Iu2019VE known author and fellow Sunday mid- day columnist Meher Marfatia since the early 1980s. Sure, thatu2019s carbon- dating us. But her new book Once Upon A City celebrates carbon- dating in Mumbai as never before. And, fellow columnist Rahul daCunha has been a solid supporter of the book. The column has been wildly popular Now its juiciest morsels have been condensed into a plump, but handy- sized book. Its tagline: making the little stories of Mumbai matter.
Apart from her legion fans, Meheru2019s reveals that her biggest compliment came from a little old lady with failing vision, whose doctor had forbidden her to read: u201cu2018 I told him to make one exception every other Sunday, when Once Upon A City appears, because I really enjoy it,u2019 she told me. Touched, I thanked her and apologised that itu2019s a longish column. u2018 No, no, donu2019t you shorten it by a single word, dear,u2019 she replied.u201d Although the book is about Mumbaiu2019s history, it is written in delightful, bitesized morsels in Meheru2019s inimitable style, jammed with photosu2014 old black and white photos, alongside recent, colour photos, with area maps, locality- wise listing, and all.
Itu2019s a terrific gift for families, sundered by individual mobile phones, to unite over squealy, nostalgic sessions. Likewise, for sundered families and sworn enemies. Meher wears the cityu2019s formidable history light as a thistle. She quotes noted historians Sharada Dwivedi and Rahul Mehrotra, but is equally pleased to have an umbrella repairer be her local gully guide.
After wading through tons of tomes, maps and photographs, and doing dozens of interviews, she distils Mumbaiu2019s history to read like delicious gupshup with a friend. The book makes us keenly aware of the incredible riches and sheer diversity of ordinary peopleu2019s historyu2014 apart from the rich legacy of architecture, not to mention trees and birds. The book recalls that the city has nurtured Zubin Mehta, Pu La Deshpande, Bhishtis who distribute water carried in mashaqs, surmawalla Mohammad Anis, historian Foy Nissen and Raj Kapoor, who celebrated the 1964 premiere of Sangam at Apsara ( with photo). Thatu2019s Ranbir Kapooru2019s granddad for GenNext. And Manmohan Desai, who enjoyed gully cricket, and said, u201c My level is the ground. I canu2019t make movies from the 36th floor.u201d Thatu2019s why his movies will outlast any political party who cons you into believing that Mumbai is for anyone other than Amar Akbar Anthony.
Above all, the book is a clarion call to Mumbaikars to acknowledge and reclaim our rich, multiple, national and international identities. The city is home to communities and the descendants of Maharashtrians, East Indians, South Indians, Punjabis, Bohris, Sindhis, Parsis, Catholics, Jews, Afghans, Persians, Arabs, British, the Portuguese and many more.
Most of us have enjoyed a Maharashtrian misal or vada pao.
Been bowled out at cricket by a Bawa. Danced at the wedding of a Christian neighbour. Had a Muslim friend drop our sister home safely after tuitions. Had a Gujarati CA smartly save our tax. Had a Tamilian friend discreetly provide a school scholarship.
Showed off a gorgeous Jewish synagogue to foreigners.
Or variations thereof. If you took all these people out of the city, is there anything left to Mumbai? Or Mumbaikars? Toh khalipili bomabom kaiku kartai? Meenakshi Shedde is India and South Asia Delegate to the Berlin International Film Festival, National Award- winning critic, curator to festivals worldwide and journalist.
Reach her at meenakshi.
shedde @ mid- day. com Illustration/ Uday Mohite beyond bollywood Meenakshi Shedde
