Hutatma Chowk: Where peace was dealt a bloody blow

Flora Fountain was built in 1864 in honour of Flora, the the Roman goddess of abundance. It was a veritable landmark of the Fort area. But in 1956, Flora Fountain became the backdrop of a protest, which turned into a bloody confrontation that would forever be etched in the minds of those who actively took part in the Samyukta Maharashtra movement and those who stood by the cause.

In November 1956, the police opened fire on demonstrators of the movement at this very spot, leaving 15 dead. The brutality of the incident led to the removal of Morarji Desai, the then chief minister of Bombay state, who was replaced by YB Chawan.

During the entire breadth of the struggle, at least 106 protestors were gunned down by the police. In 1961, the Samyukta Maharashtra Samiti decided to raise a memorial dedicated to all who sacrificed their lives for the cause of a separate Maharashtra state. Subsequently, Flora Fountain was renamed Hutatma Chowk, or Martyrs’ Square. The foundation stone was laid on the anniversary of the Flora Fountain massacre by one of the martyr’s mothers, Shevantibai Kurgude.