Landmark Blunders

For giving every high school student a longer history than he deserves, retribution awaits the British legacy today. The victim of destiny in this case is the very travel brochure icon of Mumbai-the Gateway of India. It will soon see a lot of activity that is popularly called ‘restoration’. Three corporates have come together to put the monument back to shape. The bnp Paribas Group, Baccarat and the Taj Group of Hotels have decided to fund a project that some experts fear will be the beginning of the end of the monument.

In 1911, the Gateway of India was built to show the visiting royalty, King George V and Queen Mary, how to enter Mumbai. Now that the couple have passed through the gateway, we have felt a bit free with the big door. Today, some corners of the gateway contain indelible signs of the post-independence era-streaks of paan. But when it comes to destroying a monument, the government, as always, is more effective than the common man.

A few years ago, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) which owns the structure, had made an attempt to ‘restore’ the monument. Out of sheer ignorance and, admittedly, love for the monument, it coated the aging stones with epoxy seals. Over the years, these seals have prevented the stones from breathing and they are heading for ruin. So what the restoration-under the guidance of reputed architect Brinda Somaya-is planning to do is remove these coats. Now, this just may be the death knell, some experts fear.

Tasneem Mehta of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (intach) says: "It’s very difficult to remove those epoxy coats." Some stone experts fear that the process of removing the coats poses a great risk to the stones. They feel there’s less risk for damage if the seal is allowed to erode naturally. Which is said to happen over a 10- to 15-year period.

Steen Elborne, a building micologist from Denmark, has had a good look at the Gateway. He has heard of the restoration plans. And he has this to say: "I’m surprised this project got the nod. The way they plan to do this is all wrong." Jagjit Singh, a UK-based stone expert, echoes the sentiments: "My suggestion to them is to hold on. You can’t solve an equation with a lot of unknowns. Doing something like this might be a big mistake. They should try whatever they’re doing on a small portion of the Gateway."

A member of the Bombay Heritage Society points out that "Somaya is a very good architect but not a fully trained conservationist as her card claims. Many girls go abroad for two or three-month courses and return with a degree. Conservation of old buildings is a highly technical area."

The restoration is expected to be complete by October. Until then, there will be scaffolding around the structure. Somaya explains: "If the Pyramids can be closed for six months during restoration, I’m sure people can bear with the scaffolding."

But more than that, a ceremonial addition at the end of the ‘restoration’ is making a few hands tremble. Since the project will draw to a completion by Diwali, to celebrate the festival of light, a Baccarat chandelier will be hung in the Gateway.

"Just for a week," Somaya adds quickly.

The authorities concerned have okayed this proposal on the ground that the structure is strong enough to take the weight of a chandelier. But this clearly leads to a pertinent question: how visible will the logos and sweet-nothings of the three sponsors be once the job is complete? Somaya is of the opinion that corporate sponsors are somehow, cutely, selfless: "In fact, the issue of visibility has not come up at all. "

But Tasneem doesn’t believe they are so naive. She isn’t elated over the Taj group’s presence. Sometime ago, there was a furore over a miniature of the Gateway that the Taj had built close to the structure itself. This miniature would later serve as a public toilet, an honour George V may not have relished. Tasneem adds: "Taj, being instrumental in building the toilet, has done the greatest damage." The hotel chain, she believes, doesn’t have the moral right to sponsor such a project.

As experts spell the impending doom of the monument when what’s paradoxically called ‘restoration’ begins, the shroud of scaffolding will soon be cast on the icon the city of Mumbai is identified with.