This is an intimate history of Colaba, and in extension, of Mumbai. This captivating and delightful book by Shabnam Minwalla offers a mesmerizing account of the varied nuances and dynamics of this southernmost tip of Mumbai. Its gripping anecdotes inspire nostalgia through affable personal narratives to weave a magical history of Colaba, its role during the British rule and the characters and incidents that have eventually defined and shaped it.

The little diamond at the southern tip of Mumbai, called Colaba, enjoys a remarkable place in the history and the cultural evolution of the island of Mumbai. Colaba derives its name from the Kolis, a community of fishermen who gracefully integrated into the changing landscape and culture of the tiny island from the earlier centuries to the occupation of the Portuguese and the British in the later years. The author has drawn interesting analogies to describe the metamorphosis of Colaba and its neighborhood from her childhood days to the inception of co operative housing societies, the architectural brilliance, and the ghastly terror attack in the more recent times. The diversity and multi culturalism of the area is evident through the eccentric Parsis of Cusrow Bagh, the shopkeepers of the Causeway, the industrious Sindhis, the illustrious musicians and artists who lived and frequented this neighborhood form an intricate part of this tableaux.

Shabnam Minwalla traces the transformation of Colaba from rocky and jackal infested mangroves to the largest cotton export market in the country called Cotton Green. The construction of the Colaba Causeway in 1838 finally connected the tiny island to the mainland Bombay. The Colaba Causeway had an inconceivable impact on the Bombay of the nineteenth century. This was a phase of massive growth for the port of Bombay in terms of the creeks getting filled, of causeways extended and reclamation companies established. Due to its strategic location and proximity to the harbor Colaba became the centre of the cotton green movement from 1844. A number of structures sprang up during this period such as the Watson’s Hotel, the Sailor’s Home, the Colaba station, the Taj Mahal Hotel, the Gateway of India and the Regal cinema. This led to a stream of individuals and groups arriving from all parts of the world lending their unique style and character to the way of life in Colaba.

Colaba’s most iconic structure, the Taj Mahal Hotel was constructed by Jamsetji Tata. The hotel started operations on 1st December 1903 and attracted an array of guests comprising British Governors and civil servants, Indian princes, merchants, Parsi millionaires, tourists, and gamblers. Thus, lending a distinct diversity to the area. Shabnam Minwallah’s book is an alluring read with its heartwarming personal stories of ordinary as well as great men and women with mettle, determination, and adventure. Colaba’s uniqueness stems from its ability to transform itself with the passage of time and embrace and assimilate different cultures and peoples.  Minwalla brings the characters and the stories to life with her in depth and sensitive portrayal of the history of Colaba. There are a few caveats. This is potentially a coffee table book and would have benefitted from colour illustrations and photographs.