Growing up in Bombay kept me away from the career I am now pursuing - wildlife biology. Our Sanjay Gandhi National Park is but a bubble that I wasn't allowed to explore alone until I was older. All my exposure to the serenity of the world beyond clogged civilization was restricted to short vacations around Mumbai and later, the internships that I landed during and after college. In many ways, this made me feel more at home in the wilderness, in areas that were a complete antithesis of the metropolitan that is Bombay. I found myself running away from associating myself with a city that reflects so little of my personality.
But I'm beginning to wonder otherwise. When I delve into my memories of the city itself, I realize how it nurtured me in little ways, simply by supporting me in my growing years. It is more than its cacophonous reputation to someone who has built a life there. Having lived there for 20 years before breaking gravity, Bombay forms the context to all I see. This sense of realization of where I come from isn't always on top of my mind, it's fleeting, cushioned and beckoned by momentary remembrances. But it exists, and it ought to.
I found this collection of images from two years ago lying abandoned in my drafts, much like my love for Bombay. These are images from in and around Bandra, a place made up of a concoction of cultures and religions. It's increasingly becoming a place of expression in the city, where people are free to dress the way they're most comfortable, make fashion statements, or showcase their talents. One such form of expression is seen boldly plastered across its ageing walls and streets in the form of graffiti or street art. At times, these 'vandalisms' are white-washed to restore normality, while some places cherish and flaunt them as pieces of art. Chikoo (another one of my treasures from Bombay) and I armed ourselves with our own creative weaponry and began photographing these colourful streets together. These images remind me of all the time that Bombay gave me to pursue my interests, explore the lesser spoken of gems that the city holds, and nurture friendships that I would hold onto for years to come. Consider this my minimalist tribute to where I grew up.
