Maharashtra State Police Headquarters in Colaba. Pics/Suresh Karkera

We must roll back a few years, when we had stepped into Sewri Cemetery. A nondescript black marbled grave with the name ‘Frederick William Stevens’ engraved on top, caught our eye. It belied the greatness of a man who spent a larger part of his life shaping some of Mumbai’s grandest landmarks. The architect, whose 168th birth anniversary was observed yesterday, is best remembered for his designs of Victoria Terminus (now CST) and the BMC building. However, there were other creations that tend to go unnoticed like the Royal Alfred Sailors’ Home, now the home of the Maharashtra State Police Headquarters. It was his first important commission in the city.