We’ll turn Malabar Hill into a mini tourist hub
Anita Garware, chairperson and co-convener Malabar Hill Residents Association and chairperson for Indian Heritage Society speaks about giving the area a brand identity ……SUDIPTA BASU
Brand Malabar Hill is upon South Mumbai; given that ‘Brand Malabar’ logo was released at the hands of Mayor Shubha Raul on Tuesday. With the launch of the first-ever citizen-civic partnership in the city, Anita Garware, chairperson and co-convener Malabar Hill Residents Association and chairperson for Indian Heritage Society speaks about the enterprise.
How did the germ of the idea form and later the brand, Malabar Hill, come upon a select group of residents of this area?
It came upon us, a clutch of senior citizens, back in 2004 as we sat reminiscing about the good old days and what it is that we were actually leaving behind for our children. Most of us have lived here for over 60 years. We remember the time when there were just 30 buildings here (which have grown to 2000 now), the gaslights being lit along the streets at dusk and the streets being washed at the dead of the night. We needed to transpose some of that charm and combine it with a feeling of pride about being residents of Malabar Hill, and pass it down to the next generation.
What are the startling changes that we might see as a result of this private party-government enterprise?
The amphitheatre is already in place. We will ensure that the place is kept clean of commercial enterprises such as restaurants. In fact, we wish to put out a food court and mini-markets, perhaps along the lines of Chowpatty, for people who come to work here every day; we are putting up a police chowki and a bus terminal (back in the day there were just six routes here, now there are more than 100), a water fountain, opportunities for rock-climbing. BNHS has already identified and named flora and fauna in this area to facilitate nature walks. There will be a separate dog-walking park, we cannot have them dirtying the streets.
This will become a minitourist hub for people to plan a weekend from far flung suburbs as also within the area to do something interesting over the weekend with their families.
What’s the deal with branding? A brand-Malabar Hill visŕ-vis a non-branded-rest-of-Mumbai?
The logo was launched and the branding exercise carried out only to develop a love for the neighbourhood among its people. You need to look around you, keep your area clean and safe and secure. As for the rest of Mumbai, well, it is up to the residents of each area to devise a plan to safeguard their own neighbourhoods. The people from Bandra have done a fine job of sprucing up the promenade, and completely from dipping into their own pockets.
Is it easier to launch a drive such as this one in Malabar Hills as opposed to in the new, far-flung suburbs, since some of the oldest residents of the city reside here?
There’s another way to look at this: we have been here for 60 years. We were also new once upon a time. The building I lived in used to have a gorgeous wooden bungalow six decades ago. The distinction is not between old and new, rather a willingness to make things happen. The money is there; you just have to dip into your pockets.
So have people started coming forward to participate in this?
Yes, Dr Rohini Chowghule, a well-known physician wishes to start a website and a blog. Paresh Mehta, a businessman wishes to assist her in this. Some people in the age group of 30-50 have volunteered to take people on walks in the Kamala Nehru Park, while Vijay Crishna, the theatre actor has volunteered to be the president of the mountaineering club.
Anita Garware promises to keep Malabar Hill free of commercial enterprises such as restaurants