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For decades now the chawls of Mumbai have been like cultural oases in the midst of rapid industrialization in the city. This very special characteristic of the residents of these chawls has been the driving force behind Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandals of Mumbai.
After Pune, the Ganeshotsav in Mumbai is the most popular and dramatic event in this part of the state. The event has a proud history that began with the call for celebrating the festival with public participation given by Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak in 1893 in his newspaper “Kesari”. The first to respond to the call were the residents of the Keshavji Naik Chawl.
After crossing the century mark in the celebration the Ganeshotsav mandal of the chawl brought out a book called “Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Shatakachi Vatchal”detailing the very impressive history of the festival and the celebrations.
From cover to cover the 252-page book is a collector’s item providing the reader glimpses of the motivation behind making the festival a public affair, its success as a tool to create social awareness and garner support for the Independence movement while at the same time introducing one to the activities of the mandal that made the whole event possible.
The book has photographs of the Lokmanya, taken by the famous photographer Virkar and the reproduction of a rare painting depicting the Ganesh festival during the time of the Peshwa. The choice of the pictures and paintings shows aesthetic taste on the part of the people who put the book together.
Inside the book one comes across the Lokmanya’s editorials written in 1894, 95 and 96 on why he made the Ganeshotsav a public affair and how he saw a link between the celebrations and national awakening. Also reproduced in the book are portions of speeches delivered by the Lokmanya during the Ganeshotsav celebrations at various places.
A major section comprises essays by such prominent writers like Govind Talwalkar, Mrunalini Desai, Arun Tikekar, Ravindra Ramdas, B N Jog, Yashwant Pathak, Ashok Ranade, Jayant Salgaonkar and Prakash Kamat. The essays talk of the mythological history of Ganesha as a God, the political and administrative impact of the movement that the Ganeshotsav celebrations caused and its social and cultural effect on the psyche of the Indian people, especially the Maharashtrians.