4 minute read
1.NARIMAN LIGHT HOUSE
from F.Y.I MAGAZINE
NARIMAN HOUSE
-Kashish Singh
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TIME AND TRANSITION
Time is an eTime is an entity may simmer in silence or may be widely appreciated, but is never denied that obvious attention it deserves. Such a structure that commands recognition, absolutes in totality and backs its up with reasoning may only be achieved on paths yet to be travelled. Untraversed, they set paths that serve the future in ways unmarred manners until now. Such structures break norms formulating the present scenario Defining moment
Context
The space, its surrounding and all the element of its physicality sum up under context. The way a structure environs its space defines many aspects with respect to its own fate. The immediate context therefore, impacts in several ways when an intervention takes place in the vicinity. Chabad house (2002-2008)
One such structure is Nariman lighthouse in Mumbai, that shall remain frozen in time, bringing to reality the haunting of 26th November 2008 that globally impacted several lives. Despite the harsh incidents, this antifragile structure stands to promote Chabad and their vision, “A little light repels much darkness” ever so strongly. It stands in solace as the only memorial for all the victims of the attack, reminding us the importance of light, life and humanity. Time is in a constant state of change defining every aspect of space and its setting. They form concrete grains of fleeting moments that symbolise that stretch. Periodicities that brought about a strong impact because of motives that came in progression of an establishment, context and time are invariably interdependent. Structures built around them take up the form of its physical representation, freezing time. Defining moments breathe this way in future hours and eons, diving all in while still retaining its essence and motive. While the structure began its journey as a family home owned by Khambattas, in 2002, the Chabad community undertook this site to build the thereafter known Chabhad house. This structure’s plain motive was to preach the conducts of Torah, the Jewish holy book and the understanding that “one should look past the outer form of a being and seek for the true identity that lies in the depth of one’s soul.
The Attack
On the eve of 25th November 2008, a group of terrorists arrived in India through the Arabian sea, after hijacking a trawler, the Kuber to sail to India. The Aftermath The three-day massacre at the Nariman house brought the whole structure down by all means, the attack was carried out by fourth and fifth floor of the building. Nariman house had to witness the tragic event that scattered its soul into heaps of dust.
Three nights later, the most horrific attacks of all times took place at strategic locations in Mumbai such as Taj Mahal Hotel, Cama Hospital, CST terminus and Chabad house. The attacks at the Nariman house were evident of several murders including
Rabbi Gabriel Holtzberg and his wife Rivka.
The bullet holes environed the two floors along with the neighbouring fires. The grenade scars remained the same along with blood stains on several walls. Holtzberg family’s house was nothing short of horror. While the destruction was unmissable, so were the dispositioned belongings of the family. All things were moved to the store.
The toiletries were stacked up on their furniture, photo frames were worn out. The whole place since then gathered dust.
The Vision
A decade later, on 28th of November it went on to be declared as Nariman lighthouse, a memorial for the victims of the massacre. It is now is achieving the purpose of taking ahead the rabbi’s campaign and emerging as a symbol of light triumphing over darkness. The fourth floor, or the. room where the cross firing took place, has been converted into a dive into light from darkness experiential museum The fifth floor has been restored to its original state, but in white. The elements of the house that preach the very teachings for torah are the only objects with a hint of colour.
The Nariman lighthouse shall stand as a bridge between loss and revival. It stands for growth in solidarity to express the significance of triumph over darkness, good over evil and most importantly humanity over terrorism. In entirety, the structure yearns to spread the holy word even more proudly and profoundly.
