‘Name this park after Ratan Tata’

Breach Candy residents have started a petition on the Changeorg platform for restoring the Tata Garden to its former glory urging the Tatas to take over and name it after the late great Ratan TataThe petition which was started by Breach Candy local Rajesh Dahiya on June 30 is garnering signatures at a steady clip having crossed 1600 signatures on TuesdayThe neighbourhoodExcerpts from the petition state Breach Candy has always been more than just a pin code on Mumbairsquos map It is a neighbourhood that pulses with character Itrsquos a place where mornings begin with birdsong and evenings end with neighbours exchanging smiles under tall trees At the centre of this rhythm was Tata Garden not just a garden but a part of our identity A taxi driver needed no address just two words mdash Tata GardenEmotional connectionWith its canopied shade gentle walking tracks stone benches warmed by the sun and a cool breeze through the leaves Tata Garden gave us what the rest of the city often forgot mdash space to breatheFrom left Dr Nilesh Baxi at the Tata Garden of old Breach Candy local Rajesh Dahiya Breach Candy Residents Forum member Minal KapadiaThe petition then goes on to add about the Coastal Road It says ldquoThe Coastal Road interchange meant to ease traffic unfortunately sliced our beloved Tata Garden in two We supported development but came together and requested authorities to retain the heritage in its best form Our MLA Mangal Prabhat Lodha stood with us and we successfully protected the green cover and a large part of the Tata GardenrdquoSupport neededIt asked for ldquosupportrdquo and added ldquoTata Gardens once again needs a parent someone to nurture and provide affectionate care to each piece of green in this green lung of Mumbais city Because gardens are not just plots of land They are lungs for the city hearts for the community and anchors for our memoriesrdquoBreach Candy residents supporting this petition and people from the vicinity have united with one emotional appeal Can the Tatas return with support and rename it Ratan Tata Garden to honour the legacy of Indiarsquos most beloved corporate leader mdash Ratan Tata Let this space which has proudly borne the Tata name for decades be reborn as lsquoRatan Tata Gardenrsquo a tribute to the man whose values have touched every Indian life with grace and humilityTo wrap up the petition states that supporters want to make the garden ldquoa benchmark public garden of Mumbai one that other neighbourhoods look to with inspiration To honour the values of sustainability inclusion and legacy that the Tata name representsrdquoLet Ratan Tata Garden ldquobecome a green refuge amidst the cityrsquos chaos a place that whispers lsquowe carersquordquo the petition further saysThe residents of Breach Candy and lsquoLovers of Mumbairsquos Green Heartrsquo say that this matters because ldquothis is not just about one park It is about what kind of city we want to live in Let Tata Garden be a sign of whatrsquos possible Let it rise again mdash not just for Breach Candy but for Mumbairdquo This they say with a flourish ldquois a story of a neighbourhoodrsquos love a corporate housersquos care and a cityrsquos will to breathe againrdquoLost spaceRajesh Dahiya who started this petition said ldquoWe have lost our original Tata Garden which was approximately 8000 sq m a green oasis in buzzing Breach Candy Today it has been split into partsrdquo Dahiya who is chairman of Vaibhav building which is the proverbial stonersquos throw away from Tata Garden stated ldquoWe too understand that change is necessary Yet it is we believe entirely possible to restore this garden to its former glory We still have scores of old trees remaining and more can be plantedrdquoDahiya said if the Tatas become custodians once again of this cherished space it will be a very good feature for the neighbourhood ldquoWe will be so proud to have a garden named after the late great Ratan TatardquoTardeo resident Dr Nilesh Baxi who used to walk at the Tata Garden daily for 26 years said ldquoFirst of all there was no need to touch it The authorities promised people a garden which is at least thrice the size of the original Tata Garden but they have recreated Tata Garden which is not even onefourth of the original garden and that too divided into three partsrdquoThe originalMinal Kapadia from the Breach Candy Residents Forum BCRF said when asked about the impact the petition will have ldquoWe hope the Tata group will know that we really want them to take over as they had originally We trust Tatas and its legacy to get us our iconic Tata garden back to its original form We residents have already planted 50 trees at Tata Garden on World Environment Day recently with the help of the BMCrsquos Garden Department lsquoDrsquo ward This petition is the only way aheadrdquo The petition link is httpschngitP555hqHcFy