Anita Garware, Chairman Emeritus of the Indian Heritage Society, has long advocated the cause of heritage conservation in Mumbai. We respect her tireless work in this field, as an expression of appreciation and recognition, have written about her various initiatives as below.
1. In 1991 pursued cleaning and restoration of Banganga Tank and environs.
2. Save Banganga Committee was formed with Mr. K Padmanabhaiah, Municipal Commissioner as Chairman and Mrs. Anita Garware as Convenor. Other members were invited as work was envisaged. First task was bringing awareness of Tank, area and need for its conservation as a Shilahara heritage. Thus was born the 1st Banganga Festival on 2nd weekend of January 1992. It was greatly appreciated and put on the list of ‘Festivals of India’.
3. Was invited to become member of the Indian Heritage Society (Bombay Chapter) in 1993 & accept responsibility of being Jt. Hon. Secretary. Later with blessings of Trustees in Delhi, registered Indian Heritage Society as independent Trust under Bombay Public Trust Act, 1950 in 1998.
5. Projects undertaken on behalf of Indian Heritage Society:
a. Conceptualised Banganga Festival, an effort to use ‘Live Music to Save Heritage.
b. Continued supervising efforts to clean Banganga Tank & undertake various requisite repairs in area.
c. Repaired & restored 2 temples in the precinct with kind support of one sponsor. Rameshwar Temple on West Bank and Ganapati Temple on tank edge.
d. Supervised BMC’s restoration of Green House in Victoria Memorial Botanical Garden (today’s Jeejamata Udyan).
e. Pursued cases filed in Bombay High Court against demolition & reconstruction of Balaji Vishwanath Temple at Banganga, and a Jain Mandir in Kalbadevi.
f. Conceptualised and presented ‘Son et Lumiere’ on development of Bombay for CII on 25th Feb 1995, using the University’s Heritage structures to tell the ‘Mumbai Katha’.
This effort –
I. Raised funds for restoration of all stained glass under supervision of expert from York.
ii. Organised concert by Pandit Bhimsen Joshi on 20th April 1997 to raise funds for repairs & restoration of University’s Convocation Hall.
iii. Appealed for sponsorship for complete repairs & restoration of the University’s Rajabai Tower & Library. A project that took many years to complete, from 2004 to 2018. In 2019 UNESCO gave Award of Recognition for this effort.
iv. To bring awareness of rich cultural & built heritage, organised ‘Art in the Park’ events in various parks in city. This brought together citizens in localities, regardless of their economic or religious class, to showcase their talents. It also gave opportunity to disabled children to participate.
6. In 2006 Bombay High Court passed restrictions on use of loudspeakers in certain areas, thus moved the annual Festival using ‘Live Music to Save Heritage’ to open-air venue opposite the steps of the Asiatic Library from second weekend of January 2009, the festival is called ‘Mumbai Sanskriti’. IHS organized their 32nd edition of this festival on 13th and 14th January 2024 (above pic).
7. Represented IHS on 1st Heritage Committee of MCGM in the year 1995.
8. Wrote Cover page articles in ‘The Voice of Malabar Hills’ to introduce city and it’s development. (From 2015 to 2019).
9. In 2019, Dr. Ajeenkya D.Y.Patil University, Pune presented her with a Doctor of Letters, ‘Honoris Causa’, an Honorary Doctorate for her ‘dedicated contribution to the cause of healthcare, heritage and education’.
On behalf of our publication we wish her good health and a long life!
(By Editorial Committee of ‘The Voice of Malabar Hills”)
Pictures:
1. The first Banganga Festival in January 1992.
2. Banganga Festival stage.
3. Mumbai Sanskriti Festival at Asiatic Library.
4. Governor of Maharashtra receiving UNESCO Award for restoration of University’s Rajajbai Tower & Library.
5. Anita Garware at the “Art in the Park’ festival.
6. Anita Garware with Pandit Jasraj at the Mumbai Sanskriti festival.
7. Placard at University of Mumbai’s Rajabai Tower & Library displaying UNESCO award.
8. Dr Ajinkya Patil presenting Anita Garware with a Doctor of Letters, ‘Honoris Causa’, an Honorary Doctorate.
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