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Bombay: The Cities Within
One of the best coffee table books ever created for someone interested in the history of one of the greatest mega-cities in the world.
- GenresIndiaNonfiction
352 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 2001
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218 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
January 30, 2022
Bombay as a city has a life of its own, and can be actually considered to be a living organism responding to changes both internal and due to external environments. The most fascinating aspect always has been how the extremities of the city co-exist together and the different cultures that live within, truly a melting pot of cultures and people. This is the aspect which is truly captured along with the history of the city in this fascinating and utterly compelling book by the luminary authors- Sharada Dwivedi and Rahul Mehrotra.
As the author say, Bombay was not conceived or built in a singular image, and the dualities caused the creation of many sub-cities or precincts within the overall city. The author capture this evolution of the city by diving the book into 4 parts: namely Part 1: beginning with the Portuguese takeover of the city in the 16th century till mid-19th century, Part 2: covering Bombay’s growth period till 1890s, Part 3: Dealing with the plague outbreak of late 1890s which led to renewed urban forms to address the growing city’s multiple problems and finally Part 4: transition to modernity till the recent period.
Each part or sub-book stands on its own very well, and the narrative is easy to absorb and doesn’t feel overwhelming at any point, and again a credit to the authors for keeping it focussed but accessible. The authors deftly use quotes and verified statements from the varied sources to fortify their reasoning. The sidebar narrative with the shortened first-hand accounts of many of the travellers often provide a contemporary context to the narrative.
The authors have embellished the narrative with superbly curated photographs and maps from many varied sources, and the book is a visual treat in itself, independent of the narrative. Specially note the maps of the early Bombay and the maps of the fortified city in Part 1, the aerial photography during the development of the city in Part 2. It is also fascinating to see the pictorials of the different professional people- the tram conductors, policeman, postman and others. Also the authors have provided adequate explanation and directions in the photographs especially in the early ones where it may not be always easy to spot landmarks, roads and areas. Please also note the collage of photos on the start page of every chapter, where the authors try to capture the essence of the chapter excellently. A fun and fascinating suggestion- please keep your Google search and maps handy and try to compare with the current situation- where so many things would have changed in the city and many which wouldn’t have (check the Shaheed Bhagat Singh road- it is still the same!). You will also need Google maps to check many of the street names which would have changed recently, and to understand the references which have been given.
The authors also bring out many facets of the city’s development and I was truly fascinated to understand the period between the 1850s and 1890s where the city grew in leaps and bounds and the made the jump from a town to a bustling metropolis. Also, the authors bring out the contribution of the Indian people to the city (pgs 155-160), again signifying that the city had significant contribution from the indigenous achievers and not just of the ruled. The authors as expected provides a curated bibliography which is of course the next course of action for us readers to explore. The chronology which is provided at the end of the book is quite significant and helps the readers to trace the history in a single sequence and we can always keep a track of the significant events very easily- highly recommended to browse through.
The length and breadth of the city is never constant, and there is always more to explore, and the authors provide a definite pathway towards the same. Highly recommended for all Mumbaikars and everyone who is curious, interested or fascinated by the Urbs Prima in Indis
As the author say, Bombay was not conceived or built in a singular image, and the dualities caused the creation of many sub-cities or precincts within the overall city. The author capture this evolution of the city by diving the book into 4 parts: namely Part 1: beginning with the Portuguese takeover of the city in the 16th century till mid-19th century, Part 2: covering Bombay’s growth period till 1890s, Part 3: Dealing with the plague outbreak of late 1890s which led to renewed urban forms to address the growing city’s multiple problems and finally Part 4: transition to modernity till the recent period.
Each part or sub-book stands on its own very well, and the narrative is easy to absorb and doesn’t feel overwhelming at any point, and again a credit to the authors for keeping it focussed but accessible. The authors deftly use quotes and verified statements from the varied sources to fortify their reasoning. The sidebar narrative with the shortened first-hand accounts of many of the travellers often provide a contemporary context to the narrative.
The authors have embellished the narrative with superbly curated photographs and maps from many varied sources, and the book is a visual treat in itself, independent of the narrative. Specially note the maps of the early Bombay and the maps of the fortified city in Part 1, the aerial photography during the development of the city in Part 2. It is also fascinating to see the pictorials of the different professional people- the tram conductors, policeman, postman and others. Also the authors have provided adequate explanation and directions in the photographs especially in the early ones where it may not be always easy to spot landmarks, roads and areas. Please also note the collage of photos on the start page of every chapter, where the authors try to capture the essence of the chapter excellently. A fun and fascinating suggestion- please keep your Google search and maps handy and try to compare with the current situation- where so many things would have changed in the city and many which wouldn’t have (check the Shaheed Bhagat Singh road- it is still the same!). You will also need Google maps to check many of the street names which would have changed recently, and to understand the references which have been given.
The authors also bring out many facets of the city’s development and I was truly fascinated to understand the period between the 1850s and 1890s where the city grew in leaps and bounds and the made the jump from a town to a bustling metropolis. Also, the authors bring out the contribution of the Indian people to the city (pgs 155-160), again signifying that the city had significant contribution from the indigenous achievers and not just of the ruled. The authors as expected provides a curated bibliography which is of course the next course of action for us readers to explore. The chronology which is provided at the end of the book is quite significant and helps the readers to trace the history in a single sequence and we can always keep a track of the significant events very easily- highly recommended to browse through.
The length and breadth of the city is never constant, and there is always more to explore, and the authors provide a definite pathway towards the same. Highly recommended for all Mumbaikars and everyone who is curious, interested or fascinated by the Urbs Prima in Indis
November 5, 2012
A very beautiful book on the history to the present day status of the city that is Bombay or Mumbai as you would prefer it. The book traces the history of the seven islands and contains gorgeous reproductions of old photographs, water colour paintings, painstakingly drawn sketches and lithographs. A page turner for sure.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews