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Journalism of Courage
Zero Point Bombay: In 038; Around Horniman Circle
Ed by Kamala Ganesh, Usha Thakkar, Gita Chadha,
Roli Books, Rs 695
The city is a mythical woman. To understand her, one needs to explore her pulse points. When the city happens to be Mumbai, you have to keep the finger on the Horniman Circle, walk around the heritage precinct, breathe its sea breeze-mingled-air and watch the day8217;s flurry of activities peter out into a languid evening.
This is exactly what gave the contributors to Zero Point Bombay: In 038; Around Horniman Circle 8212; who took part in a series of heritage walks in 2004 8212; the idea for the book. The compilation of 20 essays, accompanied by black-and-white photographs by Rafeeq Ellias above, the Asiatic Society of Mumbai, takes the readers through an engaging tour of the 400-year-old place, which can be called the birthplace of Bombay now Mumbai.
As the book looks at the metropolis8217; former zero point 8212; distances were measured from St Thomas Cathedral at Horniman Circle until it was replaced by the GPO 8212; with a magnifying glass, its intangible heritage unfolds in vivid descriptions, brimming with historical facts. Each chapter 8212; dedicated to one edifice or character of the area, like the collectorate, Town Hall, Reserve Bank of India and the Mint House, St Thomas Cathedral, quaint bookshops and street food 8212; seamlessly juxtaposes the past and the present. The lengthy essays are based on research and repeated visits, while the shorter pieces are by people closely associated with the subject. The writers thankfully eschew an academic style and adopt a conversational tone and lucid prose.
The book, combining historical and ethnographic research, is a delight for all who want to understand the city. It also brings into focus the heritage and culture of the Circle, which at times get blurred as the Central Banking District, nestled there, gains prominence.
