[Reader-list] Conversation with Kishu - Part I

[zainab at xtdnet.nl]

7th March 2005

This morning, I had my first telephonic conversation with Kishu. Kishu
lives in Anand Nivas, Churchgate, ‘A’ Road. The motive of doing the
conversation with him today was to find out more about the security
measures which the residents of the ‘A’ Road on Churchgate / Marine Drive
have recently undertaken.

These days, I walk towards Marine Drive from Churchgate Station, landing
on the ‘A’ Road and then heading out. As I walk around ‘A’ Road, I notice
that buildings in the area have clear marks of property. Signs read,
“Private Property – Rights of Admission Reserved with Owners” or “Private
Property – Trespassers Will Be Prosecuted”. The other day, owing to work
in the post office at Churchgate, I entered into two of the buildings at
‘A’ Road and found that both of them had sophisticated Surveillance
Security Television Cameras which screen people entering the building.
During my years of studying in that area, in Jai Hind College, I had not
known of such strict security measures. I am trying to understand when
these measures were introduced and how this area changed and became so
highly security conscious. For this reason, I thought I’d excavate Kishu’s
memories since he is a resident of the area and he may know of how things
came to be the way they are today.

A Brief Gist of the Conversation:

1.	Tell me about the installation of security cameras and private guards
in this area? When and why did this happen?
Earlier, we used to have a chowkidar in each of the buildings in the area.
In Maharashtra State, you have the Maharashtra Security Guards Association
to which you must pay the salary of the chowkidar. The Association then
deducts PF, HRA, etc. from it and hands over the salary to the chowkidar
which is usually a little amount. In the case of a chowkidar, he may be
absent on some days. But when you have a private security guard from a
company, the company will make arrangements for an alternative if the
guard is absent. The company also takes care of the night shift duty and
rotation of watchmen in day and night time. We simply have to pay the
salaries of the watchmen to the company which then takes care of
everything. The company is also related with the Maharashtra Security
Guards Association.
Now, when you ask me about the surveillance cameras, these are there in
two buildings on ‘A’ Road. One of these buildings has a compound which is
rented out for marriages, parties, etc. and the other one has commercial
premises in their compound. These two societies are rich and can afford to
have security cameras. Further, these hi-tech arrangements help to raise
the real estate prices. So when you have to sell your house in one of
these buildings, you are likely to receive a higher amount because you
have sophisticated security arrangements in your building premises.
The residents in these areas are security conscious.

2.	How does it feel to live in Churchgate area? Is it a high security risk
area to live in?
Not at all! In fact Churchgate is the safest area to live in and this is
primarily due to three reasons: one, all the buildings have a compound
wall which means that if the thief is to enter the building, he first has
to climb over the compound wall and then enter the building. Secondly, the
art deco style of the buildings in this area contribute to the safety. Art
deco style buildings have a narrow entrance in front – only one entrance.
The buildings on Marine Drive in fact are more prone to risk because they
have two entrances: one on the front side for residents and the other on
the backside for servants to enter. The compound walls of buildings like
Zaver Mahal, Keval Mahal and all these buildings on Marine Drive (seafront
side) are low. Moreover, because of the Rent Act system, the tenants pay a
low amount to the landlords as rent. Hence, landlords don’t care to employ
private security because it will be a personal expense for them. These
buildings are more susceptible to security hazards. Finally, Churchgate
area is well lit and that also makes the place very secure to live in.

3.	It appears to me that living in Churchgate and Marine Drive area, your
individual identity is usually linked with that of the building in which
you live? Can you comment on this?
One thing which you must remember is that Bombay has the second largest
number of Art Deco Buildings in the world, the first being Miami. Further,
the Marine Drive precinct is the most beautiful in the world. So there is
naturally pride in living in this area. Now, at Churchgate, we are usually
recognized by the buildings in which we live. But this is even more
prominent at Cuffe Parade and at Napean Sea Road where there are also art
deco style buildings. At Cuffe Parade, the building identity is much more
stronger. A Cuffe Parade person will always say, “Yeah, I live in Meher
Dad or work in Maker Tower, etc.” and will recognize another Cuffe Parade
person by the building in which he/she lives.
In a locality, you will always have a building identity. At Churchgate and
Marine Drive, how many buildings are there in all? About forty to fifty –
that’s it. Hence, people recognize each other by the buildings they each
live in.
4.	But would that building recognition/identity matter if you went in
another area in Mumbai say Bandra?
Absolutely not! It only holds true in Churchgate/Marine Drive area. Nobody
outside the area will know my building!

5.	There was also a phase when a lot of residents of Churchgate/Marine
Drive area moved out and acquired flats in Bandra. Please talk about this.
You have to know that each area in the city has a life of its own. In the
case of Churchgate and Marine Drive, the residents moved in the area in
the early ‘30s and ‘40s. Their children grew up in this area and soon,
some went to study abroad, some got married and wanted to move out of the
house. The trend of nuclear families came in. So people in this area
decided to move out. Even now, as I live in this area, I miss the presence
of young people in my area. Of course, there are children who are growing
up fast. During my time, there were many young people and we used to have
a thousand parties each day. That no longer happens now because there are
hardly any young people in my area.

6.	How does it feel to live in this area?
Fantastic! This area has amazing art deco buildings and a beautiful
precinct. There are two maidans in this area namely Azad Maidan and the
Oval. Which other area in the city has two maidans? We have large open
spaces. The area is beautiful. If you stand and look at Eros cinema, it
will give you the impressionist view when you look from down to up. It has
a telescopic effect. Further, this area is a mixed-use area with
residential and commercial complexes. So, the traffic begins to clear out
in the evenings. The area empties out by the evening. If you go to Bandra,
all it has are residential buildings. Places of work are in Andheri and
Malad. So the area becomes congested in the evenings. Moreover, Churchgate
/ Nariman Point is the Central Business District (CBD) in Mumbai.

7.	The hawkers on ‘A’ Road got cleared out sometime ago. Why did this move
take place? Can you tell me about the current arrangement to keep hawkers
away?
(Now he gets cautious.) Are you recording all of this? (I tell him I am
not and that he need not be politically correct about this.) No, no, I
don’t need to be politically correct with you on this. Frankly, I don’t
know much about this. All I can tell you is that the hawkers got moved out
because of the rule that you cannot hawk around 150 meters from a railway
station and from educational institutions.
8.	When exactly did the hawkers get moved out? Was it around the time when
hawkers at Nariman Point also got moved out?
Yeah, perhaps, about a year ago ...

9.	A couple of other questions. What is your first memory of being at the
Nariman Point promenade?
Can’t remember right now. The only first memory I have is of feeding the
pigeons on the promenade.

10.	How does it feel to live in Churchgate where on the one hand you have
your private space and just a few furlongs away, you have the promenade
where many strangers come everyday?
If you are asking me from the point of view of intrusion of privacy in the
area, well, I don’t feel intruded upon.
11.	 And how does it feel living so close to Churchgate Railway station
which has lakhs of people coming in everyday?
To be honest, it does not matter at all now. Like you get used to
everything else in Mumbai, I have also gotten used to this.





Zainab Bawa
Bombay
www.xanga.com/CityBytes
http://crimsonfeet.recut.org/rubrique53.html