Cusrow Baug

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.

Cusrow Baug
Gate of Cusrow Baug
Gate of Cusrow Baug
Location in Mumbai
General information
LocationColaba Causeway, Mumbai, India
Coordinates18.9204°N 72.8291°E / 18.9204; 72.8291
StatusCompleted
Area84,000 square yards (70,000 m2)
No. of blocks17
Construction
Constructed1934–1959
ArchitectClaude Batley
Other information
Governing
body		R. N. Wadia Trust

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.[2][4][3] The baugs are maintained by N. N. Wadia and R. N. Wadia Trusts under the Bombay Parsi Punchayet.[2][3] The managing committee is chaired by a member of the Wadia family.[5][2][3]

Cusrow Baug was designed by English architect Claude Batley.[6] The first residential blocks of the colony were completed in 1934, after two years of construction.[5] The S and T blocks were completed in 1959.[7] It is one of the oldest Parsi colonies in Mumbai.[1][8] The houses in the colony are not for sale and are only available to be rented.[5][9] During the 1950s, because the colony was located near a swamp, it had only a few tenants even at a minimal rent of ₹40 (equivalent to ₹4,400 or US$55 in 2023) per month.[1]

The Seth Nusserwanji Hirji Karani Agiary, a Zoroastrian fire temple, is located in the colony.[5] 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.[7]

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.[6]

The colony covers an area of 84,000 square yards (70,000 m2) and can house more than 500 families.[5] 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.[5][11]

The Seth Nusserwanji Hirji Karani Agiary is built on a plot measuring 1,400 square yards (1,200 m2).[10]

References
  1. "Insider's guide to... Colaba". Hindustan Times. 5 November 2015. Archived from the original on 4 April 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  2. Vevaina, Leilah (19 May 2015). "8. Good Thoughts, Good Words, and Good (Trust) Deeds: Parsis, Risk, and Real Estate in Mumbai". In van der Veer, Peter (ed.). Handbook of Religion and the Asian City: Aspiration and Urbanization in the Twenty-First Century. University of California Press. pp. 157, 166–167. doi:10.1525/california/9780520281226.003.0008. ISBN 978-0-520-28122-6.
  3. Vevaina, Leilah (2018). "Good Deeds: Parsi trusts from 'the womb to the tomb'". Modern Asian Studies. 52 (1): 254–255. doi:10.1017/S0026749X17000336. ISSN 0026-749X. S2CID 149285701. Archived from the original on 4 May 2022. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  4. Shinde, Rupali (2017). ""The younger generation in Mumbai no longer believes in community housing" - Abigail McGowan". Mumbai Live. Archived from the original on 6 April 2023. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  5. Teotia, Sweta (26 October 2008). "Tales from Cusrow Baug". Indian Express. Archived from the original on 8 February 2018. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  6. Marfatia, Meher (29 January 2023). "Carrom and camaraderie in the colony". Mid-day. Archived from the original on 4 April 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  7. "Sports". Cusrow Baug. 2004. Archived from the original on 17 July 2007. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  8. Mogul, Rhea (5 July 2020). "One of India's richest minority groups enjoys some of Mumbai's best rents. Here's why". CNN. Archived from the original on 6 April 2023. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  9. "Migrated but kept flat? Parsis must give 'em up". The Times of India. 12 July 2019. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 10 April 2023. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  10. "Sheth N. H. Karani Agiary". Cusrow Baug. 1 August 1999. Archived from the original on 17 July 2007. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  11. "Cusrow Baug Inaugurates 'Power Gym'". Parsi Times. 8 February 2020. Archived from the original on 6 April 2023. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
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