On a wall, two very important cities of the world were beside each other. In one, a few men are walking on vast roads with black umbrellas covering their head and a little away from them horses and cattle draw vehicles, each visibly not threatened by the other. In the other city, there is a bit more traffic, also drawn by horses and, possibly, a pavement with more people. This more, however, is what we would now call few as a century has passed. And the two places, Esplanade in then Bombay and Clive Row in then Calcutta have acquired a different look and pace.

Organisers give finishing touches to few vintage photographs of Asia from the 19th century at Dr Bhau Daji Lad Mumbai City Museum. Pics/Tushar Satam