Mumbai North is a collection black and white - photographs taken 15,000 ft above sea level between December 2014 and November 2015 of Mumbai's suburbs by photographer Robert D Stephens.
After the success of his two previous exhibitions, 'Mumbai Articles' (2014) and 'Madras Transit' (Aug 2015) were, Stephens offers an alternate lens into the urban geography, landscape and sprawl of the city's suburbs with Mumbai North.
What makes this photograph unique is that it is accompanied bya record of air pollution levels on the corresponding day, as measured by the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board as well as extracts from antiquarian books related to Mumbai, dating back to the late 1800s.
Jamsetjee Causeway
February 2015.br.
SO2 - 14 ug / m3
NOx - 28 ug / m3
RSPM - 124 ug / m3
"In olden days, the great commercial highway of Bombay was separated by a strait from the thickly populated island of Salsette. As there was no passage by land, people going from Mahim to Bandra and vice versa, had to cross a stretch of treacherous water in small ferry boats. This caused untold miseries to people of both the islands. During the rains, the crossing was rendered extremely hazardous due to storms and treacherous currents, which resulted in the upsetting of the boats and the drowning of passengers and animals. These disasters were not infrequent.
A great disaster stunned the people of both the islands in 1841, when from fifteen to twenty boats capsized while crossing the creek during the rainy season, and many lives were lost. Everywhere people talked of this dire calamity. At last the story of this grim tragedy reached Lady Jamsetjee's ears. The hour was struck and the donor was found. On behalf of this gracious lady, Jamsetjee wrote to the Government that if they could not find necessary funds to build the causeway, his wife was willing to defray Rs. 45,000 towards its cost.
The work began simultaneously from both sides on February 8, 1843. After some time the authorities once again discovered that the estimate had fallen woefully short of the actual sum needed to complete the structure. The Bombay Government was reluctant to approach Lady Avabai, so they applied to the Courtof Directors to make up the deficit. As this would inevitably cause a delay of months, and lest a fresh tragedy occur and lead to a further loss of lives, Lady Avabai increase the amount from Rs. 1,00,000 to Rs. 1,40,000 on condition that no toll should be levied on the public. The causeway was ready in March 1845."
Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy
Jehangir R.P. Mody
1959
Page 123 - 124
Robert D. Stephens is a Principal at RMA Architects, Mumbai. His passions include the art of building and constructing beauty through visual, literary, and cinematic imagery. In 2013 he co-produced a feature film with India's first You Tube star, Wilbur Sargunaraj, entitled "Simple Superstar".
About Mumbai North
Aerial Photographs of Mumbai's Suburbs by Robert D. Stephens
Click links below to see his other collections:
Mumbai Articles Madras Transit After the success of Mumbai Articles, Stephen's contemporary black and white, aerial photographs of Mumbai city, photographer Robert D Stephens turns his attentions to the surburbs of Mumbai. This January, he brings us Mumbai North, an urban portrait collection of suburban geography, featuring black and white photographs taken 15,000 ft above sea level between December 2014 and November 2015. Suburbs documented range from Nalasopara to Bhiwandi, Vikhroli to Aarey Colony, Bandra to Kandivali, and more.