Heritage honors

Among the winners of the Indian Heritage Society’s Urban Heritage and Citizens’ Awards, presented at Bombay’s Raj Bhavan by Maharashtra governor S. M. Krishna, were Yazdani Bakery, the Banyan Park office complex of the Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) in Andheri and Dr Anahita Pandole for her persevering battle to remove hoardings from heritage precincts.

Zyros Zend, third generation partner of Yazdani Bakery in Bombay’s Fort area was quoted by Hindustan Times (HT) in its edition of December 13, 2007 as saying: "My grandfather wanted to build a place for people to have brun maska and tea, and I am going to keep it that way.” The loudest cheers at the awards functions were reserved for the tall, strapping Zyros, as he ushered his father Zend and uncle Pervez onto the dais, reported The Times of India (TOI) of the same date, in appreciation of the grit of the men who run the famous bakery which has acquired a heritage status all its own. Their century old business is located in the 50-year-old ground storied building tucked away in Cawasji Patel Street which has retained its quaint charm, added The Indian Express (IE) of December 13. The family has resisted temptation to sell in order to continue tradition for generations to come, according to HT.

"Rock and roll,” quipped Zend to describe his ecstatic happiness to The Financial Express (FE) dated December 18, 2007. "We never even knew that there was an award like this,” added the Yazdani bakery partner. "We are honest and transparent with our partners who are family members, and that is the reason for our success.” When FE enquired whether the award had led to an increase in footfalls, Zend bellowed: "No award will make a difference to the number of people coming here. Our flavor draws in the crowd.”

Clockwise (from right): Exterior and interior of Yazdani Bakery; Zend M. Zend accepting award from governor S. M. Krishna as brother Pervez and son Zyros look on; Anahita Pandole receiving honor

The first award for adaptive reuse went to the Banyan Park office complex of TCS, situated off the Western Express Highway, informed TOI. Its architect Brinda Somaya agreed that the original five cottages were of no grand architectural value. However, once the newly converted dining halls, conference rooms and office spaces emerged from the midst of the shrubbery, it was "as if a caterpillar had metamorphosed into a beautiful butterfly.” In fact, TCS has been careful to retain the natural habitat of bats and insects that are the "original occupants of the space.”

Gynecologist Pandole was honored for filing a public interest petition in 2002 against illegal hoardings, informed HT, which quoted her as saying: "Hoardings are eating up footpaths, gardens and heritage buildings. Getting court orders implemented is an ordeal.” The IE added that while the matter is still in the Supreme Court, Pandole is now fighting to get hoardings off coastal areas.