American architect Robert Stephens to showcase 16 rare guidebooks on Mumbai

The Urbs Indis collection will be housed at the Urban Design amp Research Institute Library UDRI in Kala Ghoda and is available for reference Monday to Friday during working hours PICSBIPIN KOKATEIn HA Newells guidebook 1924 Bombay The Gate of India he writes for the benefit of the newcomer to the city The Bombay Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society is situated in the Town Hall Elphinstone Circle The library is open from 1030 am to 7 pm To enter a members introduction is necessaryFor nearly a century it has been rather complex to enter and use the Asiatic Library My experience of obtaining a years membership in 2016 entailed not one but two existing member references lots of paperwork and weeks of waiting I find it perplexing and unfortunate that an institution of such cultural value would not make it simpler for common people to access and reference the collection rues American architect Robert Stephens recounting his ordeal that will resonate with researchers and students seeking entry into the librarys hallowed environs Hes in the middle of giving us a sneak peek into his collection of vintage titles on the city all in mint condition that would make any Bombayphile do a mental jig in the headStephens is a week away from the launch of his exhibition Mumbai Guidebooks 18801980 at ARTISANS in Kala Ghoda It will be a tactile exhibition of 16 rare books and pamphlets dating to this period that were handy companions for British soldiers as well as 21st century tourists Five years ago I began collecting guidebooks I would imagine that every new visitor to BombayMumbai would reference a guidebook at some point in hisher journey through the city This pursuit of place knowledge has survived for centuries he tells us adding that the booksellers at Fort were his goto guys Detailed maps illustrations and trivia are packed into hardbounds and paperbacks Paperbacks were introduced during wartime when finances were tight across the globe he informs as we gaze at the noticeably frugal use of colour feeble paper quality and smaller size of some guides meant for soldiers posted in the cityAn aerial photograph of Mumbai by Robert Stephens He loves seeing cities as spaces of millions and places of ecology mdash both social and natural Once one studies the history of a place it is fascinating to discover how these ecologies intertwine and grow together over generations Stephens maintains Accompanying the exhibition is the launch of Urbs Indis Cities of India Stephens online aerial photography gallery and archival library Urbs Indis gives digital form to the threedimensional exhibitions of photographs and books that have featured at ARTISANS over the years including Mumbai Articles 2014 Mumbai North 2016 and Mumbai Shadows 2017 Taking us through the site he adds that it will be an online journal for all kinds of curious minds with five aerial photography galleries spanning Mumbai Chennai and Delhi 12 reading rooms one of which has Mumbai Guidebooks an online journal featuring walkthroughs of public libraries and interviews with rare book collectors in India The easily navigable site also offers a teaser of the aerial photography series spanning the subcontinent including Ahmedabad Walls that is scheduled to open in October 2018 at the Kasturbhai Lalbhai Museum in AhmedabadThroughout our chat with Stephens his intent and dedication are writs all over these projects giving us hope that an individual can actually help work towards building the collective awareness of a city one book and one photograph at a timeOPENS May 18 7 pm TILL May 27At ARTISANS 5256 Dr VB Gandhi Marg Kala Ghoda TIME 11 am to 7 pm CALL 09820145397Catch up on all the latest Crime National International and Hatke news here Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updates