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James Ferreira profile imageJames Ferreira

The most obvious change in Khotachiwadi is that the middle-class Maharashtrian families have moved to the suburbs ofKandivali, Borivali and Jogeshwari.

Why is James Ferreira still passionate about saving Mumbai’s Khotachiwadi?

Despite the fatigue it entails, the fashion designer and urban activist remains a champion of the heritage Mumbai neighbourhood that he came of age in

I have lived my entire life in Khotachiwadi. Ever since I have recently returned from my nephew’s wedding in Australia, I’ve been pondering whether to keep this big house going or not. The state of affairs in India is such that all of us need to think of where we would like to be in the next few years. My family has decided that none of them will ever return to India to live permanently. It breaks my heart to say that I live alone in this huge house and now find it inconvenient. I’ve wanted to live in Sri Lanka for a long time, since I have been going there for the last 32 years. Unfortunately, owing to the trouble [the ongoing economic crisis in the island nation] I won’t be able to do so.

Rewind to the past

My mother [Thelma]’s family [the Almeidas] first came to Bombay in 1635 to work with the Portuguese government in Thane. My family was given land from Aarey Milk Colony to Kurla. My father’s family used to own the catering firm for the Peninsula Railways under the British; we serviced the dining cars and waiting rooms–a business that was taken away from us in 1958 when services were nationalised. My father, Owen Ferreria, played hockey for India and was an Olympian. He had great organisational skills, putting together picnics and parties for the entire community. We were eight children in the house and grew up hosting parties for everyone.

Khotachiwadi, is a tiny hamlet tucked inside the larger neighbourhood of  Girgaum in South Mumbai

Khotachiwadi, is a tiny hamlet tucked inside the larger neighbourhood of Girgaum in South Mumbai

 Fashion designer James Ferreira credits his upbringing and childhood spent in Khotachiwadi making him into an urban activist 

Fashion designer James Ferreira credits his upbringing and childhood spent in Khotachiwadi making him into an urban activist 

I studied at St. Xavier’s High School, the only one in my family to do so. The rest of my brothers went to St. Mary’s and my sisters went to Fort Convent. At the age of 21, I came out to my parents and told them that I wanted to be a fashion designer and they were fabulous about it. I had a terrific support system in both my siblings and my parents. Khotachiwadi was full of immediate family at one point for me. Now all I have is second cousins and third cousins left here; there are more Khotachiwadi-ites in Melbourne than there are in Mumbai. The original settlers of Khotachiwadi were those belonging to the East Indian and the Pathare Prabhu communities.

"WE NEED TO HONOUR THE HERITAGE PRECINCT OF KHOTACHIWADI FOR WHAT IS, TO RETAIN THE ORIGINAL ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES--THE WINDOWS, THE TIMBER FACADES--INSTEAD OF CHANGING IT TO GLASS AND ALUMINIUM”

James Ferreira

I have now started hosting sit-down dinners at home, plating East Indian dishes. My mother had hand-written eight books of recipes for us, all extremely specific about the type of masalas to be used. Each recipe has a methodology specific to the dish that is being prepared. And, of course, we use bottle masala [a closely guarded family secret], which is pounded fresh every year in March. I started using traditional vessels and the older methods of working—the slower ways of cooking.

What’s the biggest change?

The most obvious change in Khotachiwadi is that the middle-class Maharashtrian families who lived here have sold their properties and moved to the suburbs ofKandivali, Borivali and Jogeshwari. While the East Indian families started migrating in droves to Australia [in the 1970s, ’80s and then more in the ’90s], there has been a change in the composition of Khotachiwadi. There were about 65 families here–that is, the original inhabitants of the village. There must have been around 70 per cent Christian families and the rest Maharashtrian Hindus. Now less than 25 families are left from that era. Now most of the [older] families have people in their 60s and 70s living here; very few young people reside here anymore.


It’s important that the residents of Khotachiwadi earn what they can in order to preserve their homes and maintain the integrity of the village. The newly opened art gallery 47A used to be a printing press which was also a fire hazard for the neighbourhood. Now the family will earn from the rent; it’s brightened up the locality too. The upcoming exhibition is about the history of Khotachiwadi and will be curated by Dr. Andre Baptista and Anezka Ferreira.

The Ferreira family outside 47G, the home they all grew up in.  

The Ferreira family outside 47G, the home they all grew up in.  

During the art show openings, we also get other designers to display their work at my place. For the last show, we had Asha Sarabhai’s clothes on exhibition and sale. Next, I have a very interesting South Indian designer. I want to work with sustainable clothes, handlooms and handicrafts. I would like Khotachiwadi to become a cultural centre of some kind, which will endure in the end. It’s a great way to keep the neighbourhood alive.

Speaking of clothes, I worry about where we currently are with [Indian] fashion. There is no attempt being made to teach Indian fashion and design in colleges. There is no one teaching you to cut a salwar, a choli or a churidar. Instead what is being taught is designing corsets and jackets. When I had begun to design, I realised we weren’t training our tailors, cutters and embroiderers. I was lucky to work with tailors who knew how to structure clothing. I’ve worked with traditional fabrics since 2005, including gamchas, nauvari sarees and Solapuur blankets, as well as in the Indo-western mode–with dhotis and lungis.

At work, surrounded by antiques collected over the years and memories: in the centre is Thelma and to her left is Owen--Ferreira's parents 

At work, surrounded by antiques collected over the years and memories: in the centre is Thelma and to her left is Owen--Ferreira's parents 

Ferreira's parents on their wedding day cut a striking figure and occupy centrestage in his home

Ferreira's parents on their wedding day cut a striking figure and occupy centrestage in his home

Preserving a legacy

One of the only ways to save Khotachiwadi is to build on the value of its heritage and its old features. The roads of the precinct are so narrow that it’s difficult to get cars in. Within the rules and regulations of the BMC, you need a 30-foot road to construct a building of over six storeys. There is no road like this. Even in parts of Khotachiwadi where the roads are comparatively wider, the haphazard parking of cars is a fire hazard. The water hydrants, too, within the neighbourhood are not working. There is no way a fire engine can enter the locality. I fought a case against the building of a 32-storey building in a situation where there are only eight to ten-feet-wide pathways.

The first villa to be demolished in Khotachiwadi was my cousin’s, right opposite my house, in 1932. In the ’60s and ’70s, we lost several old structures. We lost number one in 1994, and that is when I started the Khotachiwadi Heritage Trust, which is pretty redundant at the moment. As a city, we need to empower our heritage committees; they have no power at all.

I would love for the population of Khotachiwadi to live in a proper hygienic manner, while trying to preserve the original character of the village. We need to honour the heritage precinct for what it is, to retain the original architectural features–the windows, the timber facades–instead of changing it to glass and aluminium.

Rent Control Act and associated problems

The Rent Control Act has allowed people to live in South Mumbai at ridiculously low rents, as low as ₹50 a month. The same tenants have not even looked after the building they live in, instead putting the entire onus on the landlord. How does the landlord then look after the property?

Take the issue of parking in the city. Today, every household has several vehicles and yet there are no dedicated parking spaces in neighbourhoods. The most important thing Mumbai needs right now is parking lots.

Dr Andre Baptista, who is a resident of Khotachiwadi and my neighbour, is working on an exhibition that will open at 47A later this month. While I have nothing to do with the show, I really feel happy to see the younger generation come forth and take over the fight to preserve this beautiful precinct. Andre, my niece Anezka and a young photographer Keenan are working towards saving this stunning neighbourhood. I’ll do anything to save Khotachiwadi but the younger lot must take over the reins.

(As told to Gauri Vij)

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