Uncovering Urban Legacies: Icons of Mumbai - Bazaars, Chawls, and Lighthouses

Attend the panel discussion Uncovering Urban Legacies: Icons of Mumbai - Bazaars, Chawls, and Lighthouses on Wednesday, 19 August 2026 from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM (IST) at the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), Fort, Mumbai. Featuring urbanists, architectural historians, and artists—including Rupali Gupte, Pushkar Sohoni, Mohan D. Khare- and moderated by Benita Fernando, entry is free with mandatory online registration.

If you are interested in urban heritage, history, and architectural preservation, Uncovering Urban Legacies: Icons of Mumbai provides a deep dive into three defining spatial structures of Mumbai’s past. Long before modern skyscrapers transformed its skyline, the city grew outward around its bustling markets, working-class housing tenements, and vital maritime defence beacons.

The 90-minute panel discussion brings together expert voices to explore three distinct facets of the city:

Bazaars: Historical hubs like Chor Bazaar and Zaveri Bazaar as living archives of trade, craftsmanship, and multicultural commerce.

Chawls: The unique social architecture of Girangaon's one-room tenements, shared balconies, and courtyards that fostered close-knit working-class communities.

Lighthouses: Sentinel coastal beacons like the Prongs Lighthouse that governed 19th-century trade, navigation, and defence along the Arabian Sea.

Featuring inputs from urbanist Rupali Gupte (SEA/Bard Studio), architectural historian Pushkar Sohoni (IISER Pune), marine artist Mohan D. Khare, and journalist Benita Fernando, the session offers attendees a chance to revisit everyday urban landmarks with fresh historical perspective.