August 14-16, 2009. The Great Wall Project (of Mumbai) (Part 1) happened over the mega Independence Day weekend and I got to know about it through a close relative.
Inspired by him, I, accompanied by a few family members, rushed to Tulsi Pipe Road a.k.a. Senapati Bapat Marg, Mahim.
There we saw an awe inspiring sight of scores of fellow Mumbaikars, armed with paint brushes and paints, lined up from Mahim station all the way till Matunga Road station, painting walls with some of the most beautiful paintings I’ve ever seen.
Being a holiday and ours being an impromtu decision, we rushed to Magnet hyper market located nearby, and picked up a few spray paint cans.
We did a few wall segments and felt really proud. While our work and skills were nowhere near to what was on display, the fact that we were contributing, made us feel one with our city.
A few days later, I noticed a poster covering my painting and i promptly got down from my car and ripped it off. That was the last of it and I did not see any other movie posters covering mine or any other painting after that day.
October 25, 2009. Sunday
The Great Wall Project 2 takes place. This time at the Lower Parel end of Tulsi Pipe Road. The residents of Mumbai have learnt from their first experience. They are better armed and also much better planned. This time around the paintings are really awesome. Some are so good, that it may put even the legendary M.F. Hussain to shame. One that really caught my eye is this Diwali painting with a lot of glass and diyas stuck on it. Absolutely marvelous!
My relatives make up for my absence and paint a few walls and I feel proud for them and for my city.
October 26, 2009. Monday.
I avoid taking the Bandra Worli Sea-Link and pass by Tulsi Pipe Road to glance once again at those magnificent walls.
~~~ S H A T T E R ~~~
More than a quarter of these painting are covered by garish movie posters of upcoming Bollywood releases.
I seethe in anger, I will not let some dumb posters dampen the enthusiasm on my city. I stop my car once again and start ripping the posters off. Only difference between August and October being the monsoon. This time round the poster has not been dampened by the rainfall. Along with the posters, I realise that the paints coming off too. I stop. Dont wanna damage any painting below.
And then the next morning, scores of newspapers carry the pictures of the mutilated paintings. The twitterati are at it. Condemnations fly thick and fast but what we need is action.
And Action finally it is. Word is out. All to meet Saturday October 31, 2009. This time with brooms and brushes and soap water to clean off the posters that deface all the efforts put in by the people. Clean Up Mumbai, Chaka chak Mumbai !
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