A day in Bombay

Bombay Mumbai: a day in the life of an astonishing city by Ayesha Taleyarkhan. Published in 2005 by Gallerie Publishers, 208, Om Chambers, Kemps Corner, Bombay 400036. Pp: 184. Price: Rs 1,950.

It’s a unique idea and one, which Ayesha Taleyarkhan executes, with aplomb. Her book Bombay Mumbai: A day in the life of an astonishing city depicts Bom-bay’s astonishing variety, its cosmopolitan blend of cultures, its spirit of enterprise and entrepreneurship through the device of time. The photos are divided into various sections: dawn, morning, afternoon, evening and night. Multicultural and multi-dimensional, the city of Bombay is irrepressible; and it is the spirit of sheer survival, Taleyarkhan tells us, which fuels the momentum of this city.

In the words of the author, "Honoring this pervasive spirit on camera was a commitment I made to myself. How better than to project Bombay in a 24-hour time frame, capturing the miracle of the city in its many avatars, from the early hours of dawn through the day, to the evening and way into the night and beyond. The diversity and layers beneath layers of social construct offer a photographer infinite opportunities, and I feel privileged to rediscover and enjoy my city, often erasing preconceived notions.”

Scenes from Taleyarkhan’s book: Khichda being prepared during Ramzan (above) and acts of the faithful (alongside)

The book, which presents Bombay is not just a photographic documentary of life in Bombay but a tribute to its people. According to Taleyarkhan, the 24-hour cycle helped reveal the essence of Bombay in a direct dialog with situations as they unfolded. The first photo (6 a.m.) is a shot of one of Bombay’s most famous landmarks, the Gateway of India. Photos of a boatman in the harbor, the performance of morning ablutions, the Sassoon docks (where you can almost smell the fish), and a priest saying his prayers in one of the many temples around Banganga, a unique temple complex situated in the heart of Malabar Hill follow. I particularly liked the center spread of tonsured priests taking a collective dip in the Banganga tank.

Amidst the bustle on Abdul Rehman Street (above); at the Tao Art Gallery (alongside); Taleyarkhan (far right)

This pictorial odyssey covers a myriad images: the share bazaar; Crawford Market; a barber’s stall; a zari worker; Bombay Central Station; Bastani’s Irani restaurant; the dabbawallahs; street children frolicking in the Arabian Sea; Bombay Duck drying in neat rows; Shiamak Davar’s dance academy; the Haji Ali shrine; the red light district; a call center; upmarket discotheques and much more.

Apart from the photos, Ranjit Hoskote, Jane Bhandari, Naresh Fernandes and Nancy Adajania have contributed chapter openers. The Foreword is by Anil Dharker. Rabbi Shergill and Meenakshi Shedde have contributed a perspective and an essay respectively. The book sponsored by Orange and Barclay’s also contains quotes on Bombay from eminent citizens.

As Taleyerkhan says: "Life happens everywhere – in the home, at office and factories, in schools and colleges, in hotels and nightclubs and on the street.” Celebrating as it does Bombay’s unique individuality, this coffee table book offers a moving portrait of a great city.

Bakhtiar K. Dadabhoy