Gateway of India

Though originally constructed for welcoming the British monarch to India, the Gateway of India ironically turned out to be the monument which saw the last British soldier leave India. Lord Mountbaton left India from here. After giving a formal salute, he created history by literally bowing down to the spirit of India and paying tribute to Mahatma Gandhi and our leaders, for successfully leading a non-violent struggle.
When voyage still competed with air travel, Indians returning home after a long stay abroad rejoiced after sighting the Gateway from far away. It signalled the end of their home sickness and also a feeling of joy and pride for the motherland.
Known as Apollo Bunder, it is one of the most scenic spots in Mumbai. When large ships enter the harbor, passengers returning to Mumbai or India are thrilled to see the Gateway. Even when we returned from Goa after a short holiday, the very sight of the Gateway from a distance excited everyone on board.
Facing the Gateway from the sea side, one sees the Yacht Club on its right. It was an unique open air place where the British Armed Force’s officers sat and relaxed. It was “captured” by SirHomi Bhabha after independence, to make way for Atomic Energy Establishment. The Yacht Club got shifted to a totally indoor environment just two blocks away. No one shed tears for its members.
Visitors to the area have seen technology changes over time. Box cameras and other cameras with roll film were replaced by Polaroid cameras, with photographers roaming around to give instant colour photos, to savor memories. These have now given way to digital cameras and portable printers.
Looking at the Gateway from the sea side, a pier on the left side catches one’s attention. It is a part of Radio Club. One wonders whether it got its name from the marine Radio Officers’ watering hole on the shore. This is where yesteryears’ star Motilal played cards with Shobhana Samarth. She was glamorous in the Card Room but was Seeta for the masses. People adored her for her role in “Ram Rajya” Her daughters Nutan and Tanuja became popular, followed by her grand daughter Kajol.
Next to the old Taj,where the new Taj stands today, was Green’s Hotel. It was a ground plus one structure, There was a terrace, partly covered by a roof but with sides open, to let cool sea breeze come in.
I attended an unforgettable music programme there. There was a raised platform at one end, which served as a stage. Audience was made to sit on the floor.
The programme was of Mukesh, with Jaikishan and a few musicians giving him company. He sang many songs. During a particular song, a tabalchi went wrong and Jaikishan frowned at him. He himself then took over the tabla and Mukesh continued. It was a moment to remember for life time.
Normally, when a singer needs rest after singing many songs, mimicry or some other item is taken up. Here, Jaikishan himself decided to sing two songs, both from their forthcoming films. The first was from “Aaska Panchhi”:
Apni bhi kya zindagi hai nirali,
Jahan gaye, thukraye gaye,
Jaise bottle khali.”
The second, which he introduced as “ The The challenge in the next song was that Raj Saab wanted the minimum orchestra.”” He himself then sang it, which was:
Hotonpe sachai rahti hai,
Jahan dilme safai rahti hai,
Hum us deshke vaasi hai (2),
Jis deshmen Ganga bahti hai.
Handing over the mike to Mukesh back, he added
“You will, of course, get to hear both these songs in Mukeshji’s voice.”Mukesh then introduced his ten year old son Nitin, saying
“Aaj mera beta paheli baar gaa rhaa hain. Aap use aashirwad dijiye.”Nitin then sang
“Ek raatmen do do chand khile,
Ek ghunghatmein,
Ek badlimein
Apni apni manzilse mile.
My memories of the old Taj are also lasting. The first was when our family was invited to lunch there. A person from our home town Bhuj, who had amassed wealth by securing agencies for the entire Kutch district for Dalda and many other FMCG items, was the host. He was known as the Shah Saudagar of Kutch.
He had hired a suit for many months at a stretch. When food was served, he did not find puris in the menu. He insisted on the Taj’s staff getting puris on the table, even if they had to gett from anywhere else.The staff did oblige !
He took us, after the lunch, to watch shooting of a film, which he was part financing. It was the picturisation of the evergreen song “Ina Mina Dika” from “Asha”
My second memory was being taken to the Taj’s famous restaurant, which was then on its ground floor, Sir Homi Bhabha was seated on an adjoining table. (He would have walked in probably from his Yacht Club office, which was just across the road. My father introduced me to him. Later I asked my father how he came to know him personally. My father, who was the Chief Engineer (Electrical) for Koyna Project, rold me that he had been meeting him to discuss with him how to route the transmission line from Koyna to Mumnai, through the property of the Atomic Energy Comission (now known as rhe BARC) at Chembur, without sacrificing the security concerns of their establishment.
The area around the Taj has hardly undergone any change. The Cottage Industries’ Emporium still maintains the same décor. Dhanraj Mahal’s Chinese restaurant and Gujarat Government’s Tourist Office were stil there when I last went there.
The Regal Cinema still hogs limelight. Majestic Hotel , which was reserved for the MLAs, has lost its glory/ The MLAs just had to cross the road, to reach the then Council Hall (Now Police Head Quarters). Still nobody dared question them when they claimed hefty conveyance allowances, for reaching their place of work from their hotel !
The Prince of Wales Museum retains its glory. One can only pray thet itsa sprawling green grounds do not get handed over to builders some day ! It has been named after Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The VT station and the airport
also being named after him, I am reminded of an excellent cartoon by Mr R K Laxman. It showed a foreigner alighting from a taxi at the CST Station and telling the taxi driver “Thanks for bringing me here in time. My flight leaves in half an hour !”