Description of the Village: Western Outskirts of Mumbai City, India

Introduction

It is among the many villages in Bandra, located on the Western Outskirts of Mumbai City, India and measuring an area of 2.79 Acres (Diligent Media Corporation Ltd 1). It is one of the most affluent villages in Mumbai and India in general. Most of the renowned Indian cricket players and Bollywood actors and filmmakers hail from the villages around the Bandra area. At Bandra, the Ranwar Village is situated behind the tall buildings as well as shopping malls within the area (ASDM Architects 1). The village stretches from the Waroda Road to the Bandra Reclamation. Approximately, the village is close to half a century (500 years) old and forms part of the original villages that made up the old villages of pakhadis of Bandra.

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The village of has a rich heritage, which the main center of attraction for local and international tourists. The main sources of attraction are the traditional Portuguese architecture that currently takes the urban-style designs as part of the on-going modernization. Agriculture is the main source of livelihood with the locals producing rice in the paddy fields that surround the village. The village has no distinct boundary that separates it from the rest due to the effects of new developments and the encroachment of the urban settlements. The boundaries diminished with time. The rough stretch or estimate is that its boundary begins for the Waroda Road, which is a thin lane that starts at the Hill road, and ends at the Bandra reclaimed land. Below is a map showing Ranwar Village and its environs.

As stated, urbanization is currently taking shape in the village and the old Indian architectural landmarks are slowly diminishing. The Portuguese architecture forms the foundation of the village's architectural revolution. Walled off porches and windows fitted with grills are some of the current architectural features rampant in the village. The increase in population is responsible for the changing demographics witnessed in Ranwar, meaning that the conventional sense or communal setting might be diminishing as well. The influx of foreigners certainly led to interactions that changed the fabric of the traditional Indian lifestyle. The rapid influx of people led to housing problems since the traditional structures are insufficient to support that population. Traffic jams are a norm in the village due to the narrow road constructed in the 1920s that currently require urgent upgrading. Ironically, while people are flocking into the village from other parts of India, the original inhabitants are also leaving due to the apparent lack of basic amenities such as the sewerage systems. The net effect is that the majority of the people who currently inhabit the village are not originally from the region. Conservationists are trying to maintain the original integrity and character of the village. It is one of the most investment-worthy places in Mumbai, particularly in the real estate sector.

The Natural Features

The Ranwar village is surrounded by heritage properties of old cottages and buildings that define the traditional life of the area. The village has a rich heritage, which the main center of attraction for local and international tourists. The main sources of attraction are the traditional Portuguese architecture that currently takes the urban-style designs as part of the on-going modernization. The Indo-Portuguese Colonial style defines the nature of the houses that have wooden porches to elaborate the history of the Ranwar Village before the 21st Century (Sheth 1). The Portuguese architecture set up during the colonial era still dominates the village and the conservationists are working hard to preserve the features that still dominate the village. As a change from the past, the current buildings have the welcoming porches walled off and the windows have grill cages, which is a change from the past. Traditionally, the windows were big and open and the walls had no cages. Most of the old buildings have lost their structural integrity since there are various cracks on the walls with conservationists visibly reinforcing them with supportive rods as a means of preserving their integrity.

With a change in time, the buildings are transforming their touch to include neoclassical elements of painted roofs as well as external staircases (Bombay 1). Originally, the village had close to 42 landmark bungalows that defined its architectural landscape. Six of the bungalows have been demolished due to the rise of the prices in the property market within the village. The developers are taking advantage of the boom in the market and are now funding the development of high-capacity structures. The people are slowly adapting the influx of the population and the fact that the traditional houses may not be sufficient. In this regard, new buildings with higher capacity are now cropping up to fill the housing gap prevalent in the village. In the past, bungalows were quite common, but now new developers are now opting for storey buildings with higher accommodative properties. The evident change has been slow, and I have to adapt to the local vernacular method of architecture in Ranwar Village. Additionally, the roads are quite narrow, leading to rampant traffic snarl-ups. It is worth noting that the roads that serve the village were constructed in the 1920s when the population of the village was at a minimum and the cars were not so common. Another architectural concern is the inadequate sewerage system.

The village is unique for not only its traditional structures but also the commitment and the vibrancy of the residents. The people are exceedingly hardworking ad spend a lot of time in the paddy fields cultivating rice plantations found therein. The irrigation methods are quite mesmerizing and it is something that might take me a bit of time to internalize. The fact that the residents have integrated the residential with agricultural practice is mesmerizing to me. What is a bit breathtaking is the fact that the community still practices the Agrarian type of agriculture and sees no need to change even with the modern adoption of technology in various parts of the world. The paddy cultivators are simply encapsulating. Most men in the Ranwar village are fishermen who rely on traditional fishing methods and gear for livelihoods.

The Means of Transport

The first step in the movement is familiarization with the geography and the terrain of the village. As a man, I have to know the routes and the roads that serve the village. The areas I Currently, understand include various streets that include Hill Road, Mt. Carmel Road, Veronica Road, Chapel Road, and Waroda Road (Bandra Info 1). Arguably, the road system is the most common means of transportation within and outside the village and almost every part of the village is reachable by road. Ranwar village is between Hill Road and Mt. Carmel Road and touching the other named roads (Diligent Media Corporation Ltd 1). Therefore, two main roads connect the village to the other parts of Bandra in Mumbai. I use either of the mentioned roads when I want to visit other villages such as Chimbai and Chium villages that border Ranwar village. As stated, the dominant religion is the Catholic Church, and part of socialization I find worshipping with the locals quite fulfilling and nourishing. Chapel Road will take me to St. Stephens Church if I want to go for adoration.

Cultural Features

At Ranwar Village, a man will enjoy the urban art and festivals that are held in the village (Jesse 1). The traditional festivals are quite colorful with most of the performers donning the Indian colors and dancing beautifully. Personally, I find that quite engaging and interesting. In the streets, there are old images in exhibition galleries for the Ranwar people voices. I enjoy most of the contemporary art while walking on the streets of Ranwar (Bombay 1). The people are quite vibrant and like to express their culture in any way they can and street art is a common practice in that regard. The narrow lanes within the village display urban works of art that are beautiful, which is depictive of the vibrant spirit of the people of Ranwar. I find that quite intriguing. Festival celebrations are must-attend events. Most of the cultural activities for the festivals are planned earlier (Fernandes, Rodrigues and Rodrigues 1). I have had the opportunity to attend most of them and it is very interesting. Street artists also maintain the beauty and the culture of the community. The street artists maintain the Ranwar's heritage architecture (Sheth 1).

Evidently, the Ranwar village is the true depiction of India's past and the future combined into single beautiful scenery. It depicts a magnificent heritage enclave that brings the heart of Bombay to life. The street arts spice up everything. The bungalows and the quaint houses coalesce to form a beautiful panorama, which essentially defines the village's history, the present, and gives a sneak-peak into the future. The heritage buildings give a person the taste of what Bombay as a whole looked like in the past centuries. From the photo below, it is evident that Ranwar village is a vibrant scene of unparalleled street art as executed by respected graffiti virtuosi. As a man who loves art, I find the scenario quite appealing and hard to resist. In terms of the level of street art and the detailing that the artists put into, the place is comparable to a few places in the globe that include but not limited to New York's Greenwich Village, Maris in Paris, and Hoxton in London. The artwork is uplifting and brings forth deeper feelings of patriotism and a profound sense of style.

The gluten-fearing foods also contribute to the Ranwar's heritage. The food is unique to the village and defines it since it has been passed down for generations. Additionally, Creativity and hipster lifestyles make the crumbling houses and narrow streets in Ranwar Village (Tales 1). From the above picture, one can clearly tell that the houses are quite old, but the art5istry makes them look splendid and modest. The artists turn the somehow simplistic houses into something beautiful and enjoyable to watch. The colorful paintings are also consistent with the type of clothing that the people of Ranwar prefer. It is worth noting that people of Ranwar, just like most Indians, prefer colorful clothing that coincidentally, or by design, matches the street graffiti and paintings. At St Jude Bakery, a man will enjoy different meals such as the delicious heavy curries, buttermilk, puris, rasam, yogurt, and pickle that are obvious with Indian cuisine. I will also order for cutlery and eat with hands as typically done in Ranwar. The food is quite delicious and the fact that it forms part of their culture calls of profound indulgence for people who like appreciating people or the diversity in cultural practices like me. The service by chefs is remarkable and I really enjoy the meal as well as the warm hospitality.

Economic Features

Traditionally, the village relied heavily on trade and agriculture. Rice was the main crop and they still cultivate it both as a commercial and staple crop. However, in the contemporary setting, great investment, particularly in the real estate sector is taking shape. The Ranwar Village is a prime location in Mumbai for real estate developers and the price of properties are quite high currently. Real estate is a booming business there. As a man, I have the chance of getting into the house development business and become a homeowner and selling the property (Thirani 1). The real estate presents great opportunities that I intend to exploit faithfully.

Social Features

Like a century back, the Ranwar Village was not so popular, particularly during the times of the British occupation. However,...