city's bustling streets since their first appearance in 1964. The launch of the Fiat 1100 Delight by Premier Automobile Limited marked the beginning of a new era in urban transportation in Mumbai. This model was soon followed by the Premier Padmini in 1973, which gained immense popularity due to its fuel efficiency, dependability, and ease of maintenance—qualities that made it particularly suited for navigating Mumbai’s challenging traffic conditions. The distinctive color scheme of these cabs can be traced back to Vithal Balkrishna Gandhi (VB Gandhi), who suggested that the cabs be painted yellow on top for easy visibility from a distance, while black at the bottom would help conceal stains. This thoughtful design choice contributed to their recognition as an essential part of Mumbai's urban landscape.
Today, Kaali Peeli cabs remain a familiar sight on Mumbai’s roads in their new appearance, cherished by both locals and tourists alike for their unique character and historical significance.
Iconic Clock Towers of Mumbai
In the bustling metropolis of Mumbai, where the adage "time is money" resonates through its vibrant streets, public clocks have long served as essential markers of time for its inhabitants. These stunning clock structures are not merely decorative; they are vital navigational aids that remind us of the city's relentless pace. Among the most famous clock spots in Bombay are the Rajabai Clock Tower, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus clock and Crawford Market Clock Tower, both iconic symbols of the city’s architectural heritage.
In addition to these landmarks, lesser-known but equally significant clocks can be found at locations such as Bhuleshwar Kabutar Khana Ram Mandir, the David Sassoon Clock and Maghen David Synagogue in Byculla. The St. Thomas Cathedral at Horniman Circle and Anjuman Atash Bahram at Dhobi Talao also feature impressive public clocks that have guided countless individuals throughout their daily lives.
In an era before mobile phones or wristwatches became ubiquitous, these public clocks played a crucial role in helping people keep track of their schedules—whether it was rushing to work, attending appointments, or participating in prayers at designated times. Today, while technology has transformed how we perceive timekeeping, these historic public clocks remain reminders of Bombay's rich past and its enduring connection to time itself.
Mumbai’s Statues - A Repository of Civic Memory
Statues in Mumbai are much more than mere physical structures; they serve as silent storytellers that encapsulate the rich history and cultural evolution of the city. Concentrated mainly in the southern end, particularly around the Fort and Churchgate areas, these monuments symbolise significant events of bygone eras, imparting lessons learned and evoking a spectrum of emotions.
Among the famous statues that grace Mumbai's landscape is King Edward VII, located near the BDL Museum in Byculla. This statue stands as a testament to colonial history while also representing a time when Mumbai was evolving into a bustling metropolis. Similarly, Sir Pherozeshah Mehta’s statue in Fort honors one of India's prominent political figures and serves as a reminder of his contributions to society. Further enriching this historical tapestry is King George V's statue near the Prince of Wales Museum (now known as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya) in Fort.
Each statue enhances the aesthetic appeal of its surroundings and also acts as an informal guide, helping residents and visitors alike understand Mumbai's complex past. As you stroll through these areas, these statues become friends who share stories from different eras—inviting us to reflect on our shared heritage and engage with the city's narrative. The list goes on with many other iconic figures immortalised in stone across this vibrant cityscape, each contributing uniquely to our understanding of what makes Mumbai truly remarkable.
