Explore how trees shaped Mumbai’s natural harbour, and its colonial economy on an upcoming walk this weekend
White silk cotton tree. pics courtesy/wikimedia commons
Ever thought about the relationship between trees and ships? Led by researcher and curator Abhishek Khan, the Botany of Ships is a walk that aims to examine how trees enabled shipbuilding, oceanic travel, and global trade, and how these material choices reshaped geopolitics. The walk that will start at Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Botanical Udyan, uses opium trade and trees as a central case study to trace erstwhile Mumbai’s (then Bombay) trading history.
A small Hodi boat on display. Pic courtesy/Dr Bhau Daji Lad Museum
It will conclude at the Dr Bhau Daji Lad museum where miniature models of ships are on display. This will help explain how the trees and ships are interconnected. “Trees, who we consider to be mute, to be almost inexpressive emotionless beings, have shaped political and economic systems by compelling humans to transport them across continents. For example, tea led the British to China and eventually to opium trade in India, while eucalyptus travelled to India from the Australian subcontinent,” emphasises Khan.
Monoon longifolium commonly known as False Ashoka
The city’s harbour forms a central part of this narrative. Boats here were largely built from Indian teak, which Khan explains was particularly superior in comparison to English oak. “While English oak ships lasted about 10 years, teak ships could last up to 50 years. He also mentions how shipbuilding in Mumbai was closely tied to the Wadia family. Lowjee Nusserwanjee Wadia, in 1736, emerged as a pioneering shipbuilder for the British East India Company, constructing hundreds of durable ships, including warships such as HMS Cornwallis, which was entirely built from teak wood,” mentions Khan.
(From left) HMS Cornwallis; a portrait of Lowjee Nusserwanjee Wadia
The walk will also mention small boats like seafaring machwas (traditional, non-motorised, or later motorised, wooden sailing vessels), hodi boats (handcrafted outrigger canoes) and canoes that were made from white silk cotton trees known for being lightweight and buoyant. The walk will wrap up with conversations about mast trees such as Monoon longifolium (False Ashoka), and teak’s use in Warli art, marking a turning point in India’s relationship with its trees.
Abhishek Khan
ON January 24; 9.30 to 11.30 am
AT Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Udyan, Lalbaug flyover, Byculla East.
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