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MM: Project by students of SNDT University documents the statues liberally sprinkled across the city

Stand up and be counted ……..Virat A Singh
A project taken up by students of SNDT University documents the statues liberally sprinkled across the city and the fascinating lives of the personalities they pay homage to
Mumbais architecture has followed no guidelines in terms of aesthetics,leading to curious structures scattered all over the city.In this chaos,we remain oblivious to the fact that the city is full of quirky treasures that deserve our attention.Historian Dr Varsha Shirgaonkar invested a year documenting statues,busts and medallions put up until 1947 for a project called Statues in Mumbai.The social history throws up great stories about people who played a key role in shaping Mumbai.
A great example is the imperial bronze statue of Sir Phirojeshah Merwanji Mehta (known as Maker of Bombay and Uncrowned King of Bombay) at the BMC office entrance.While CST and the BMC building traditionally attract the attention of the tourists,the statues significance has been forgotten.
Dr Shirgaonkar,Head of Department of History,SNDT University discussed the idea with Dr Arun Tikekar,president of Asiatic Society of Mumbai,who funded the project via the Mumbai Research Centre.Kickstarted in October 2009,102 statues have already been documented.Weve collected information,obtained permissions and studied the archives.From April 2010,our actual documentation process started,we took pictures and started preparing information cards about each statue, said Afroz S Rizvi,a PhD student and project assistant.
The research also threw light on issues that needed urgent attention.Dr Shirgaonkar said,Several statues need regular maintenance.Bird droppings and Mumbais climate cause the surface to corrode,so canopies need to be provided to minimise the damage.
The project is in its final stage and even has information like the original location of several statues.We havent decided whether to publish this report.But people may get to see the project at the Asiatic society, concluded Shirgaonkar.
THE KEY PEOPLE OF MUMBAI
LADY REAY
WHERE: Cama Hospital,Phirozshah Mehta Road,near CST
DESCRIPTION: The hairstyle shows Lady Reays impressive personality.

HISTORY: Lady Dufferin was all about woman power.The wife of the Governor of Bombay Lord Reay,she institued The Lady Dufferin Fund for the lady doctors of Cama Hospital (founded in 1885).The fund helped build hospitals,pay salaries of medical women and provide scholarships to medical students and nurses on probation.She left India in 1888.At Cama Hospital,the nursing school was founded and supported for many years by the Lady Dufferin Fund.

SIR BARTLE FRERE

WHERE: The Asiatic Society of Mumbai,Town Hall
DESCRIPTION: The white marble statue stands on a marble pedestal.

HISTORY: Sir Bartle Frere was a wiz with real estate.The Governor of Bombay Presidency (1862 to 1867) demolished the Fort walls.Frere reorganised the Esplanade area and planned to create more space in the Flora Fountain area.The term Frere Town came to be identified with the new civic buildings constructed within and around the previous fort walls.A fountain was built in his honour,now known as Flora fountain.

KALA GHODA

WHERE: Inside Jijamata Udyan,Byculla;earlier in Fort in the area known as Kala Ghoda
DESCRIPTION: Erected sometime in 1870s in the Kala Ghoda Precinct and removed to its location inside Jijamata Udyan,Byculla in 1865

HISTORY: King Edward VII was also known as Prince of Wales.He was King of the UK and the British Dominions and Emperor of India from January 22,1901 until 1910.Before his accession to the throne,Edward held the title of Prince of Wales and was heir apparent to the throne for longer than anyone else in history.During the long widowhood of his mother,Queen Victoria,he was largely excluded from political power and came to personify the fashionable,leisured elite.In 1863,he renounced his succession rights to the Duchy of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha in favour of his younger brother,Prince Alfred.

SIR PHIROJESHAH MERWANJI MEHTA

WHERE: At the entrance of Municipal Corporation Office
DESCRIPTION: Sir Mehta is in Parsee dress with Fellow Gown of University.

HISTORY: Sir Phirozeshah Mehta was a political leader,activist and barrister.He became the Municipal Commissioner of Bombay in 1873 and was elected four times as President.He was also the co-founder and President of Indian National Congress.He passed away on Nov 5,1915.Rs 88,000 was collected from the public for the statue which stands before his monumental creation – the Mumbai Municipal Corporation and was unveiled by Sir George Lloyd,Governor of Bombay on April 3,1923.On its pedestal is engraved Lord Hardinges memorable epitaph: “A great Parsi,a great citizen,a great patriot and a great Indian”.

DR ACCACIO GABRIEL

WHERE: Dhobitalao Road,South Mumbai
DESCRIPTION: The full size statue stands on a pedestal.He is holding the Convocation in one hand.

HISTORY: Dr Accacio Gabriel Viegas discovered bubonic plague in Mumbai in 1896 and he inoculated 18,000 residents.Dr Veigas promoted medical relief and introduced compulsory free education.Dr Viegas also contributed to the creation of special colleges for women.He was also the president of Bombay Municipal Corporation.

GOPAL KRISHNA GOKHALE

WHERE: Churchgate Street
DESCRIPTION: Lifesize white marble statue of GK Gokhale with spectacles and a degree in his left hand.Four books,made of marble,feature a beautiful marble hanging tag with his message: Universal Education National Unity,Equality of Citizenship & Self Government.
HISTORY: GK Gokhale was born into a poor Chitpawan Brahmin family in Ratnagiri in 1866.He taught maths at Fergusson College,Pune,but retired in 1902 to take up the challenges of public life.He quickly scaled great heights in public life and earned the rep of a brilliant orator.He trained men to devote themselves to the service of India.Gokhale criticised the caste system and untouchability.He was a bit of a feminist in his own right and fought for the emancipation of women and their education.He also advocated that primary education should be free in Indian schools.Gokhale was considered Indias Gladstone.
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