Bombay mix : LETTERS

Gillian Tindall
Wednesday 25 January 1995 19:02 EST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

From Ms Gillian Tindall Sir: It is a pity that Jonathan Glancey's timely article on the folly of destroying old buildings, just because they represent a politically unfashionable era, was misleadingly illustrated.

In his text he mentions Madras, correctly, as an Indian city where crass provincial prejudices are still permitting the destruction of its architectural heritage. He does not mention Bombay, yet the piece is accompanied by a picture, allegedly of Victoria Terminus there, that does justice neither to that splendid edifice nor to Bombay's current record of conservation and rehabilitation.

A dozen years ago, when working on an urban history of Bombay, I, too, feared that the city's great Saracenic-Gothic buildings were at risk, but there has been a sea change in attitude: cleaning and floodlighting are now recognised policy.

Much remains to be done but, considering the difficulties under which Indian conservation architects operate, the success has been remarkable. Credit where credit is due.

Yours faithfully, Gillian Tindall London, NW5

19 January

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in