Cusrow Baug Explained

Building Name:Cusrow Baug
Mapframe:yes
Mapframe-Caption:Location in Mumbai
Location:Colaba Causeway, Mumbai, India
Coordinates:18.9204°N 72.8291°W
Status:Completed
Area:84000sqyd
Blocknumber:17
Construction Architect:Claude Batley
Construction Date:1934–1959
Governing Body:R. N. Wadia Trust

Cusrow Baug is a Parsi residential colony on Colaba Causeway, Mumbai, India. Its residential blocks were completed between 1934 and 1959. The colony houses a Zoroastrian temple, computer centre, gymnasium, and sports club. It was designed by Claude Batley.

History

Following his death, Parsi businessman Nowrosjee N. Wadia left a large amount of money to his wife Jerbai Wadia. She used it to build five residential colonies, known as baugs, and create funds for Parsis who were unable to afford housing.[1] [2] [3] These five baugs, created in honour of her husband and three sons, are called Cusrow Baug, Ness Baug, Rustom Baug, Jer Baug, and Nowroze Baug. They contain a total of 1545 apartments.[4] The baugs are maintained by N. N. Wadia and R. N. Wadia Trusts under the Bombay Parsi Punchayet. The managing committee is chaired by a member of the Wadia family.

Cusrow Baug was designed by English architect Claude Batley.[5] The first residential blocks of the colony were completed in 1934, after two years of construction.[6] The S and T blocks were completed in 1959.[7] It is one of the oldest Parsi colonies in Mumbai.[8] The houses in the colony are not for sale and are only available to be rented.[9] During the 1950s, because the colony was located near a swamp, it had only a few tenants even at a minimal rent of per month.

The Seth Nusserwanji Hirji Karani Agiary, a Zoroastrian fire temple, is located in the colony. The holy fire of the temple was originally lit at Nizam Street on 16 March 1847. It was later moved to Sodawaterwalla Agiary for some time, and then moved to the colony on the night of 22–23 February 1935.[10] On 21 March 1959, Sir Cusrow Wadia Pavilion was opened for sporting activities.

Features

The residential blocks of the colony are labelled in alphabetical order, beginning from A to U, except for I, L, N, and O, which are absent.

The colony covers an area of 84000sqyd and can house more than 500 families. It has a computer centre, a gymnasium, and a sports club called Cusrow Baug United Sports and Welfare League. The social activity cell of the colony conducts religious classes and provides scholarships.[11]

The Seth Nusserwanji Hirji Karani Agiary is built on a plot measuring 1400sqyd.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2015-11-05 . Insider's guide to... Colaba . 2023-04-04 . Hindustan Times . en . 4 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230404143813/https://www.hindustantimes.com/art-and-culture/insider-s-guide-to-colaba/story-FthLruNtabAPnRAhZW2YcO.html . live .
  2. Book: Vevaina, Leilah . Handbook of Religion and the Asian City: Aspiration and Urbanization in the Twenty-First Century . 2015-05-19 . University of California Press . 978-0-520-28122-6 . van der Veer . Peter . 157, 166–167 . 8. Good Thoughts, Good Words, and Good (Trust) Deeds: Parsis, Risk, and Real Estate in Mumbai . 10.1525/california/9780520281226.003.0008.
  3. Vevaina . Leilah . 2018 . Good Deeds: Parsi trusts from 'the womb to the tomb' . Modern Asian Studies . 52 . 1 . 254–255 . 10.1017/S0026749X17000336 . 149285701 . 0026-749X . 3 May 2023 . 4 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220504114041/https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/modern-asian-studies/article/abs/good-deeds-parsi-trusts-from-the-womb-to-the-tomb/CC013640F68CF8BB882015452CB5A3E8 . live . free .
  4. Web site: Shinde . Rupali . 2017 . "The younger generation in Mumbai no longer believes in community housing" - Abigail McGowan . 2023-04-06 . Mumbai Live . 6 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230406062122/https://www.mumbailive.com/en/infrastructure/the-younger-generation-in-mumbai-no-longer-believes-in-community-housing-abigail-mcgowan-12923 . live .
  5. Web site: Marfatia . Meher . 2023-01-29 . Carrom and camaraderie in the colony . 2023-04-04 . Mid-day . en . 4 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230404151658/https://www.mid-day.com/news/opinion/article/carrom-and-camaraderie-in-the-colony-23267775 . live .
  6. Web site: Teotia . Sweta . 2008-10-26 . Tales from Cusrow Baug . 2023-04-04 . Indian Express . 8 February 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180208092321/http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/tales-from-cusrow-baug/378098 . live .
  7. Web site: 2004 . Sports . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070717082717/http://www.cusrowbaug.org/sports.html . 2007-07-17 . 2023-04-05 . Cusrow Baug.
  8. Web site: Mogul . Rhea . 2020-07-05 . One of India's richest minority groups enjoys some of Mumbai's best rents. Here's why . 2023-04-06 . CNN . en . 6 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230406062120/https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/04/india/india-parsi-colony-intl-hnk/index.html . live .
  9. News: 2019-07-12 . Migrated but kept flat? Parsis must give 'em up . The Times of India . 2023-04-06 . 0971-8257 . 10 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230410162910/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/migrated-but-kept-flat-parsis-must-give-em-up/articleshow/70184894.cms . live .
  10. Web site: 1999-08-01 . Sheth N. H. Karani Agiary . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070717082647/http://www.cusrowbaug.org/agiary.html . 2007-07-17 . 2023-04-04 . Cusrow Baug.
  11. Web site: 2020-02-08 . Cusrow Baug Inaugurates 'Power Gym' . 2023-04-06 . Parsi Times . en-GB . 6 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230406090647/https://parsi-times.com/2020/02/cusrow-baug-inaugurates-power-gym/ . live .

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