The heritage botanical garden of the Veermata Jijabai Bhonsle Udyan Zoo, popularly called Rani Bagh, turns 160 this year. It is the island city’s largest green public space, has a large agglomeration of trees with the widest species diversity and is its most visited egalitarian public park. At our Online Talk #TheQueenOfGreen, Hutokshi Rustomfram, trustee of the Save Rani Bagh Botanical Garden Foundation, will talk on the historical, cultural and environmental aspects of the park, touching upon the unique style of the monuments, the classical garden layout design, its tremendous botanical wealth and some interesting vignettes from the Foundation’s 15-year struggle to protect this city jewel from the forces of so-called redevelopment.

About the speakers

Hutokshi Rustomfram is the trustee of the Save Rani Bagh Botanical Garden Foundation, a registered public charitable trust, and is an ardent nature enthusiasts with a special interest in flora. She and her fellow trustees have harnessed every democratic forum available to common citizens and opposed BMC’s proposal for the redevelopment of Rani Bagh which would have destroyed a thriving botanical garden. She has also co-edited the richly illustrated large-format work Rani Bagh 150 Years. Hutokshi has a background in philosophy and law.