Wow!! This is such a well researched and articulate article. I would have never known any of this history of the area, despite going to VJTI for 4 years, with your dad, Rajiv, who you mention in your article. Had to read it twice to just absorb all the information. Great memories for me from 1977 - 1981.
Quite an eye-opener! A most interesting and revealing article, particularly since I grew up in the neighborhood, 11 Customs Quarters, at the top of the said R P Masani Road. Thank you for your diligence!🙏
Hi Xerxes. I’m Kaka’s nephew Rajiv Sethi. The writer is my daughter Neha Sethi. Your customs quarters’ second floor apartment was overlooking the entire Masani lane with a gallery view so to say.
Hi Rajiv, Yes, gallery view is an apt expression! Your daughter, Neha, mentions you in the article. I concur with her in lamenting the demise of the iconic Gold Finch. What were the nick names of the two brothers whose family owned the building? Neha’s mention of the name of one of them doesn’t quite ring a bell.
Neha,
Wow!! This is such a well researched and articulate article. I would have never known any of this history of the area, despite going to VJTI for 4 years, with your dad, Rajiv, who you mention in your article. Had to read it twice to just absorb all the information. Great memories for me from 1977 - 1981.
Sarosh
Thank you so much! It was an eye-opening process for me too, hearing these stories and learning the history
Wow Neha . Such an interesting article on Mumbai's Art Deco buildings. And best of all our own Sethi Nivas is covered as an Art Deco building too.
Amazing and well written Neha. Could connect with each word you have written. A great beginning. Looking forward to many more of your articles.
Amazing article Neha.
Loved reading this! 😊
Awesome, very well researched article.
Quite an eye-opener! A most interesting and revealing article, particularly since I grew up in the neighborhood, 11 Customs Quarters, at the top of the said R P Masani Road. Thank you for your diligence!🙏
Hi Xerxes. I’m Kaka’s nephew Rajiv Sethi. The writer is my daughter Neha Sethi. Your customs quarters’ second floor apartment was overlooking the entire Masani lane with a gallery view so to say.
Hi Rajiv, Yes, gallery view is an apt expression! Your daughter, Neha, mentions you in the article. I concur with her in lamenting the demise of the iconic Gold Finch. What were the nick names of the two brothers whose family owned the building? Neha’s mention of the name of one of them doesn’t quite ring a bell.
Owners and history of Gold Finch in ToI article below. Owners of Sethi Nivas were the late three brothers who are Kaka’s first cousins.
Thanks very much! I meant to express to you earlier that the article by Neha was forwarded to me by my sister, Roshni
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/fall-of-matunga-art-deco-home-reflects-vanishing-era-of-the-garden-suburbs/amp_articleshow/61708137.cms
If you were struggling to recall nick names of Sethi Nivas guys and gals here they are
Guys - Sheshu, Shokki, Puppi, Titu
Gals - Kitty, Choti, Bubble, Pinky, Baby, Babu
Wonderful stuff Neha!
Very well researched and lucid style. Unputdownable for me until the last letter.