Our neighbour, Foy

Foy Nissen looked inside Bombay into its corners and contours Thats what made his frames extra special Justice Gautam Patel said at the launch of a photo exhibition at Jehangir Nicholson Gallery at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya earlier this weekThe 100odd members in the audience a mix of conservationists historians cultural influencers archivists and young heritage lovers listened as he discussed the late Danish photographer and heritage visionarys iconic framesA quiet moment with her doll Children were often Nissens key subjectsIn the group were the Mehra sisters Manju and Mona They heard intently as the other speakers Jehangir Nicholson Art Foundation trustee Cyrus Guzder and Kamini Sawhney curator of the exhibition hailed his invaluable contribution to MumbaiBut to the sisters before indophile Nissen was a neighbour For over 50 years they lived across floors in Olympus apartment on Altamount Road and cared for him through his prolonged illness before passing in August 2018 Last week as we had made our way to the Mehra residence Manju took our call on a possible delay and before hanging up said Waiting for you to join us for lunchNissen liked photographing people looking out of windows Pics CourtesyJehangir Nicholson art foundationYou like Punjabi food no Ten minutes into our meeting we realised they had cared for Nissen with similar warmth We couldnt bear to see him alone with no one to care for him Manju said as we flipped through the pages of coffee table book of Nissens photos rereleased recently A black and white picture of young Nissen on the book jacket Manju said was from his days at Cambridge So dashing Just like a Hollywood star she had gushed He would head out on his Vespa with a camera around his neck to a new part of the city each time Often the pillion rider would be a historian or photographer Mona added In fact legendary British artist Howard Hodgkin and world historians Gillian Tindall and Christopher London had all benefited from Nissens scooter rides He loved to photograph children and was fascinated by Banganga in Walkeshwar And window frames caught his fancy But it was the people in every shot that mattered most recalled MonaGuide and mentor to young scholars and researchers is how the sisters remember the Danish chronicler who mostly kept to himself even as he continued to nurture his love affair with the cityVisitors examine the recreation of Foy Nissens Fort walk map at the inauguration of the exhibition at Jehangir Nicholson Gallery CSMVS PicPradeep DhivarBy early 201011 he had taken ill He was diagnosed with Alzheimers and dementia and needed help since he lived alone Soon his older friends including fellow Cathedralite Ratan Lalkaka and Pauline Rohatgi alerted all his friends in the city and ensured that he was made comfortable with help around the clock As his neighbours we couldnt ignore his condition Mona saidRamkrishan Gadkar Nissens Man Friday who came by to meet us that Wednesday afternoon was by Nissen saabs side since 2011 Saal 2014 ke baad woh zyaada baat nahin karte they Lekin dil ke bahut bade the he remembered After Nissens passing his collection of nearly 4000 books and 5000 slides was meticulously archived by this trio and a few others including conservation architect Vikas Dilawari This set was donated to various institutions from his alma mater in Cambridge to JNAF and his beloved Asiatic Library Some of his iconic black and white frames grace the entrance of Olympus acquainting visitors of a once famous residentFoy NissenThroughout the meeting English classics played softly on loop at the Mehra residence Did Nissen like music He loved all the Western Classical greats especially Bach And was fond of playing the flute I think he was selftaught Manju smiled In fact around Christmas we including our late mother who was very fond of him would get into festive mode and drop by Foys home to sing carols Mona laughed egging on Manju to recall the funny hats they would sport on these occasionsThe Nissen exhibitionThe Mehra sisters point to the frames by Nissen that grace the entrance to Olympus apartment his home in MumbaiWhile Foy Nissen was alive Cyrus Guzder was presented with a book of his work put together by Manju and Mona Mehra We decided it had to be shared with Mumbai through an exhibition When the trustees of his estate were looking for a home for his work they felt JNAF would be a good place to hold the archives The collection is in our safekeeping but once it is systematically archived it will be made available to scholars and researchers Kamini Sawhney curator Foy Nissens BombayThe Internet of his timeIn the 1980s the term architectural historian was unknown Several international doctoral students came to Bombay to take it up as their PhD thesis Being an expatriate brought up in Mumbai trained in Cambridge and working with the British Council as Cultural Activity Incharge Foy would show scholars and guests and in doing so enhanced his own knowledge He guided Gillian Tindall Dr Christopher London and several others He was the Internet of his timeAsiatic Library statueof Jamsetjee Jeejeebhoy Baronet Nissen considered the landmark his home according to the Mehra sisters He would spend hours poring over its archives or photographing its interiorsAt that time the Save Bombay Committee headed by Kisan Mehta BEAG Bombay Environment Action Group led by Shyam Chainani needed academic insight to give their activism necessary meaning Most of them counted on Foy who helped them voluntarily The initial INTACH list of 198588 was under his guidance He was like the unseen foundation to Bombays heritage movement Vikas Dilawari conservation architectOn till June 16 at Jehangir Nicholson Gallery CSMVS MG Road Mondays closedCatch up on all the latest Mumbai news crime news current affairs and also a complete guide on Mumbai from food to things to do and events across the city here Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to 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