By John B Monteiro

Jun 14: Are we at the threshold of ending the Victorian era in Mumbai with all it symbolisms and vestiges set for fade-out with the latest judicial order? To start with, here is the latest development in this sector.

Observing that the horse-drawn carriages, famously known as 'Victoria' carriages plying in Mumbai were "illegal and violative of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act", the Bombay High Court On June 8, 2015 directed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to completely ban them after a year. A division bench of Justices A S Oka and A K Menon was hearing a public interest litigation filed by city-based NGO 'Animals and Birds Charitable Trust' alleging cruelty to horses by using them for joyrides.

The High Court directed all authorities to ensure that use of horse-drawn carriages and/or Victorias in Mumbai shall be completely stopped after a year. "We hold that the use of horse-driven carriages/Victorias in Mumbai for joyrides is completely illegal. The activity of using horse-driven carriages only for joyrides solely for human pleasure is an avoidable activity and is violative of Section 3 and 11 of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act," the bench said.

The court has also directed that all stables meant for horses in the city be closed down after a year. Taking into account the fact that around 700 families are dependent of this business of Victoria carriages, the court has asked the state government to formulate a scheme for rehabilitation of these families by December 31, 2015 and submit a compliance report in January 2016 before the High Court.

The tryst of British royalty with Bombay, now named Mumbai, goes back to nearly five centuries. In1543 the original seven islands constituting later-day Bombay were seized by the Portuguese from Bahadur Shah of Gujarat and remained in their control until 1661. Following this period, the isles were ceded as dowry for Catherine de Braganza when she married Charles II of England. (In turn, he leased the isles to East India Company for an annual rent of 10 pounds and that is when the city was named Bombay.)

Reverting to Victorias, at peak, in the 1950s, there were about 1000 Victorias in Bombay, mainly operating in downtown, one of their favourite route being from Taj Mahal Hotel/Gateway of India to Chaupatty via Marine Drive. Apart from use by passengers, mainly for joyrides, Victorias were also used for lugging goods, specially in the crowded roads and lanes of Muslim mohallas astride Mohammed Ali Road. They were stabled in central Bombay, specailly along Falkland Road in the Bombay Central area. It was said that one underworld don of the time had 500 horses and carriages under his control. The stable-hands and drivers were mainly Muslims. In the 1950s the Victorias had leather seats and no ornamentation. In recent years they became garish with silver and gold-plated exteriors – with some even having blinking bulbs to attract customers. For many a Victori ride was the highlight of their outings. All this changed with the rise in real estate prices, with the scores of stables making place for high-rise buildings. Also, with automobiles hogging the road space, the Victorias were forced out of the major roads. Now their number may be a score.

Another Victorian landmark that yielded place to Indian-style names was Victoria Terminus, the heritage headquarters of Central Railway. The station was built and named in 1887 to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria who was queen from 1837 (and from May 1, 1876 used the additional title of Empress of India) till her death in 1901.

Victoria Terminus was renamed Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus in 1996 (From VT to CST). A white marble statue of Victoria, standing in a niche on the front facade of the world-heritage landmark surveyed the BMC headquarters building (also heritage), Capitol Cinema, Azad Maidan and beyond. The statue was taken down and now keeps company of the scores of Raj statues in a obscure corner of Jijamata Udyan. Keeping it company there is another statue, seated on the throne with full regalia and a canopy on top, which dominated the main arteries of downtown Bombay, where the VideshSanchar (VSNL) Bhavan now stands, was also carted out to Jijamata Udyan – minus its nose which was knocked out by a nationalist.

Bombay’s Victoria Gardens at Byculla (Ranichi Bagh) first laid out in 1861 was renamed Jijamata Udyanin the 1970s. However, the low profile Victoria Docks, constructed in 1872 still retains its name. So do couple of educational institutions, including one for the visually handicapped. Another institution that has hugged the queen’s name is VJTI at Matunga - perhaps because, like XLRI, it is popularly referred to by its initials, with not many knowing its expansion – Victoria Jubilee Technical Institute.

Victoria is not the only one of the British monarchic symbols that was shown the exit door from Mumbai. Prince of Wales Museum in downtown became Chatraprati Shvaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrhalaya. The King Edward VII horse-mounted black stone statue which described the area as Khala Ghoda was exiled to to Rani Bagh. But, Kala Ghoda continues to denote this art district where the annual Khal Ghoda festival is held. Elsewhere, Alexandra Dock is now Indira Dock, though Prince’s Dock remains nominally undisturbed.

Going back to Victoria Terminus, there is a Mangalurean angle to it. Before the planes and long-distance buses and taxis came on the scene, VT was the railway gateway for Mangalureans to this metro city for employment, trade, education and sight-seeing. This grand, magnificent monument was crowned with Mangalore tiles. I have it on the authority of the late L X Rego, owner of Rego tile factory in Mangalore, that Mangalore tiles were originally used for roofing the structure. Mangalore tiles, because of their high quality and strength, have become a generic term for clay roofing tiles. As the Bombay Gazetteer notes: "Mangalore tiles are much superior to the ordinary Bombay tiles, as they last for years without requiring removal, while Bombay tiles have to be turned every year."

Mangaluru is not untouched by Victoria. The Ladyhill school at Urva has a Victoria touch. It traces its origin to 1870 when three French Apostolic Carmel nuns landed in Mangalore and started their teaching mission at St. Ann’s, near Rosario Church. The school shifted to Dongarkeri and named itself St Ann’s Kanarese School in 1885. In 1887 the school renamed itself as Victoria Caste Girls’ School in honour of the golden jubilee of Queen Victoria. Why “caste”? During the period girls from Saraswat/Goud Saraswat castes had no educational facilities. So, these communities requested access to the school and, thus, “caste” entered the school title. In 1892 English was introduced as medium of instruction. The school shed its “caste” in 1921 when it was relocated at Urva and assumed the title of Ladyhill Victoria Girls’ High School and remains so. Nearby was the impressive mansion of M. Pais who set up Mangaluru’s first departmental store, under the style of M Pais & Sons, at Bunder (now on Maidan Road). This mansion was called Coronation House in honour of the coronation of Queen Victoria.

Victoria’s Secret is the lingerie (ladies innerwear) brand displayed by buxom half-clad models on the leading cat-walks of the world. But, Queen Victoria’s secret is hidden in Bantwal town, opposite the Venkatramana Temple. Victoria Press displays on the front façade its date of founding – 1914. Before I go further, I will let you in on Victoria’s secret (not the FTV-Channel variety) as it is not yet in the public domain. Prabhu was a noted writer in Kannada and Konkani. One of his ambitions even in his teens was to start a press of his own. Press and publications were viewed with suspicion by the British regime in the context of the freedom struggle. Prabhu went for permission to start the press with the title of Vijaya Press. But his native well-wishers in the Collector’s office advised him to change the name to Victoria. Prabhu also explained to the white officials that he was starting the press to have his three sons gainfully employed or else they would be drawn into the freedom movement. Flattered by “Victoria” and convinced by the “freedom” story, permission was granted and the rest is history.

That history started with the birth of Krishna Prabhu on November 13, 1882 at Bolanthur where his father, Govinda, and mother, Pommie, were farmers. But, even before he was two years old, his maternal uncle, Soukar Srinivasa Prabhu of Bantwal, who had no male issue, brought him to Bantwal where he studied up to 7th standard in the Mission School. Beyond his formal education, Prabhu took the self-study route. Since some members of the family, settled in Poona, visited Bantwal often, Prabhu acquired proficiency in Marathi and he had a good collection of Marathi literature. He also had linguistic felicity in Bengali, Malayalam and Tamil. But, that is another story for another time.

Veteran journalist and author, John B Monteiro now concentrates on Editorial Consultancy, having recently edited the autobiography of a senior advocate, history and souvenir to mark the centenary of Catholic Association of South Canara and currently working on the history/souvenir to mark the platinum jubilee of a chamber of commerce & industry.