From Bombay’s colonial backwater to Mumbai’s Maximum City — India’s most chronicled metropolis retold through its literary history.
At a literature festival panel, historians and writers trace Mumbai’s transformation through archives, travelogues, and Govind Narayan’s 1863 Marathi classic. Scholar Murali Ranganathan reveals how the city was once considered a peripheral outpost compared to Calcutta and Madras, and how 19th-century writers predicted its extraordinary growth from seven islands to a global megalopolis.
The conversation explores overlooked architectural gems — a Neptune sculpture at Colaba police headquarters, the Gateway of India as a site of Abhilash Tomy’s solo circumnavigation — revealing how the city’s identity has always been built as much through stories as through stone.
About the Speakers:
Murali Ranganathan is a historian, writer and translator. He researches nineteenth century South Asia and his areas of interest include the history of the book, print history and culture, travels and travel accounts, history of photography, newspapers and periodicals, public performance and entertainment, and the Bombay Country Trade. He has written extensively on the history of Mumbai in the nineteenth century, the development of print across South Asia in the twentieth century and on themes related to book history and travelogues.
Shabnam Minwala’s journey with books is defined by Journalism, non fiction and children’s books.Winner of numerous awards like Neev ,the AttaGalatta Bangalore Lit Fest Award) and the Author Award for Children’s Book of the Year Shabnam loves to experiment with genres like horror and comedy for children. A mother of 3 teens, she is a former Chevening Scholar with an MA from the the University of Southern California
Commodore R.S. Kesnur (Retd.) is a decorated naval officer, maritime historian, and advocate for maritime awareness. A graduate of the NDA, he commanded two frontline warships—INS Vindhyagiri (ASW frigate) and INS Jalashwa (India’s only Landing Platform Dock). He served as Defence Adviser in East Africa (2008–2012) and held academic leadership roles at NDA Pune, DSSC Wellington, and Naval War College Goa. A PhD from Mumbai University, he holds five postgrad degrees across science and social sciences. He also led the Maritime Warfare Centre and the Naval History Project. In 2021, he was awarded the Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM) for distinguished service.
Kamalika Bose is the founder of Heritage Synergies India, a Mumbai-based consultancy focused on cultural heritage, museum design, and pedagogy. A Fulbright Scholar with a Master’s in Historic Preservation from Cornell, she has led urban conservation and adaptive reuse projects across India. Kamalika consults on museum and exhibition design, with expertise in maritime and naval heritage. She has represented India at global cultural forums including the EU’s Global Cultural Leadership Programme and the French Ministry of Culture. Author of five books, her recent works include The Hoysala Legacy and People Called Kolkata.
