Mumbai University's 85-metre-tall Rajabai Clock Tower and its adjacent library have been undergoing major restoration since 2013, a project that has finally drawn to a conclusion this month.
The Porbandar stone structure that merges Victorian, Gothic and Islamic architecture will once again dominate the city skyline and glimmer like a lighthouse, thanks to a $1.2 million project funded by Tata Consultancy Services, the Indian Heritage Society and Mumbai University.
The structure sits at the centre of the Unesco World Heritage-listed ensemble of buildings in the Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Marine Drive, the Oval and Fort areas of Mumbai, and is a citadel that stands as a testament to the city's cosmopolitan past.
The foundation stone for the project was laid on March 1, 1869. By November 1878 the building was completed, at the cost of 547,703 rupees ($7,536), an astronomical sum at the time.
Premchand Roychand, a wealthy broker who founded the Bombay Stock Exchange, commissioned the structure in honour of his mother, Rajabai, and funded its construction. Rajabai was going blind at the time, and urban legend has it that the tower was built so she could figure out what time of day it was based on the hourly chimes that would ring out from the tower and fill the city.
On February 27, 1880, the building was officially inaugurated by Governor Sir Richard Temple, who also functioned as the chancellor of the university. Designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott, an English architect famous for his Gothic revival work, it was modelled on Big Ben in London.
Scott sent his designs to India without actually visiting the country. His brief was “to design an ornament for the city and have bells of joy within it”.
Given Scott's absence from the actual site, it was Rao Bahadur Muckoond Ramchandar, an Indian civil engineer, who supervised the construction of the building. With the help of John Lockwood Kipling and his students at Sir J J School of Arts, Mumbai's oldest and premier art school, the extraordinary Porbandar stone carving works were carried out. Thus, despite being built at the peak of British rule in India, the Rajabai Tower was essentially built with Indian money and manpower.
"Premchand Roychand, my great-grandfather, was a great believer in education, especially for girls," Sushil Premchand, a businessman and philanthropist who lives in Zurich, and the great-great-grandson of Rajabai, tells The National.
"But his most prominent acknowledgement of the importance of women in society was the request that his gift of the clock tower, to the University of Mumbai, be named after his mother, Rajabai. This is so poignant in today's world, where we need to better understand, acknowledge and respect the huge contribution of women to Mumbai and India. The Rajabai Clock Tower, which will now be so wonderfully illuminated, should be seen as a beacon for the importance of women in society."
Brinda Somaya, an award-winning Indian architect and urban conservationist, was commissioned to lead the restoration project. Her team worked over the years to recreate the magic of the Rajabai Clock Tower while avoiding some of the pitfalls of "conservation projects" in recent times.
"A restoration requires research and understanding of the structure's past and sensitive interventions to restore and upgrade using innovative solutions to resurrect a building and its beauty, while making it function efficiently even for today," Somaya says.
To this end, the team contracted heritage lighting expert Kanchan Puri to lend the Rajabai Clock Tower the chiaroscuro it demanded. Her job entailed months of climbing the tower's narrow spiral staircase – merely half a metre wide – in an attempt to map the structure's hidden nooks and Gothic crevices. The effort has paid off: the lighting design now represents a tasteful merger of tinsel and aesthetics.
By choosing a lighting design that is non-intrusive and eco-friendly, the restoration project will also save the lives of flying insects that are so often the victims of ultraviolet light.
"The all-LED design should generate significant savings in energy and maintenance compared to the previous tungsten-halogen, metal-halide and fluorescent scheme," Puri says. "It will also reduce the emission of UV light, helping to preserve the sensitive building material. The lighting design goal was to restore the original architectural splendour while increasing the light levels to meet the library's modern needs. The theme was to conceal and yet reveal."
Puri's team created a large two-ringed pendant with many lamps for the main reading halls at the upper level of the university's library. It is a modern interpretation of gas-lit candles and complements the warmth of the timber-coffered arched ceiling. It also improves the conditions for reading while creating a soft sparkle, reminiscent of a flame.
Now that the tower is restored to its former glory, the stakeholders of this project, which won a Unesco Asia-Pacific Award for Cultural Heritage Conservation in 2018, and the people of Mumbai can expect their home-made "Big Ben" to beam and ring out yet again, hopefully heralding a new, enlightened era for the city.
SPECS
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Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
MATCH DETAILS
Liverpool 2
Wijnaldum (14), Oxlade-Chamberlain (52)
Genk 1
Samatta (40)
FA Cup quarter-final draw
The matches will be played across the weekend of 21 and 22 March
Sheffield United v Arsenal
Newcastle v Manchester City
Norwich v Derby/Manchester United
Leicester City v Chelsea
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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More on Quran memorisation:
HAJJAN
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The five pillars of Islam
'Texas Chainsaw Massacre'
Rating: 1 out of 4
Running time: 81 minutes
Director: David Blue Garcia
Starring: Sarah Yarkin, Elsie Fisher, Mark Burnham
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
SPECS
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The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
FA CUP FINAL
Manchester City 6
(D Silva 26', Sterling 38', 81', 87', De Bruyne 61', Jesus 68')
Watford 0
Man of the match: Bernardo Silva (Manchester City)
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
Winners
Best Men's Player of the Year: Kylian Mbappe (PSG)
Maradona Award for Best Goal Scorer of the Year: Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)
TikTok Fans’ Player of the Year: Robert Lewandowski
Top Goal Scorer of All Time: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)
Best Women's Player of the Year: Alexia Putellas (Barcelona)
Best Men's Club of the Year: Chelsea
Best Women's Club of the Year: Barcelona
Best Defender of the Year: Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus/Italy)
Best Goalkeeper of the Year: Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG/Italy)
Best Coach of the Year: Roberto Mancini (Italy)
Best National Team of the Year: Italy
Best Agent of the Year: Federico Pastorello
Best Sporting Director of the Year: Txiki Begiristain (Manchester City)
Player Career Award: Ronaldinho
Juliot Vinolia’s checklist for adopting alternate-day fasting
- Don’t do it more than once in three days
- Don’t go under 700 calories on fasting days
- Ensure there is sufficient water intake, as the body can go in dehydration mode
- Ensure there is enough roughage (fibre) in the food on fasting days as well
- Do not binge on processed or fatty foods on non-fasting days
- Complement fasting with plant-based foods, fruits, vegetables, seafood. Cut out processed meats and processed carbohydrates
- Manage your sleep
- People with existing gastric or mental health issues should avoid fasting
- Do not fast for prolonged periods without supervision by a qualified expert
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WITHIN%20SAND
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What is dialysis?
Dialysis is a way of cleaning your blood when your kidneys fail and can no longer do the job.
It gets rid of your body's wastes, extra salt and water, and helps to control your blood pressure. The main cause of kidney failure is diabetes and hypertension.
There are two kinds of dialysis — haemodialysis and peritoneal.
In haemodialysis, blood is pumped out of your body to an artificial kidney machine that filter your blood and returns it to your body by tubes.
In peritoneal dialysis, the inside lining of your own belly acts as a natural filter. Wastes are taken out by means of a cleansing fluid which is washed in and out of your belly in cycles.
It isn’t an option for everyone but if eligible, can be done at home by the patient or caregiver. This, as opposed to home haemodialysis, is covered by insurance in the UAE.
Continental champions
Best Asian Player: Massaki Todokoro (Japan)
Best European Player: Adam Wardzinski (Poland)
Best North & Central American Player: DJ Jackson (United States)
Best African Player: Walter Dos Santos (Angola)
Best Oceanian Player: Lee Ting (Australia)
Best South American Player: Gabriel De Sousa (Brazil)
Best Asian Federation: Saudi Jiu-Jitsu Federation
Du Football Champions
The fourth season of du Football Champions was launched at Gitex on Wednesday alongside the Middle East’s first sports-tech scouting platform.“du Talents”, which enables aspiring footballers to upload their profiles and highlights reels and communicate directly with coaches, is designed to extend the reach of the programme, which has already attracted more than 21,500 players in its first three years.
Global Fungi Facts
• Scientists estimate there could be as many as 3 million fungal species globally
• Only about 160,000 have been officially described leaving around 90% undiscovered
• Fungi account for roughly 90% of Earth's unknown biodiversity
• Forest fungi help tackle climate change, absorbing up to 36% of global fossil fuel emissions annually and storing around 5 billion tonnes of carbon in the planet's topsoil
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
What are NFTs?
Are non-fungible tokens a currency, asset, or a licensing instrument? Arnab Das, global market strategist EMEA at Invesco, says they are mix of all of three.
You can buy, hold and use NFTs just like US dollars and Bitcoins. “They can appreciate in value and even produce cash flows.”
However, while money is fungible, NFTs are not. “One Bitcoin, dollar, euro or dirham is largely indistinguishable from the next. Nothing ties a dollar bill to a particular owner, for example. Nor does it tie you to to any goods, services or assets you bought with that currency. In contrast, NFTs confer specific ownership,” Mr Das says.
This makes NFTs closer to a piece of intellectual property such as a work of art or licence, as you can claim royalties or profit by exchanging it at a higher value later, Mr Das says. “They could provide a sustainable income stream.”
This income will depend on future demand and use, which makes NFTs difficult to value. “However, there is a credible use case for many forms of intellectual property, notably art, songs, videos,” Mr Das says.
How Sputnik V works
Manchester United v Club America
When: Thursday, 9pm Arizona time (Friday UAE, 8am)
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League, last-16, second leg (first-leg scores in brackets):
PSG (2) v Manchester United (0)
Midnight (Thursday), BeIN Sports
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
MATCH INFO
Everton 0
Manchester City 2 (Laporte 45 2', Jesus 90 7')
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
MATCH INFO
Liverpool 3
Sadio Man 28'
Andrew Robertson 34'
Diogo Jota 88'
Arsenal 1
Lacazette 25'
Man of the match
Sadio Mane (Liverpool)
More on animal trafficking
Brief scores
Barcelona 2
Pique 36', Alena 87'
Villarreal 0
Company%20Profile
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Asian Cup 2019
Quarter-final
UAE v Australia, Friday, 8pm, Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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RACE CARD
5pm: Wathba Stallions Cup – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (Turf) 2,200m
5.30pm: Khor Al Baghal – Conditions (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m
6pm: Khor Faridah – Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m
6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Fillies Classic – Prestige (PA) Dh110,000 (T) 1,400m
7pm: Abu Dhabi Colts Classic – Prestige (PA) Dh110,000 (T) 1,400m
7.30pm: Khor Laffam – Handicap (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 2,200m
23-man shortlist for next six Hall of Fame inductees
Tony Adams, David Beckham, Dennis Bergkamp, Sol Campbell, Eric Cantona, Andrew Cole, Ashley Cole, Didier Drogba, Les Ferdinand, Rio Ferdinand, Robbie Fowler, Steven Gerrard, Roy Keane, Frank Lampard, Matt Le Tissier, Michael Owen, Peter Schmeichel, Paul Scholes, John Terry, Robin van Persie, Nemanja Vidic, Patrick Viera, Ian Wright.
Sarfira
Director: Sudha Kongara Prasad
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal
Rating: 2/5
