Just when I thought it was time to bid adieu to the pleasant winter of Mumbai, the winds of change presented a metaphorically pleasant day. I spent an invigorating Sunday with storehouses of cultural knowledge. After two tediously long years of conservation, the Afghan War Memorial Church in Colaba, Mumbai, was throwing open its doors. The church, which has been awaiting a new lease of life for almost three decades, has finally been restored to its former glory.
Could this be a beautiful new addition to Mumbai’s list of historic outdoor spaces for events? In a city where space is always a constraint, I would sincerely hope so.
The evening began with a formal service followed by a melodious choir. Guests were privy to the beautifully restored, stunning stained glass windows, with the last rays of the evening sun lit up the colours, accentuating their delicate designs and motifs. The church has one of the largest collections of original English stained glass windows in India.
Narrating various Biblical scenes, these windows were unfortunately damaged due to climatic conditions over the years. The team of restorers had the task of preserving exquisite craftsmanship and artistry, which I am sure could not have been easy.
The architect leading the project, Kirtida Unwalla, said the most challenging part of restoration was the roof. The original drawings were first studied in depth. Time, experience, and practical understanding were required to then successfully restore the structure. All the while maintaining authenticity to its originality.
As I walked past the information tablets placed at the church, I learnt about the history and the geopolitics involved in the building of the church. Perhaps it is this historic significance along with exceptional architecture and design, which led World Monuments Fund India to take on the task of facilitating its restoration.
In understanding the historic significance one dwells into the diversity and complicated history of India and its stance during the Afghan Wars. The nation was at the time, under the British Raj. The First (1838 - 1842) and Second (1838 - 1840) Afghan War saw several casualties from British India, a large number of these being part of the East India Company’s Bombay Army. To commemorate these war heroes, in 1843, a meeting was held to discuss the building of the church. Five years later in 1847, the foundation stone was finally laid by the then Governor of Bombay, His Excellency Sir George Russell Clerk.
There is profound sense of beauty in the fact that the church is an amalgamation of cultural heritage and an acknowledgement of the tragedies of war rather than simply a religious edifice. This diversity seems to continue with the restoration given the number of stakeholders involved. The successful restoration of the church has involved the coming together of three entities, The Pastorate Committee, who are the custodians of the church, World Monuments Fund India, the mediators and project lead and Citi India’s CSR channel. Clearly a testimony that successful collaboration can create real impact on ground, not only on Instagram and LinkedIn.
But as the rest of the evening unfolded with insightful speeches, I could only wonder, what now? How can this historic marvel be promoted? And more importantly how can it be self-sustaining?
The clear answer was utilisation of the space around the monument for community engagements and events. The volume of visitors required to successfully maintain this area on a daily basis can only be possible with public engagements. Mount Mary Church in Bandra for example, has a footfall of thousands during the annual Bandra Fair. Events also have the power to create a sense of belonging for the locals and connect people to a place.
A diverse audience can also lead to further acknowledgment and knowledge exchange on the historic significance of the church and appreciation. Be it the timber roof, which stands resilient, the stone memorial and metal plaques, commemorating the lives lost, the geometric patterns and floral designs of the mosaic walls, or the porbunder limestone altar. Each exquisite aspect of the church has been restored with the highest level of detailing.
But there has to be an action plan to successfully maintain the structure. Preservation has to be followed by promotion.
Monuments survive on the influx of people and while the process of restoration of a structure takes tremendous hard work and expertise, so does maintaining them. Religious monuments can at times have several regulations when it comes to organising public events. However, the history of the church, along with Mumbai’s culturally diverse landscape, seems to be inviting enough for a cornucopia of programmes.
As the evening concluded and the church bells tolled in celebration, I could only think of the histories monuments narrate. For now, the restoration and the evening is also etched in the memory of this place. If only stones could speak. Perhaps, the world would be a kinder, gentler place.