Mumbai's Sassoon Dock steps into spotlight with art, culture fest push

The Sassoon Dock area part of city’s glorious history

It was not just fish but a fest, and the catch line was ‘Make Sassoon Dock Great Again' as the Dock in Colaba, with a stunning clock tower, as one of its most eye-catching features, hosted a one-day ‘The Sassoon Dock Art, Crafts & Cultural Festival' over the past weekend. This was an inaugural initiative to clean up the area and put the sheen back on the jewel of Mumbai's maritime history. Art workshops and artworks were open to the public.

Craft, culture, and community coalesce at the space

Saturday (April 25) evening saw a street play (Nukkad Natak) with a message of environmental preservation and consciousness by students from Anjuman I Islam's Barrister A R Antulay Law college, representing the organisation Children's Movement for Civic Awareness (CMCA) and a film on the history of Sassoon Dock.

Creativity takes centre stage at this festival

Cynthia D'Mello of My Dream Colaba said, "Though this was a one-day fest, the aim is sustainability. We have to start somewhere, and this is an inauguration." Bella Shah, an activist, stated, "Art can bring about change. With this effort, we want to plant a seed in people's minds that the Dock space can be re-imagined." Tripti Narula added, "Today's event is more than a gathering; it is a commitment. We are here to ensure revival of the ‘lost aura' of this heritage jewel."

Harshita (left), Gauravi (right), and Makarand Narwekar at the function

Corporators Speak

Three corporators were at the venue: Gauravi S Narwekar, stating, "We are looking to make this space accessible not just for locals but as a tourist destination too. What seemed like a daunting challenge has taken its first step through this." Harshita Narwekar pointed to the work put in by the kids for the Nukkad Natak, stating that people power formed a vital component of any effort.

Art and soul at the Sassoon Docks exhibition. Pics/ASHISH RAJE

"With residents/local participation, anything is possible," she said, while Corporator Makarand Narwekar said cleanliness at the national consciousness level must percolate down to the local level. "Our Prime Minister espoused Swachch Bharat Abhiyaan and talked about a clean India, so why can't we practise cleanliness in our immediate surroundings? Think twice, thrice and desist from throwing rubbish into the sea. We also need more dustbins at Sassoon Dock," he said.

A nukkad natak sends a message of planet preservation, including clean seas

Let's year it for...

Jyoti Singh of the Jyoticare Benevolent Foundation said, "We have a responsibility to our planet. This is not a one-off programme.

Jyoti Singh talks about a year-long push for cleanliness

This was an inauguration, the start of a year-long campaign for area awareness. We will have a tree plantation project here in June, then an arts and crafts initiative of a longer duration and round off the year with a Koli food festival where culture and culinary expertise will come together."