Image Credit Prithviraj Chandi 1990 from the section Coastal Ecosystems
Through the Eyes of the Kolis: A reflection on Mumbai’s past, present and future is a digital exhibition curated and developed by Bombay61 Studio, in collaboration with Ministry of Mumbai’s Magic, and hosted by The Heritage Lab. The exhibition presents a series of archival photographs from the 1950s - 2000s which have been carefully sourced from the Koli community by Bombay61 Studio, an experimental think tank working across architecture, urban design and public participation. Regarded as the first residents of Mumbai, the community’s livelihoods are deeply intertwined with the rivers and the sea they inhabit. This exhibition presents a pictorial narrative of the generational history of the Kolis and the deep relationship they share with the natural environment.
The Kolis had been witness to rampant urbanisation in Mumbai and the rapid degeneration of its water bodies, impact of climate change on the city's coastline and have had to face the immediate repercussions. The exhibition aims to explore these physical, socio-cultural and ecological transformations through four sections:
Image Credit Sadashiv Raje 1958 from the section The Community and Their Livelihood
The Community and their Livelihood - a series of images will explore how the culture and traditions of the community are tightly interlinked with their occupation and their traditional knowledge of sustainable fishing methods. The photographs will highlight how rapid urbanisation and instant gratification for profits in recent years has affected the community, even forcing many to leave Mumbai altogether.
The Coastal Ecosystems - an exhibition exploring the impact of climate change, developmental pressures, ecological deterioration and changing aspirations on the livelihoods of the Koli community. Images document the changing coastal ecosystem as fishermen are forced to go deeper into the high seas for their catch.
Alteration of the ‘Edges’ - due to expansion and construction along the coastline, the Koliwadas offered a cheaper cost of living for migrants that resulted in overpopulation of Koliwadas and a fight for resources. As a result, a slum narrative has been associated with the Koliwadas of late. These photographs depict the loss of belonging and cultural identity this has created across the Koliwadas.
Mapping the Histories - after extensive conversations with the older generation of Versova Koliwada, Bombay61 Studio has developed a community map that documents the historical narratives regarding the Koli’s relationships with the natural resources. This map will complement the photo archives and is an inclusive approach that documents the past as the Koli’s have witnessed it, taking into account the community’s voices.
The Coastal Ecosystems - an exhibition exploring the impact of climate change, developmental pressures, ecological deterioration and changing aspirations on the livelihoods of the Koli community. Images document the changing coastal ecosystem as fishermen are forced to go deeper into the high seas for their catch.
Alteration of the ‘Edges’ - due to expansion and construction along the coastline, the Koliwadas offered a cheaper cost of living for migrants that resulted in overpopulation of Koliwadas and a fight for resources. As a result, a slum narrative has been associated with the Koliwadas of late. These photographs depict the loss of belonging and cultural identity this has created across the Koliwadas.
Mapping the Histories - after extensive conversations with the older generation of Versova Koliwada, Bombay61 Studio has developed a community map that documents the historical narratives regarding the Koli’s relationships with the natural resources. This map will complement the photo archives and is an inclusive approach that documents the past as the Koli’s have witnessed it, taking into account the community’s voices.
Image Credit Wilson Koli 1990 from the section Alterations of the Edges
Through the Eyes of the Kolis: A reflection on Mumbai’s past, present and future is a part of a series of dynamic and creative programmes conceptualised by Ministry of Mumbai’s Magic to create a conversation around Mumbai’s rich ecosystems and drive citizen action in favour of Mumbai’s biodiversity and the community it supports. The programmes include a fellowship for the youth to champion solutions for the city's public parks, a podcast to build a healthy climate discourse in the city, and an interactive biodiversity map. MMM will also pilot a hyperlocal initiative that creates a biodiversity register by engaging communities to present it to the decision makers.
You can view the exhibition here: https://www.theheritagelab.in/mumbai-koli-archives/
Image 1 There was no development close to the seashore till the 1990s. One could still spot a line of coconut trees in the village. The vegetation cover in the village has gone down considerably.
Image 2 Versova Koliwada became home to different communities over a period of time. The image shows the women from the Jafrabadi community of Gujarat, who dominated the dried fish business at Versova Koliwada at the time. Be the local Koli women or the Jafrabadi women, the women of the fishing community dominate the trading of the fish. Women have always been at the forefront of the fishing business.
Image 3 The vast expanse of the sea where the boats used to venture out for fishing at the Worli Koliwada before the construction of the Bandra-Worli Sea link.