Brochure Draft 4.

0 April 08, 2013

2017: INDIA@70 ALLIANCE FOR REVIVAL OF MUMBAIS FREEDOM MOVEMENT HERITAGE

2017 will mark the 70th anniversary of Indias Independence from British colonial rule. The Indian National Movement was made of countless contestations and struggles - small and big, local and national, and individual and collective. The metropolitan city of Bombay was a pivotal space for the nationalist movement, providing vibrant platforms to express the sentiments of nationalism and demand for self-rule. The citys maidans, beaches, wide streets, localities and neighbourhoods, printing presses, textile mills and docklands - were instrumental in providing the impetus to nationalist thought and action. Today, one struggles to make any connection between the city and its contribution to the freedom movement. The desire to remember Bombays place in the Indian National Movement has been very piecemeal and insincere. Most of its own citizens are barely aware of this heritage whose memory is now largely obliterated. What do we remember of the mass rallies at Azad Maidan, the salt satyagraha at Girgaum, the call for Quit India at August Kranti Maidan, the prabhat pheris of the bylanes of Girgaum and Bhuleshwar, the iconic court cases of the Bombay High Court or the mutiny of the sailors at the Bombay docks? Remembering the citys past has been restricted to naming of streets and erecting of statues. Sadly even such efforts have largely failed to impart an understanding and awareness to the masses and particularly the younger generation, of this precious heritage. We have been unsuccessful in recreating the passion and inspiration from the struggles, sacrifices, and achievements of the previous generations. Our freedom movement heritage comprises of the memory of individuals who contributed to the nationalist struggle, landmark events that gave the struggle its momentum and the physical spaces in the city that provided the platform for the activities. While the events like the Quit India movement have found a place in our memory along with Mahatma Gandhi who spearheaded it, many of us dont actively associate the Gowali Tank Maidan with the Quit India movement, from where it was initiated by Gandhi. The same can be said of Azad Maidan. We remember most of the events, a few of the people and almost none of the places. It is this selective celebration that has made this heritage less colourful and less inspiring for the young Mumbaikar today. Only when we cherish and celebrate the place along with the people and events will our history be linked to our geography. These spaces maidans, beaches, roads, courts and other buildings, have transformed over the years. They have come under the management of the MCGM and other authorities and have developed with own limited functionalities over time more by default than by any proactive efforts by the city. For example, both Azad Maidan and August Kranti Maidan are limited to cricket and protest events. Both are used every day by thousands as a thoroughfare particularly with Azad

Brochure Draft 4.0 April 08, 2013 Maidan used as a short-cut to connecting CST and Churchgate. Most importantly, little of the historical memory of the association with nationalism can be found in either of these maidans. Such places are bound to be redeveloped and get a makeover from time to time. It is critically important to ensure that as part of this redevelopment, the historical significance of these places is made visible and brought to the fore while enhancing contemporary usage and introducing multiuse concepts to make them more democratic, safe and vibrant. Reimagining the citys freedom movement heritage is therefore an effort to build more constructive continuities between the citys past, present and future. It is in this context that Observer Research Foundation Mumbai and RJBCPL have formed a partnership and initiated the project on India@70: Revitalisation of Mumbais Freedom Movement Heritage. This project seeks to relocate Mumbais role in the Indian freedom movement from the perspective of reinvigorating the places in the city that have latent connections with the movement and bringing these linkages into the popular public consciousness.

As an integral part of this Vision, our two organisations shall jointly prepare detailed plans for the Redevelopment/ Makeover of August Kranti Maidan (along with its precincts) and Azad Maidan (along with its precincts), two of the iconic places associated with Indias Freedom Movement. Both places are victims of neglect and haphazard development, resulting in considerable erosion of their significance in the historic and urban landscape of Mumbai. We believe that their comprehensive redevelopment, based on a visionary plan, can immensely contribute to the placemaking agenda in Mumbai. The redevelopment plans aim to revive the historic significance while enhancing contemporary uses, adding new activities while considering the needs of the widest range of stakeholder groups. The entire process would be transparent and participative. During the period of research and compilation of the studies, we will organise a Roundtable in the month of April-May on Placemaking: Evolving a Paradigm and Strategies for Urban India inviting the maximum number of relevant stakeholders. We shall produce a useful study on the philosophy of Placemaking, its need in urban India in general and in Mumbai in particular, and strategies for implementation. We will prepare a Vision for Revitalisation of Mumbais Freedom Movement Heritage, from the point of view of placemaking and other creative strategies. To support this Vision, ORF Mumbai shall produce a study on Mumbais glorious contribution to Indias Freedom Struggle. Other outputs of this endeavour will be a first-of-its-kind book detailing Mumbais Freedom Movement Heritage as well a short film on the same. Our project, Celebrating India@70 seeks to forge an Alliance for the revival of Mumbais glorious heritage of the freedom movement. This Alliance invites eminent citizens and like-minded organisations to join forces in a concerted effort to engage and convince the Government of Maharashtra to implement the recommendations of our collective study which we hope to have unveil on the 8th of August 2013 the anniversary of the Quit India Movement.