News
वसईकरांना मिळणार अधिक दर्जेदार वीज पुरवठा
News
Saviya Lopes becomes a Director at Clark House Initiative, Bombay
Saviya Lopes has been with Clark House since 2014. She is the youngest, brightest participating artist of Clark House Initiative and a recent graduate from Rachna Sansad Academy of Fine Art. Her research thesis took form of a confession where she confronted various identities. Her works articulate a hypocrisy that we are well versed with but refuse to shed often using the cudgels of culture. She works in the context of feminism and its interventions of visual vocabulary in conceptual practice, she thoroughly puts through an idea for the political and represents a young India. She also works in terms of history pertaining to that of her own family archives or of the history of the place that she lives in.
She has shown in International Museums, Ireland, Paris, Dubai, Dakar, Hong Kong and Korea. Also, Saviya Lopes recently got a grant from FFIA (Foundation for Arts and Initiative), for her research and to travel many other countries.
She had been twice invited to South Korea for Gwangju Biennale as a fellow to participate and in Asia Art Space Network Asia for Exhibition making and for public talk. And she will travel soon to London for a show in London Showroom in May.
This content appeared as a Facebook post on Clark House Initiative’s page.
News
Vasai gets an Air Quality Monitoring Station
The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board has completed construction of the stations, which are expected to start functioning from May 1
The project is a year behind schedule, but 11 air quality monitoring stations across Mumbai and its suburbs will start functioning from May. The centres will provide real-time air updates to citizens about the quality of air in their localities.
The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) said it has completed construction of the air quality monitoring stations and they are expected to start functioning from May 1. Apart from Mumbai, six other real-time air quality monitoring stations will be inaugurated in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), with one each at Thane, Navi Mumbai and Dombivli. Vasai and Pune will get two continuous air quality monitoring stations of its own. MPCB is developing a smartphone application and display boards, which will provide real-time air quality updates to citizens.
“In all, 17 such stations will start functioning from May. Each of these stations will monitor PM2.5 — small pollutant particles that can easily enter the lungs and cause respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses — as the lead pollutant,” said P Anbalagan, member secretary, MPCB. “We wanted to inaugurate stations in Mumbai from April 1, but owing to some technical snags it has been delayed.”
News
Malcolm Elias Dias becomes a Flying Officer of the Indian Air Force!!
Malcolm. from Bhuigaon, was selected at the National Defence Academy in 2013 and on 16th December 2017, Malcolm has been decorated as the first Flying Officer in the Indian Air Force from Vasai.
Events
Vasai Fort City Heritage Walk
When: Sunday, 2nd October 2016
Time: 09:30 AM to 12:30 PM
Details
An Half day event were, Group interested in Numismatics, Archaeology and History will walk around talking about stories related to the History of Vasai Fort. Pascal Roque Lopes who is a Masters in Numismatics & Archaeology and Researches around the Indo – Portuguese Maratha History will lead the group.
Pascal will guide the walk has his Articles on the Vasai Fort published in Maharashtra Unlimited which is a Maharashtra Tourism Department Magazine. And has conducted this event For Global and Local participants.
Review for the Fort Visit can also be read at About India Travel site Go India Vasai Fort Tour
More details are available on Window Of History
Vasai was initially occupied by the Bongle Raja in 1414 and then by the Bhadur Shah of Gujrat in 1530. Vasai fort city built by the Portuguese occupies 110 archers excluding villages around, in the 16th century there were 2400 soldiers, 300
Horses and 3000 residents, Knights, members of the Royal Family and artisans in the fort city. City because it has a church, hotel, hospital, granary, collage, chapel, library, Municipality, Townhall, Market, The increased trade and monetisation resulted in opening of a coin mint, literature was written in dnyaneshwari Marathi, it had an orphanage, a common bath pool, a court and Jail. International travellers got attracted and were able to travel to the sea port. Saint Francis Xavier whose body is in the Bom Jesus church’s in Goa visited the Vasai City Trice. It was finally take over by the Marathas in 1739. Later by the British after signing a treaty in 1802. ASI took control of the Monument using the Ancient Monument and Preservation Act, 1904.
Schedule
- We will gather and assemble at the Vasai Fort , Near the Chimaji Appa statue 9 am to 9:15 am
- We will try to do a quick round up of one line to introduce yourself typically Name, Profession and why you are interested in the fort.
- Will introduce myself Pascal Lopes; explain the usage of the document we will use across the walk. And how you can use it for a self tour later.
- We will Target to begin the walk at 9:45 am
- We can take a Snacks / Tea break around 10:45
- Continue with the walk
- Wrap-up and closure 12:30 , with a buffer of 30 mins so Max 1:00 pm
Things good to have and wear
- Preferred a comfortable T-shirt , Sports Shoes, Tracks or comforting jeans
** That’s preferred for your comfort, you can come in whatever you are comfortable with - Cap is a must. Sunglass if they help you
- Bottle of water ensure it does not make you feel loaded to carry around, sipping from a Half Liter bottle works.
- Sandwiches, and Snacks to ensure you don’t feel hungry, please maintain cleanliness.
- Torch sometimes needed, even the mobile torch works.
- In case you plan to write a page and pen
- Camera if Photography is your interest
- If you post photos on Face Book clearly mention if you don’t want other to use it, specify the copyright there. Most preferred if you don’t want people to use it put a copyright on the snap itself, so when they share you get the credit.
- If you are using photographs clicked by other person most appropriate directly share it, or ensure proper credit is given. Please don’t crop and use the photographs.
- A document related to the fort will be provided for your reference.
The Heritage walk is a Service and no charges are taken it is to promote the Interest in the Vasai Fort.
Mode to Travel
- If you are driving take the Western Express Highway diverge at the Vasai and follow the direction for the fort, Its Vasai West , in Vasai Gaon , Killabandar.
- If you are taking train Vasai comes after Borivali, Dahisar, Mira Road, Bhayandar, Cross the Vasai Creek Bridge (See if you can spot the fort), Naigaon, Vasai Road Station
- Get down near the bus depot
- You can see Yellow colored Vasai Virar Mahanagarpalika buses take one coming to Killabandar
- You can also take a Rikshaw everyone knows Vasai fort.
History
Church Bells of Bassein Fort
There were seven churches in Bassein Fort: 2 were managed by the secular clergy and the remaining 5 were managed by the religious Orders of the Franciscans, Dominicans, Augustinians, Jesuits and Knights Hospitaller.
On 23 May 1739, one week later, after the Treaty of Bassein was signed between the Portuguese & Marathas, the Portuguese garrison of some 300 soldiers walked out with full military honours as one of the conditions mentioned in the treaty and the Marathas took control of the Bassein fort.
The Marathas then removed the 6 church bells from the churches in Bassein Fort, which were then carried off on elephant backs as victory souvenirs by the Maratha sardars to their home towns at various places in Maharashtra.
Of the 7 church bells from Bassein Fort, 6 are found today in Hindu temples and the remaining 1 is in the Catholic church at Bombay.
Number of bells in the Vasai fort are unknown but we can estimate by the number of churches in the fort. One such Bell was carried to and located at Naroshankar Temple on the banks of Godavari river in Nasik, Panchavati area. The other church bell is located at Bhimashankar Temple is located in the village of Bhorgiri 50 km north west of Khed. Third bell is located at Meneshwar temple in Menavali near Panchgani. This bell weighs six hundred and fifty kilograms. The date on the bell shows the year 1707 and has five-alloy bell bears a bas-relief of Mary carrying the infant Jesus Christ cast into it. Fourth church bell is located at Durga Devi temple, Murud.
Naroshankarachi Ghanta
First Church bell at Naroshankar temple and is so called “Naroshankarachi Ghanta”. The bell was looted in 1739 from Our Lady of Immaculate Conception Church, Mt. Poinsur by the Marathas. It is 2.5-ft high and 10.25ft in circumference.
Bhimashankar Temple
Second Church bell is located at Bhimashankar Temple is located in the village of Bhorgiri, near Khed. Notice 1729, the year when the bell was cast and cross and image of Jesus on the face of the bell. It is written on the supporting structure that the bell was brought to this temple in 1729, which is incorrect. The bell was brought more that 10 years later, after Portuguese were defeated in Vasai.
Meneshwar temple
Church Bell from Bassein Fort (with the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary and child Jesus), now at Meneswar temple in Menavali, near Panchgani. The bell house of the Meneshwar temple houses a six hundred and fifty kilogram bell. This bell was captured by Bajirao-1’s brother Chimaji Appa, from a cathedral in the Portuguese fort at Bassein. Dated 1707, the five-alloy bell bears a bas-relief of Mary carrying the infant Jesus Christ cast into it.
Durga Devi temple
Fourth church bell from Vasai/Bessein fort is located at Durga Devi temple, Murud.
Baneshwar temple
Fifth church bell from Vasai/Bessein fort is located at Baneshwar temple in Pune. The temple hosts an important bell which was captured by Chimaji Appa after defeating the Portuguese in the battle of Bassien in 1739. The bell has the year 1683 and a Cross on it, which depicts that the bell belonged to a church and was transported as a token of victory. (source)
Loni Bhapkar
Sixth church bell from Vasai/Bassein fort is located at Loni Bhapkar in Baramati Tehsil of Pune District.
St. Francis Xavier Church, Dabul
The Seventh church bell from Bassein fort which is now at St. Francis Xavier Church at Dabul in Bombay, once upon a time belonged to the church of St Joseph (Chakri Jena) in Bassein fort. It was given to the British by the Portuguese in exchange for gunpowder during the siege of Bassein Fort by the Marathas.
The British then strung up this bell at St Thomas Cathedral at fort near Churchgate Railway Station.
In 1869, it was handed over to the Bombay Arsenal where it bided its time before the Portuguese Vicar-General of Daman requested that it be returned, hence the British Governor of Bombay handed it over as a gift to St. Francis Xavier Church at Dabul. And that’s how a 146-year-old church in Bombay ended up with a 342-year-old bell.
(If you want to visit this church, you have to get down at the eastern side of Charni Road or Marine Lines Railway stations and ask for the land mark Thakurdwar, there ask for St. Francis Xavier Church)
TIMES OF INDIA article in the year 1918 explains that the huge bell hanging in the belfry once belonged to the church of St Joseph in Bassein fort, and according to the inscription on it the bell was cast in AD 1674 by Hiram Tavarres Bocarro,
A beautiful prayer in Latin is inscribed on this church bell. The English translation is: “O who could give to me that I may die for Thee, so that all nations may know Thee”
Mid-Day did an article based on the book by Fr. Francis Correia – Mumbai group turned sleuths to find missing bells from abandoned Portuguese churches
News
Pascal Lopes has 100 stamps on Mother Teresa
As the countdown begins to the canonization of Mother Teresa, various groups will celebrate the joyous event in different ways. Pascal Lopes, a numismatist from Vasai, has built an enviable collection of 100 stamps based on her from all parts of the world.
Mother Teresa will be declared a saint by the Vatican on September 4. External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj will represent India at the ceremony. Pascal has taken a Masters degree in Numismatics and Archaeology. He says, “I was always attracted to the saintly persona of Mother Teresa and her humanitarian activities. The more I read the more I became interested. The first stamp of her that I acquired was printed in 1980. I bought 40 sheets of stamps a few years later. In fact, some of my friends offered to pay Rs 300 for stamps costing Rs 45. This proves that her magnetic charm exists even decades after her death.”
Mother Teresa, he says, was the first living Indian to be honoured with a stamp by India Post in 1980. “Since then of course, Sachin Tendulkar’s picture has been imprinted on a postal ticket. The stamp bears her portrait along with the facsimile of the reverse of the Nobel Peace Prize medallion.”
He has 2,000 coins in his armoury as well. “The Indian government issued two coins during her birth centenary, one whose face value is Rs 100 and another of five rupee denomination. The postal department issued a 45-rupee speed post souvenir sheet in 1997, as well as first day covers, covers, postcards and a brochure,” says Pascal.
“The Saint of the Gutters, as she was called, was honoured over the years, during the Nobel Prize presentation in 1980, Women’s Day, 21 Years of Speed Post, 60 years of India’s Independence as well as 60 years of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights where Mother appeared along with Mahatma Gandhi. A host of countries like Liberia, Malta, Uganda, The Turks and Caicos Island and USA have also issued coins or stamps in Mother Teresa’s name,” he says. This collector has sourced his hoard from like-minded friends, exhibitions and auctions. Pascal is currently pursuing a research project on Indian Portuguese coins.