The new week begins with an event offering a second glance at homes, colonies, and lanes that house living histories and memories. We’re not gathering in the name of nostalgia but to highlight the importance of preserving the city’s cultural heritage. The event — Many Stories to Multi-Storeys by Mumbai Research Centre, Asiatic Society of Mumbai, and Centre for Heritage Management (CHM) at Ahmedabad University — brings together archaeologist, historian and cultural heritage consultant Dr André Baptista, conservation architect Kirtida Unwalla, and cultural theorist and visual historian Dr Kaiwan Mehta in conversation with the director, CHM, Ahmedabad University, Dr Neel Kamal Chapagain for a panel discussion that explores Mumbai’s rapid urban development and threats to its cultural heritage.

Dr Chapagain tells us, “We will speak about practices in urban heritage management. The conversation will be centred around Khotachiwadi and how from resident to municipality initiatives and collaboration with different stakeholders, this historic neighbourhood has retained its identity for residents. The session will also look at how such initiatives can be integrated into educational programmes.” In this context, the discussion will use Khotachiwadi as a case study to trace methods and challenges in preserving the heritage of a locality not just in tangible but also intangible forms of culture, for learnings that can be applied to other historic neighbourhoods across India. “We will look at preserving these historic neighbourhoods not at a museum but as a place of living heritage,” he notes.