Parsi Times presents the second part of the interesting series on some of the prominent statues of Mumbai, by Dara Khodaiji

Mumbai is adorned with some brilliant displays of statues of the British, Parsis and great Indians, at various locations. These speak of the history of our nation and our city… in stones, marbles and bronze. Continuing our journey…

At Uttara Road, Churchgate, Mumbai, there stands the statue of Jamshedji Tata, probably the greatest Indian ever. A dreamer, who realized his dreams with his grit and foresight, to deliver long-lasting benefits to the nation. Today, at the end of the first quarter of the 21^st century, the Tata Group is not just an industrial behemoth giving employment to  hundreds of thousands across India, but it is the  biggest conglomerate with a heart that donates  almost 65% of all its profits to humanitarian causes. Jawaharlal Nehru referred to Tata as a ‘One-Man Planning Commission’. No wonder, he has been recognized as the greatest philanthropist of the last century.

On the west side of the Bombay High Court stands a statue in white marble of one of the finest legal minds ever, Sir Dinshaw Fardoonji Mulla – the sentinel of law. He had the honour of being first Indian appointed to the Privy Council in 1930. His books on law are studied by law students even today.

Right in front of one of the most famous buildings, HQ of the Municipal Corporation of Mumbai, stands the impressive statue of Sir Pherozeshah Mehta – a barrister by profession and a very successful one too. He had a flourishing practice but in due course, he left his legal practice and joined politics. He was deeply interested in the development of the city of Bombay. He drafted the Bombay Municipal Act of 1872, for which he came to be known as the ‘Father of the Bombay Municipality’.

Moving a tad to the North, at Dhobi Talao, stands the statue of Kavasji Jamshedji Petigara, right opposite the iconic Kayani Bakery & Co. Little known today, he was the first Indian appointed to Bombay CID as Deputy Commissioner of Police. He arrested Gandhiji on several occasions and the two of these stalwarts – Petigara and Gandhiji – developed great respect for each other, so much that Gandhiji would insist Petigara be present whenever he was to be arrested. Quite an admirable friendship developed between the arrester and the arrested!