As I scrolled through Instagram, a haunting picture halted my progress. Taken curiously on a full moon night. Vaguely I seemed to remember this house that’s tragically gone to ruin. It was in its heyday when I saw it. This is one of the many handsome stone edifices that were left behind by the Raj in the South of Old Bombay. There is no doubt that the British were imperfect. But they constructed magnificent buildings and institutions. Fort and Ballard Estate have an entire heritage precinct dedicated to them. Buildings with a proud history tell a fascinating story.
Many have survived. Conserved from environmental destruction. Then lovingly restored. Multinational companies and foreign banks now occupy the area. Also by courts, police stations, educational institutions, libraries, hotels, railroads, and armed forces. Maintained by aesthetes with pride in architecture. This building got left out. I wonder why. Even so, it stands like a ghostly reminder of its glory days. Overrun by nature gone wild. Spoiled by the environmental forces. Man has neglected it for reasons that elude me.
It is not on my path. The creaking gates might have lured me in. Staring up at the black holes in its windows with fear. Boldly trespassing. But the building looks forbidding and unfriendly. It makes me wonder what lies beyond the front door. Upon reaching the top of the grand staircase, I’ll likely find phantoms of the family’s past gliding down the stairs to greet me. And will I discover wretched sepia memories of life remaining from when the building was a home? There’s a postbox standing forlornly outside. Maybe I’ll run into the postman while he’s on his rounds. He might know the story.
About Mark Manuel
The above thoughts/content has been proudly copied from the wall of Sir Mark Manuel. Being interviewing almost every role model of this country and going stronger each day. Mark Manuel is a respected Mumbai editor, writer, and columnist.
With over three decades of journalism in leading publications. This includes the Free Press Journal, Times, Dainik Bhaskar, Mid-Day, and Afternoon. He is famous for his brilliant pen interviews. He himself is a TEDx speaker.
Further
His interviews have featured in several leading media houses. They include the Hindustan Times, Huffington Post, BBC, and Network 18. Almost every famous person has been interviewed by him. In the country from Mother Teresa to Muhammad Ali. His first book is just out. It’s titled Moryaa Re! It is a crime thriller that is perhaps the country’s first police procedural. He began his career covering crime. And in a tribute to his experience and knowledge of this beat.
Several distinguished officers of the Mumbai Police and its Crime Branch collaborated with him to make this book possible. In a statement of friendship for Mark Manuel and admiration for his work, Amitabh Bachchan wrote the forward.
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