Disappearing signages!
1. EASTERN WATCH
Above is a photograph of the Eastern Watch shop from the 1920s – when it was established. This picture has been taken from their website www.easternwatch.in
The signage that has disappeared are those of the Eastern Watch on the left, right and at the top, as well as the lettering painted on the arches (as pictured in the photograph above). These bright red signs were a city landmark in themselves.
The story of their disappearance is really infuriating. In the summer of 2007 the municipal corporation asked the owners to take off the signage from the facade. Mumbai’s new heritage laws disallow sign boards on heritage structures, is what they told the owners. Commissariat Building (pictured above) is a heritage structure in the historic Fort area of Bombay. The building faces D. N. Road near VT (Victoria Terminus; renamed to Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus now). Eastern Watch is located on the curved corner of the building.
Isn’t this signage a part of the heritage too??!! Ironically the municipal corporation does not recognise this. Can anything be more maddening!!! The owner (Mr. Rajiv Mohan Jalan) has taken off the signs – the ones mounted on the facade – and stored them carefully. He was afraid that the corporation would come and break them down. The old signs made of cement was entirely intact except for one alphabet that had fallen off earlier. The signs painted on the arches have been wiped off.
The new signage replacing the old one is pictured below (notice the: ‘Since 1920′ in the corner). No, it is not mounted on the facade of the building as the old sign was, but under the arch. Heritage issue resolved!
Comments and suggestions to prevent such happenings in the future shall be welcome. I can only raise awareness, but the heritage activists need to take up the cause.
In many cases the owners themselves want to change the old signage regardless of its heritage value and since their is no law from preventing them from doing so, they cannot be stopped. However in the case of Eastern Watch, the owners were reluctant to dismantle the old sign and have even now preserved it carefully. For some businesses, such as this one dealing in grandfather clocks, the old signage really works well with the business strategy.
And as citizens and clients our appreciation towards lovingly preserved artifacts can go a long way in encouraging the owners and shopkeepers in their efforts in that direction. After all for them it is a family heirloom and when they receive appreciation for preserving it, then even the new generation of owners are discouraged from dismantling the old world charm. In fact it becomes the new USP!
2. STAR OF ASIA
Time takes its toll. ‘Star of Asia’ (the classic Irani cafe of Bombay) is now ‘Yoko Sizzlers’ (the trendy place for the new yuppies). This place is also situated in the heritage precinct of Fort, just off D. N. road.
The picture below was taken in early 2003 as part of the Typocity project. Notice the lovely Gothic font and ‘Estd. 1938′ on either side of the star on top. This sign lasted 65 years! And now its gone.
This picture was taken in June 2007. Actually on the corner of the curved facade it still says ‘Star of Asia’ in small letters, in Hindi and in English (not visible in this frame).
Watch this space for more…
