Mumbai and water have a historic connection. After all, a large part of the city has been built over water. Water has also been a scarce resource in Mumbai, since the city started taking shape in the mid-17th century. The island city had not been blessed by rivers to take care of the drinking water needs of its burgeoning population. Wealthy Indian merchants stepped in, providing water as charity in the form of pyaus or drinking water fountains. The British also built commemorative decorative fountains. As the Aqua Line connects the city like a river from the hills of Aarey to the sea at Cuffe Parade, we celebrate Mumbai’s water heritage - the pyaus and fountains that dot the city, once replenishing our thirst for water, and today, our thirst for nostalgia - with historian Dr Varsha Shirgaonkar, who will speak about the subject and also unveil the KHAKI calendar 2026 on the same theme.

Venue:

Khaki Lab, Fort, 302, Shahid Bhagat Singh Rd, Kala Ghoda, Fort, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400001

About the speaker:
Dr. Varsha Shirgaonkar was formerly Head of the Department of History at Ramnarain Ruia College, Matunga, and retired as Professor and Head, Department of History, at S.N.D.T. Women’s University, Mumbai. She has nine books and 72 research articles to her credit. She was awarded research grants for projects by the Royal Numismatic Society, British Museum, London and MMR Heritage Conservation Society, Mumbai, among others.