Colaba

As someone who's lived and worked in Bombay for more than a decade, Colaba has always been an exciting place for me. So full of history, redolent of an eventful past, a bit exotic - Colaba is, for me, one of the coolest places in Bombay. This book tells the story of Colaba in a very interesting manner, making its history, geography and sociology come alive like never before. Highly recommended for anyone who's visited Colaba, fallen in love with the place and is eager to know more. I enjoyed reading this thoroughly 👍

I picked up this book, both because I know the lovely author and because I went to Campion School and was curious to read about the neighbourhood it was located in.To understand the history of a place one is familiar with gives one a more intimate connection with the fleeting nature of the past that mirrors the transitoriness of the present.This book brings alive and provides a context to the unique melting pot of colaba culture. It is a neighbourhood that still retains the stylish simplicity of its past even as it slowly relents to the demands of the future.This is history, narrated both through the robust research of archival data and the collection of memories & stories from the hearts of people.

Loved the book!It was a wonderful easy read with tonnes of history lessons and tit bits about the place I grew up in.Shared it with my parents who grew up in Colaba and it activated tonnes of old memories!A must for those who grew up in Colaba.

The book is an accessible modern history of Colaba. The author weaves stories of her life spent in the neighbourhood with its glorious history - events, residents, architecture, infrastructure and its development into the posh community that it is today.

Great Book on history of Colaba

Shabnam Minwalla's perceptive read is insightful and soaked with mushy nostalgia and history of Mumbai city's symbol of resilience, and that's Colaba dear readers. While I say this, the author justifies that the tiny portion at the southern tip of Mumbai proudly owns the cosmopolitan badge of honour and a spot of many firsts that Bombay housed. The name Colaba is said to be derived from the settlement of the Koli community (primary occupation of fishing in deep seas), who survived and thrived and blended in the landscape for the better part of Colaba and it's changing landscape from the real Colaba with it's hillocks flattened, it's mangroves buried and it's boundaries blurred what we see today is a result of being at the hands of the Portuguese, British government housing seafarers, a home to estranged yet Sindhi refugees from Pakistan post partition and evolution as time demands.From the inception of co-operative residential societies, to the Gothic architectural grace and lavish hotels blessed with the sea to grace their charm, scars from ghastly terror attacks, Colaba has it all- embraced, fought and thrived.The author writes sincerely with interesting analogies from literary gems to visits paid by renowned personalities, to define Colaba and it's relevance in Indian history and it's contribution as a tourist spot that invites monsoon-loving Arabs, high hippies, thalassophiles, bun maska fans, chirpy shoppers and lovers of aesthetics.We read about dwellers across generations and the Colaba of their times, its charm and elegance which one would do everything to hold on tight and preserve forever.The warm narration to the dynamic landscape tinted with wit, love and memories give Colaba it's character, it's identity. This book has opened avenues of history which I failed to discover for the longest time, it's a precious read for those who love Mumbai, it's hustling-celebrating-adaptable-resilient ethic. Do read!Verdict: 4⭐/5Love everything about this book!