Almost every one of us that has ever been in Bandra had seen it – standing at the junction of Hill Road and BJ Road (BandStand Road), right where Hill Road starts to curve towards Mehboob Studio, diagonally opposite the rear gate of St. Andrew’s church. It was an icon in its own right, yet not many in Bandra ever knew its name.
This magnificent piece of architecture had stood at the junction of Bandra’s two arterial roads for close to a century. One can only imagine the view from its upper floor windows in its heyday, before there were any skyscrapers in the area. It was perhaps located at the best vantage point to view the Arabian Sea and “St. Andrew-by-the-sea” in one vista.
The last few decades hadn’t been kind to it. Locked in legal disputes, it had long been abandoned and in a state of neglect and disrepair. A part of the roof had caved in a year or so ago, and it looked to be in a precarious condition.
On 10th April, in one swoop, it was gone. Another magnificent house from another time in Bandra’s past was obliterated, swiftly and suddenly. The word from the authorities is that it was in a dilapidated condition, and was torn down for “road widening” purposes.
As we lose another piece of our local heritage to the ravages of time, let us enjoy what is still left. And let us remember this one, that was once perhaps one of Bandra’s finest.
Debasish Chakraverty
