Backbay Reclamation and Nariman Point

A prospectus, published in England, for an initial public offering (IPO) of shares, mentioned the following:

A company, to be named as “The Backbay Reclamation Co” will be formed in England, for reclaiming land, by filling up shallow back waters of a bay in south Bombay. The land so created, will be used for constructing bungalows in the vicinity of The Bombay Baroda & Central India (BB&CI) Railway’s Colaba Terminus. This will be a prime locality and appreciate in value.”

Soon the Second World War started and the share issue flopped, because not many thought that the land would fetch any value. The shares did not fetch value.  The Backbay Reclamation project was, however, later taken up by  government.

Simultaneously, a well known lawyer, Nariman, played a major role in the Indian National Congress. He was aspiring to become its President but was voted out by supporters of heavy weights. His memory was later given a pride of place, by naming the extension of Marine Drive’s retaining wall after him. The tip of the nearly 10 ft wide wall, called Nariman Point, became a popular place for evening walks on holidays.  The long wall preceding it had no railing on either side. I remember tension on my parents’ faces whenever I, as a child, strayed towards one of its edges. Rocks around the periphery of the area surrounding the end of the wall, which was literally the Nariman Point, lly occupied by urchins trying to catch crabs. It was a nightmare for vegetarians.

 The first modern building, to come up in the area, was Stanvac Building, later renamed as Esso building. The government built some bungalows where the reclamation ended then. Waves during high tide splashed against bedroom walls with repeated force. My father, being a government officer, was allotted one of the bungalows. I, therefore, had the pleasure cum ordeal of staying there for two years (1951-52). I have used the word ordeal because it was then a God forsaken place. If one ran out of even a matchbox, he would need to walk all the way to Churchgate, in scorching heat of summer, with not a soul or a tree around.  Also, my school bus driver had to be persuaded with folded hands to take a detour from his normal routeto pass through this deserted place, just for me. Every time a postman came, he got exasperated by walking the long distance in sweltering heat and our act of humanity comprised offering him a glass of water. 

There were, however, unusual plus points too, of living in one of the bungalows there  in Backbay Reclamation are of Nariman Point.  Collecting shells from the backyard, during low tide, was one of them. Growing vegetables in front was another. Learning to ride a bicycle was also an advantage.

 There were dilapidated structures housing major government offices like Tourism Department and also the Electric Grid Department, at one end of the row of the bungalows.  One day I found a shamiana in a large vacant plot opposite these offices. With childhood curiosity, I walked in, with a Kodak Baby Browny camera, costing Rs 17/-, in my hand. No one stopped me. Soon, the then Chief Minister Mr B G Kher arrived and laid the foundation stone of what is today the Sachivalaya.  

Right opposite this plot was a corner building “Beacon”. Later in my profession, I had to visit the French Trade Commissioner’s office  on the fourth floor in this building. After finishing my work, I would always make it a point to climb down stairs, rather than take the lift. Reason: music director Shankar lived on a lower floor and his name plate always inspired me to hum his inimitable tunes !

One of my relatives, working for Voltas, as a sales person in their air conditioners’ department, had sold a window AC to Shankar. This gentleman always recalled how Shankar opened his cupboard, filled with currency notes, to pay for the AC. With income tax’s highest slab being 90 %, no wonder hae preferred to keep cash away from banks!

 

Opposite the other end of the row of the bungalows was a building: “Commonwealth”. My father in law, during late fifties,  had a flat in this building. He had given it out on rent to Vyjayantimala. ( One of his close relatives, similarly, in sixties,  had given his bungalow, in Juhu Scheme, on rent to Hema Malini) Some of their nephews were keen to double up as rent collectors ! They were falling over each other, to get a glimpse of the screen goddesses !

 By early sixties, the vast expanse of the open ground between the row of the bungalows and the Nariman Point walkway had become a favourite spot for young couples in courtship. There was a small kiosk, showing documentary films, after it became dark in the evening.  It collected a small crowd of people loitering in the area and drew curses from the young couples, for disturbing their privacy! 

By late sixties, the first multistorey building “Nirmal” came up in this area. I was, by then, employed with Tata Electric Companies in Bombay House at Flora Fountain (Hutatma Chowk). It was decided to shift our office to “Nirmal” in Nariman Point. I was made in charge of the shifting project.  Lifts in the 24 storey Nirmal building had not yet been commissioned. I had to, therefore, climb all the 24 floors practically every day. (Cooling towers for the AC plant were installed on the terrace) After 4-5 months of hard work, the premises were ready for us to occupy. On the eve of the shifting, our MD visited the place. He found it to be so good that he instantly decided to shift Tata Computer Centre (presently TCS) there and shunt our office to a building in Ballard Estate !

 

I had the privilege of working for Mr F C Kohli in Tata Electric Companies.  He was then given the charge of forming TCS. By that time, TCS required more space. He decided, therefore, to hire space in the newly constructed Air India building. Mr Kohli picked me up to be in charge of the electrical installation for a new main frame computer in the new premises. Incidentally, he lived just across the road in the Commonwealth building, mentioned before. TCS owes a lot to him for its phenomenal success.

 

Other buildings came up rapidly in this area. It is difficult to believe that our town planners just forgot about providing greenery. Also, there were neither parking facilities nor food courts planned. Hawkers grabbed the opportunity and mushroomed there. . Well paid, well educated employees working in the areas were left to fend for themselves roadside food and  water filled from taps to wash down the food.

 

Indian Express Building, Oberoi Hotel and other buildings filled up the landscape.

National Centre for Prforming Arts (NCPA) was an unique auditorium. Built with thousands of “sound mirrors” meticulously positioned individually by hand, to provide the ideal acoustics, is unparalleled.  Why sound, even a whisper generated on the stage in its centre reaches every chair with unbelievable clarity, without the use of microphones and loudspeakers. It simply could not have been done even with love or money. I know this for sure, because it was constructed by Larsen & Toubro Limited, for which I worked for nearly 30 years, before my retirement (though in different departments).