Juhu Koliwada’s story finds a home in East Indian Bhavan

Where history and greenery meet in the garden. Pics/Shadab Khan

In 2022, senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ameet Satam was front and centre at an event at a space tucked deep inside a Juhu Koliwada lane ahead of Holy Cross Church. The land/open space was the venue for a coconut breaking ceremony, signalling the beginning of a community project. Now, 3.5 years later, Sunday evening witnessed the inauguration of The East Indian Bhavan, also housing the Kaka Joseph Baptista East Indian Theme Garden and Museum on the same space, making this a community complex.

While the inauguration happened last evening, the garden and Bhavan will be open for the public by June, with a definite date to be established by the Mobai Gaothan Panchayat (MGP).

Blooming bougainvillaea provides a backdrop of shouting colour

Preparations were underway for the Sunday inauguration when one visited the space on Saturday evening. "Ameet Satam has kept his promise," said MGP office-bearers as finishing touches were being given. "We will have a small entrance fee; the space is open to everyone. It has to be maintained and remain both a green open space and an archive showcasing East Indian history and culture, not just for outsiders but also community youngsters, "who may not know the way the older generations of our community lived," explained those in charge of different aspects of the project.

The timeline

On December 25 2021, this paper reported about the East Indian community rejoicing because a space in Juhu had been earmarked for a community-themed garden. At that time, MLA Ameet Satam had reassured that work on the Kaka Baptista Garden, named after the freedom fighter from the community, would begin in January 2022.

On December 13, 2022, a coconut breaking ceremony was held at the ground/space in Juhu, signalling the beginning of this East-Indian themed project. On May 17, 2026, this community-themed project was inaugurated.

This space features

10 core facilities, such as:
>> Community Hall or Maandav
>> Kaka Joseph Baptista East Indian Museum
>> Skill Training Academy
>> Library
>> Agri, Koli, Kulbi, Bhandari, occupation space
>> Lawns, with community and heritage themed benches and pathways
>> Kaka Joseph Baptista statue
>> Children's play area
>> Community Well
>> Selfie Point with art installations