National Gallery of Modern Art, Mumbai, Intach Greater Mumbai Chapter, and Avid Learning present ‘Motifs, Materials, and Makers of Indo-Gothic Architecture.’

In the second half of the 19th century, Bombay boldly positioned itself as Urbs Prima in Indis—the First City of India. The Victorian Gothic architectural expression evolved into a distinctly localised style now known as Bombay Gothic. In 2018, this extraordinary ensemble of Victorian Gothic was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, affirming Mumbai’s place on the global cultural map.

From the soaring Rajabai Clock Tower to the monumental Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus and the stately Bombay High Court, these landmarks speak a unique architectural language shaped by the local climate, materials, and sensibilities. This thought-provoking conversation brings together historians, conservationists, designers, and creative practitioners who will explore pertinent questions such as: Who were the key players behind this architectural moment? What does this Indo-Gothic vocabulary reveal about the aspirations of Bombay’s public life? And how might this heritage help us rethink ideas of modernity and identity today?

Join us as we journey through stone and story to rediscover the layered legacies that continue to define Mumbai’s urban imagination.

Speakers:

Founder and Principal, Heritage Synergies India, Kamalika Bose

Director and Principal Architect, Five Cross Architects, Adil Dholakia

Professor, Department of History, University of Mumbai, Dr Manjiri Kamat

Assistant Professor, Architectural and Urban Conservation Programme, KRVIA Sanaeya Vandrewala (Moderator)