Cusrow Baug is a

Parsi The Parsis or Parsees () are a Zoroastrian ethnic group in the Indian subcontinent. They are descended from Persian refugees who migrated to the Indian subcontinent during and after the Arab-Islamic conquest of Iran in the 7th century, w ...

residential colony on Colaba Causeway,

Mumbai Mumbai ( ; ), also known as Bombay ( ; its official name until 1995), is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra. Mumbai is the financial capital and the most populous city proper of India with an estimated population of 12 ...

, India. Its residential blocks were completed between 1934 and 1959. The colony houses a

Zoroastrian Zoroastrianism ( ), also called Mazdayasnā () or Beh-dīn (), is an Iranian religion centred on the Avesta and the teachings of Zarathushtra Spitama, who is more commonly referred to by the Greek translation, Zoroaster ( ). Among the wo ...

temple, computer centre, gymnasium, and sports club. It was designed by

Claude Batley Claude Batley F.R.I.B.A., F.I.A.A., (17 October 1879 in Ipswich – 20 March 1956, Bombay) was an English architect who as practitioner, teacher and President of the Indian Institute of Architects from 1921 to 1923, played an influential ro ...

History

Following his death, Parsi businessman Nowrosjee N. Wadia left a large amount of money to his wife Jerbai Wadia. She used it to build five residential colonies, known as ''baugs'', and create funds for Parsis who were unable to afford housing. These five baugs, created in honour of her husband and three sons, are called Cusrow Baug, Ness Baug, Rustom Baug, Jer Baug, and Nowroze Baug. They contain a total of 1545 apartments. The baugs are maintained by N. N. Wadia and R. N. Wadia Trusts under the

Bombay Parsi Punchayet The Bombay Parsi Punchayet (Also known as ''Bombay Parsi Panchayat'', ''Bombay Parsi Panchayet'' or ''BPP'') is the apex body representing the Parsi Zoroastrian Community in Mumbai. BPP was founded in the 1670s. It is a charitable trust and is the ...

. The managing committee is chaired by a member of the

Wadia family The Wadia family is a Parsi family from Surat, India, currently based in Mumbai, India. The family rose to wealth in the mid-1700s as shipbuilders serving the British East India Company as the latter established its sway over India. During ...

. Cusrow Baug was designed by English architect

. The first residential blocks of the colony were completed in 1934, after two years of construction. The S and T blocks were completed in 1959. It is one of the oldest Parsi colonies in Mumbai. The houses in the colony are not for sale and are only available to be rented. During the 1950s, because the colony was located near a swamp, it had only a few tenants even at a minimal rent of per month. The Seth Nusserwanji Hirji Karani Agiary, a Zoroastrian

fire temple A fire temple (; ) is a place of worship for Zoroastrians. In Zoroastrian doctrine, ''atar'' and '' aban'' (fire and water) are agents of ritual purity. Clean, white "ash for the purification ceremonies sregarded as the basis of ritual lif ...

, is located in the colony. The holy fire of the temple was originally lit at Nizam Street on 16 March 1847. It was later moved to Sodawaterwalla Agiary for some time, and then moved to the colony on the night of 22–23 February 1935. On 21 March 1959, Sir Cusrow Wadia Pavilion was opened for sporting activities.

Features

The residential blocks of the colony are labelled in alphabetical order, beginning from A to U, except for I, L, N, and O, which are absent. The colony covers an area of and can house more than 500 families. It has a computer centre, a gymnasium, and a sports club called Cusrow Baug United Sports and Welfare League. The social activity cell of the colony conducts religious classes and provides scholarships. The Seth Nusserwanji Hirji Karani Agiary is built on a plot measuring .

References

{{reflist Buildings and structures in Mumbai 1934 establishments in India Residential buildings in India British colonial architecture in India Art Deco architecture in India Buildings and structures completed in 1959 Wadia family