I was on the edge of Shivaji Park looking at a water fountain on a hot October day. It looked like a stone structure that supported two basins. It was one of the few restored colonial-era drinking fountains in the city. A remnant of Mumbai's past was brought back to life a few weeks ago.
In 2008 the heritage conserver department of Mumbai's municipal corporation commissioned Chemburkar to restore drinking structures.
He says that he realized that the fountains were unique, but neglected. The city seemed to have forgotten them. He made his mission to protect as many as possible after reading about the demolition of pyaaus. He is working on fountains in Mumbai. He says that it is our moral duty to protect this part of the city. The idea of public drinking fountains would be in contrast to the plastic bottles we drink from.
A series of hand-illustrated postcards was created by Chemburkar to highlight various aspects of Mumbai's water heritage. Kamakshi Ayyar.
There are no clear numbers on how many pyaaus Mumbai had, but close to 30 are functioning. These structures are architectural jewels scattered across parts of Bombay and have been spearheaded by Mumbai's civic authorities and various partners. They are found in public spaces such as local squares and parks.
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The fountains were built in the late 1800s and early 1900s. This was the time when the city's water infrastructure began to grow, with piped water making an appearance. The need for drinking water facilities was felt by city officials and the public as more people came to the city to work.
Philanthropists stepped in to help. Chemburkar says that it is considered to help people quench their thirst. Most fountains are named after their benefactors. He says that many pyaaus were built in the memory of loved ones. There is a part of charity and remembrance.
The city seemed to have forgotten them.
The Ramji Setiba pyaau in Shivaji Park is five feet tall, while the Keshavji Nayak pyaau is more than 20 feet tall.
They also have different architectural styles. The General Post Office in Mumbai has an edifice that combines Indian and European elements. The fountain was built in 1923 in memory of the daughter of the man who built it.
The statue of bulls at the entrance of the Keshavji Nayak pyaau resembles a Hindu temple, and the cupola covered in carved peacocks is a feature seen in many Hindu temples.
Sir Cowasjee Jehangir donated a pyaau to Crawford Market, which is one of Mumbai's busiest bazaars. The structure has floral stone carvings, arches, and a spire. Today it is forgotten, amid piles of rubbish with spouts.
The clocktower before and after the fountain. Vaastu Vidhaan Projects.
Many of Mumbai's pyaaus faced the same fate. The population grew and the demand for water increased. Many fountains ran dry because of a scarcity of water. Water was piped into homes and bottled water was available.
The central idea of the pyaaus was changed by the act of drinking water. The fountains were neglected. Many fountains were demolished as real estate became important in the city.
At a time when people are realizing the value of access to water, drinking fountains in cities including Istanbul, London, and Los Angeles are being restored and installed.
At the start of Mumbai's restoration projects, teams study a pyaau's features, such as the architectural elements, the materials used, and whether it had a special trough for animals. Local stone is easy to find and is what most of the fountains that Chemburkar has worked on were built with. Depending on the state of the pyaau, the team can either take it apart or repair it.
Each fountain has its own challenges. Chemburkar's team replaced the missing basin by copying an existing one. The height of the city's roads and sidewalks has increased, meaning that another fountain built in 1929 will have to be raised several feet.
Beyond restoration, Chemburkar conducts frequent walks and lectures via the Mumbai Pyaau Project and sketches postcards of the fountains. I went on a walk last March with architecture students, tourists, and locals, and learned about structures that I would have never seen. The walk made the group think about water-supply challenges.
The architectural style of the general post office in Mumbai is similar to that of the Kothari pyaau. Kamakshi Ayyar.
The disparity in Mumbai's water supply is studied through the lens of legal, sometimes wealthier, settlements and illegal ones. As a member of Pani Haq Samiti, Dewoolkar and others try to get water to the slums. Out of 1,000 applications, they could only get about 72 to 78 connections over the course of three or four years due to a lack of standard procedures. Poor families pay more for water from private companies.
Activists want officials to create more drinking fountains. Pani Haq Samiti recommended that authorities invest more in pyaaus. The water is not free in some of the public spaces that the civic bodies have installed water dispensers in.
Many of the newer public drinking units are just selling a commodity. He thinks aesthetically built fountains become community spaces when people take a break. Students napping between classes and couples stealing quiet moments were seen at the benches around the Shivaji Park pyaau.
The designs and materials of the pyaaus wouldn't be replicated by him. He would use modern elements to build something that represents the 21st century. He says that we need to use the aesthetic sensitivity of the pyaau.
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