Do you know the sea began where the quaint lanes of Chapel road et al ended? Well, it did.
Longtime residents of Bandra also know how St. Peter’s Church Sea Side Cemetery got its unique name. Years before, the land was reclaimed for what is known casually as “Reclamation”. In our need (and greed), we reclaimed from the sea. Now in 2023, we are doing the same, albeit slightly differently.
Both St. Peter’s and the Jewish Bandra Cemetery, located on what was called Cemetery lane then, were recently in the news. BMC had issued notices to reclaim land for widening the renamed Kadeshwari Marg. However, following a massive turnout for an impromptu meeting and a candle light protest march objecting to the notices, things changed.
While the issue remains in limbo, a silver lining from dark clouds descended onto the Jewish Cemetery in the form of a group of enthusiastic and passionate people known as Citizens of Mumbai, who reached out a helping hand for the living and the dead!
On witnessing the sorry state of the Jewish Cemetery, with the grounds in disrepair, the graves grimy, the walls crumbling, and garbage heaped outside the gate, this motley crew of Mumbaikars decided to roll up their sleeves and BE THE CHANGE.
A call for help from Viren de Sá, founder of Zamorin of Bombay Tours, supported by Abraham Yehuda, Acting Chairman of the Caretaker Committee of the Bandra Jewish Cemetery, was answered by many like-minded Mumbaikars, including B.Com students from St. Xavier’s College, a hotelier, Ashish Pingale, two postgraduate students of Philosophy from Mumbai University, Amee Parikh, known for a clean-up drive at Bandra Talao, and Viren who with Amee, have just completed a Master’s in Ancient Indian Culture and Archaeology – which made organising this project an application of the theory they learned.
Representing a diverse yet inclusive, caring Mumbai, they spent Sunday, 29th January sweeping and washing away decades of dirt and grime. Reverence and care was taken to protect the tombstones. Six hours and 60 bags of garbage later, showed a visible change but more is needed. Additionally, the BMC at H-West Ward has been requested to clear the garbage dump outside the main gate and attend to the worrying rat infestation within.
Though this cemetery came into existence in 1957, St. Peter’s Seaside cemetery has been in use for 115 years, long before encroachments took over this otherwise forgotten stretch.
Thanks to the “Not Even An Inch” campaign by the Bombay Catholic Sabha, the spotlight is firmly back on the importance of urban planning. And the happy offshoot is the tsunami of concern and care for minorities like the Jewish community who like others, have made Mumbai their beloved home eons ago.
As always Mumbai gives back to her citizens through people like Viren and group, so join them to restore the sacred spaces of one of the city’s oldest and tiniest communities. Sunday, 12th February has been fixed for round 2 of cleansing the hallowed ground, message 9969312066.
Public support is solicited for future plans which include pathways, benches, plants, repair of walls, painting and toilet facility.
As long as we live, they too will live; for they are now a part of us; as we remember them – Jewish Prayer
