 Crawford Market, the heritage market building, is a tribute to Arthur Crawford, Bombay's first municipal commissioner. The market is located opposite the Mumbai Police headquarters, just north of Chhatrapati Shivaji (Victoria) Terminus at a busy intersection. Poised between what was once the British Fort and the local town, the market presents endearing images of the British Raj in Bombay while maintaining the local flavour.
The name of the market has since been changed to Mahatma Jyotirao Phule Market after the local patriot Jyotirao Phule. The original name ‘Crawford Market’ however is still commonly used for the market.
The First Building in India to be lit up by Electricity!
The building was designed by William Emerson in 1865 on the orders of Sir Arthur Crawford. Sir Crawford was given the task of cleaning up the city, which he did with so much vigour and at such a large scale that he was eventually brought to court under a charge of financial mismanagement! Notwithstanding this, the building still acquired his name. The market building was donated to the city on completion in 1869 by Cowasji Jehangir and was the first in India to be lit up by electricity, in 1882.
The building stands tall with its clock tower and steeple rising towards the sky and is a fine example of Flemish, Norman and Gothic architectural styles. It covers an area of 6,000 sq ft out of the total area of 24,000 sq ft of the market. The friezes on the outside entrance were designed by Lockwood Kipling and depict Indian farmers. The stone fountain inside the market was also his creation. John Lockwood Kipling is the father of novelist Rudyard Kipling who has authored ‘The Jungle Book’. Kipling senior was the municipal architect of Bombay. Buff coloured Kurla stone, with red stone from Bassein has been used for the construction. The building has a skylight awning designed to allow the sunlight to light up the marketplace and is at least 50 ft high.
Shoppers’ Paradise
The building has cavernous spaces inside that are divided into sections for fruits, vegetables and meat. One can even find rare and exotic fruits and vegetables in the market, imported from countries like America and Australia. Till 1996, this market was filled with fruit wholesalers. They have since been relocated to a larger space in New Bombay. There is also a lane for florists who sell a wide variety of flowers including ‘Gladiator’ red roses, asters, chrysanthemums, marigolds, lilies, badami gulab and fragrant herbs like sabja and tulsi. The pet store situated at one end of the market sells aquatic and avian pets.
For years, Crawford Market has been a kind of a sought after shopping destination. You can find almost anything under the sun here. Whether you want shoes, clothes, beauty products, wigs, imported goodies, assorted candies, party and festive decorations, little knick-knacks in cane, suitcases or backpacks, reusable or disposable crockery or just about anything… you are sure to find it here!
The market building may have seen better days and is not in the best kept condition now. Over the years, it has acquired a lazy and gloomy look and there are signs of general deterioration and decay. One may come across signs like ‘Please do not spit’, ‘Smoking prohibited’, ‘Dogs are not allowed in the market’, etc. Unfortunately, this has done little to improve the ambience.
Ruchika Batra
Address:
Crawford Market, Mumbai GPO, Near Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Mumbai – 400 001
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