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Khotachiwadi – The Hidden Treasure of Bombay
Bombay, for all its generosity and effulgence, has also been a city bathed with numerous surprises. Being the great metropolis that it is, one never misses to find a unique aspect, a piece of novelty here. I nearly passed out with excitement and delight when I visited Khotachiwadi – a place which is an entirely different world in itself, a place which now has my heart.
A lane in Khotachiwadi
Tucked away in Girgaum at the end of Jagannath Shankarshet road is a quaint little hamlet which is one of the finest representations of the history, lifestyle and cultural structure of ancient Mumbai.
A Portuguese-style house in Khotachiwadi
This Goathan (village) was founded by Khot, who belonged to one of the Pathare Prabhu (Hindu Brahmin) families, who eventually sold off plots of this particular land to many East Indian Christians. Hence originally, Khotachiwadi was home to two communities – Maharashtrian and Christian which were then followed by many others like Goans, Marwaris, Gujaratis, Sindhis etc.
Bridget Misqitta – resident of Khotachiwadi. Photo Courtesy – Ethel Misquitta
It is a poised and collected settlement with beautiful winding lanes decorated with 150-200 years old bovine buildings and houses. The bungalows proudly reflect the ancient Portuguese architecture of great heart and detail. Here, every lane, every alley, and every shrine has a story to tell.
Beautiful collections at Willy’s house. Photo Courtesy – Ethel Misquitta
The buildings of Khotachiwadi were built in the late 19th or early 20th century which were originally inhabited by the East Indian Christians and the Pathare Prabhus. Each house here displays a modest dimension to its architecture which again, is a great example of Indian craftsmanship during the British Raj.
Bridget Misquitta’s house in Khotachiwadi
Single storey cottages richly colored in red, yellow and green, sloping tiled roofs and wooden spiral staircases along with high-raised ceilings, serene verandahs and front porches, brightly painted doors and windows and tapering lanes of never-ending beauty – Khotachiwadi has, without a doubt, stood the test of time and pleased hearts of millions across countries.
Jame’s Ferreira’s house. Photo Courtesy – Ethel Misquitta
Together, all these vivid elements radiate the charm of Konkan-Portuguese architecture. The streets are one of the strong elements of the village. To wander into the interiors of Khotachiwadi is to witness a little world – content in itself. It is no surprise how widely it’s being called ‘Mini Goa’.
James Ferreira’s colonial style house
Right at the entrance of Khotachiwadi is the Girgaum Catholic Club, founded in 1894, which is a hub for vivid festivals, gatherings, and events.
Old Portuguese architecture in James Ferreira’s house. Photo Courtesy – Ethel Misquitta
While proceeding on my tour of the village, I was pleasantly interrupted by a man who was mildly strumming happy tunes on his guitar while singing joyfully in his house.
Wilfred Felizardo (Willy) in his 120 years old house in Khotachiwadi. Photo Courtesy – Ethel Misquitta
My further introspection led to interaction with him, was when I found myself at the receiving end of facts earlier unknown to me. Wilfred Felizardo, a native from Goa, stays in no. 57 Khotachiwadi. He is largely known ‘Willy Black’ by his resident friends and family. Willy’s 120 years old house is not merely a house but a piece of art.
Willy’s house. Photo Courtesy – Ethel Misquitta
Largely laden with heritage artifacts, ancient wooden pieces, lamps, lanterns, luminous chandeliers and more, it only goes to show how big of an arts and crafts enthusiast Willy is. “Enjoy life as it is, because Zindagi na Milegi Dobaara”, says Willy with a lyrical smile on his face. He is your ideal happy-go-lucky man, fully living life, not missing out on its beauty.
The Designer’s touch at James Ferreira’s house. Photo Courtesy – Ethel Misquitta
But every beauty has its share of shortcomings, so does Khotachiwadi. Like every other old structure, the wood works and other aspects of the village have to be extremely taken care of and protected by insects and various other elements of nature. “A lot of changes and alterations have been made in the past few years. Construction, honkings, nuisance, and disturbances have started coming in the picture which in turn led to a number of Catholics moving out and flying to The States, Middle East, Australia and New Zealand for better opportunities” says Willy.
One of the by lanes of Khotachiwadi. Photo Courtesy -Ethel Misquitta
Although being sad over the fact of his fellow residents moving out and the number of alterations being made, Willy never fails to do his best bit to keep alive the tradition and spirit of his lovely land. He teaches and plays music to the kids especially during Christmas and other such functions.
Portuguese style house in Khotachiwadi
Moving further, I came across the house of James Ferreira (No. 47G) – a life-long resident and a much-celebrated fashion designer. I would like to stop for a moment to purely appreciate his excellence in taste and designing skills. James’s 200 years old house is an epitome of rich Portugal heritage and gorgeous relaxed vibe. “All these are colonial artifacts which I have been collecting since over fifty years,” remarked James. He is also an active member of the workings of Khotachiwadi and stays deeply humbled with his majestic house.
A Portugese style house in Khotachiwadi
Khotachiwadi hence has become a prime example of cultural and social development and a bridge between western and traditional ideologies. Apart from this, a rather important factor which is prevalent here is the strong sense of unity amongst the distinct communities of the village.
A lane in Khotachiwadi. Photo Courtesy – Ethel Misquitta
Bridget Misquitta is yet another resident of the settlement and a lady extravagantly warm in her manners. She says, “The most important feature of Khotachiwadi is the heritage homes and many such constructions. However, recently, it is nothing less than a task to maintain these houses. Taking care of them is becoming more and more difficult due to which a lot of houses are being sold and owners are increasingly moving out.” Inspite of all the inconvenience, residents of Khotachiwadi are always on the look out for getting together, says Bridget. “We get together during festivals, church service, for Christmas fairs and bazaars and many other events apart from these. People are always found by your side, come what may. You are never alone in Khotachiwadi,” says Bridget, joyfully.
Photo Courtesy – Ethel Misquitta
From the city’s increasingly volatile blitz and glam to the rapid developments and hum-drums, there lies a village blissfully resting in its southern lap, challenging its own odds and sailing through rough waters to remain the work of heavenly wonder that it is. Khotachiwadi hence has been grandly inscribed in the hearts of folks which is a reason enough to believe that its spirit will live forever and beyond.
Farmers form the backbone of the Indian Economy, making up more than 40% of the workforce. However, every day 28 people dependent on farming commit suicide—the post-harvest losses in the country amount to over 93,000 crores per year. The loss of 93,000 crores constitutes approximately 40% of the country’s total produce. This occurs due to the perishable nature of agricultural produce, which often forces farmers to sell their produce at the prevailing market price, be it high or low, thereby resulting in a loss of bargaining power.
Addressing this issue through the positive power of social entrepreneurship, Enactus DCAC, an international not for profit student body organisation, initiated Project Zaraat for the upliftment of the farming community. The mission of Project Zaraat is to minimise post-harvest losses and enhance forward linkages through a self-sustaining social enterprise.
Project Zaraat | Image Source: NAC Media
Under the mentorship and guidance of Michigan State University and the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Zaraat provides the farmers with a unique storage solution that works on the principle of evaporative cooling. It is affordable, portable, and eco-friendly, making it different from conventional storage facilities. Moreover, this solution increases the shelf life of the produce by upto ten days, ensuring that the quality of produce does not deteriorate. Apart from this, they also aim to partner with various B2B aggregators to ensure a rise in income for the farmers and provide them with payment security.
Project Zaraat | Image Source: NAC Media
Currently, they are in the process of integrating farmers into an FPO to ensure collective bargaining power. They are also exploring sustainable agriculture practices that are vital in a climate constrained world.
Project Zaraat is a recipient of the KPMG Ethics Grant and also received a Special Mention at the Enactus Early Stage National Competition 2021.
Building on this by the end of the year, they aim to sustain the lives of 100 farmers by providing them with an income boost of 25%, reduce post-harvest losses by a whopping 60%, and minimise the energy consumption by 20%. For more information, visit www.enactusdcac.com.
Project Zaraat by Enactus DCAC
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