Suburbs that showcased rich architecture are now pale shadows of their distinct identity
Sadly, the last decade has witnessed a complete visual turnaround of the suburb. Crass commericialisation and mindless planning by greedy builders and land sharks has spelt doom for these reminders of the past, and of a heritage that represented the suburb’s cultural fabric.
With each passing year, we’d spot concrete monstrosities rise in the same space where these structures once stood, chipping away at these rich footnotes from the past that defined the identity of Mulund. Suburbs like Vile Parle, Borivli and Ghatkopar that showcased a similar identity, have met with the same fate, without much as a semblance of an effort to save its local heritage.
Nowadays, when we take a detour into these parts — the neighbourhood kirana owner — the archetypal survivor from that era will still sigh over the wonder years, when the Chheddas and Voras of Mulund residing in one of the quaintly-named structures like Kathiawad Niwas, would enjoy their breezy evenings in the hill-nestled suburb over mounds of freshly-made Surti farsan, sipping on slightly sweetened chai, and watch the world go by in slow-mo as their ornate jhoolas would sway, gently.
mid-day’s Features Editor Fiona Fernandez relishes the city’s sights, sounds, smells and stones...wherever the ink and the inclination takes her. She tweets @bombayana
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