In a last-ditch effort to save Cafe Samovar, daughters of owner Usha Khanna knocked on the doors of Vidhan Bhavan on Monday to find a way to get their beloved restaurant be considered as a cultural landmark.
In a last-ditch effort to save Cafe Samovar, daughters of owner Usha Khanna knocked on the doors of Vidhan Bhavan on Monday to find a way to get their beloved restaurant be considered as a cultural landmark.
Supported by BJP spokesperson Shaina NC, the duo met chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, appealing to him to consider Cafe Samovar as a tourist destination and something to take pride in as a Mumbaikar.
Devieka Bhojwani and Malavika Sangghvi collected newspaper articles to show Fadnavis the cafe's importance. "The land where Jehangir Art Gallery stands is on lease from the government. If the trustees of the gallery wish to use the Government Premises Eviction Act of 1995, we want to know if the government can help us save it. We appeal to it to see the cafe as an important cultural and tourism landmark of the city.
We will honour the agreement we have with the gallery and move out in the next 15 days. We want the government's help in relocating to either the gallery's terrace or the empty garden between the gallery and the CSMVS museum," said Bhojwani.
She added that six galleries on the premises were already running shows for art and anyway wanted to know how they could utilise the space of 700sqft. Sangghvi said the cafe brought footfall which would encourage young artists in need of eyeballs. "The cafe is not a commercial establishment. It is public service," she said.
Shaina NC said the cafe was a cultural and tourist destination synonymous with art, culture, literature, theatre and more. Her own parents had met at the cafe, she added. "The cafe is an integral part of being a Mumbaikar. We want it relocated on the premises... It has been a second home to world famous artists and Indian cultural ambassadors such as Tyeb Mehta, MF Hussain, Raza, Akbar Padamsee and Gaitonde among others. It has been a favourite hangout of yesteryear Hindi film industry stars as well. The world over, museums and art galleries have a cafe. Cafe Samovar is a non-profit venture and a favourite spot for artists, journalists and tourists alike," she said.
The cafe downs its shutters on March 31 and will finish the paperwork in the coming 15 days. The daughters said their mother has still not lost hope. "Let's shift to the terrace, she had said," said Sangghvi, while contemplating whether or not to call her mother to update her about the meeting.
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