Bombay, now know as Mumbai, was a cluster of 7 Islands more than a 150 years ago. Then Mumbai was not beyond Mahim and neither was the western surburbs, where most of the population (including me) lives today. There was no bridge to connect Mahim with Sion. The cost of building this was estimated to be Rs.100,000. A lot of money then and the government didn’t have that kind of budget. When Lady Avabai Jamsetjee Jeejeebhoy, wife of the Sir Jamsetjee Jeejeebhoy heard about this, she felt this was needed. 150 Years ago she had the vision that Mumbai would be beyond Mahim where more than 10 million people live today.

To fulfill her vision, she donated the entire sum from her personal wealth. The only condition was that no toll would be charged to citizens for its use by the government. Initially the cost was estimated at Rs.100,000 but as the work commenced in 1842 the cost escalated. When the initial sum was exhausted and the work was about to stop, she extended her gesture of goodwill by donating an additional Rs.57,000.

One visionary I must say, I have great respect for people like her who do things for others without expecting things in return. A lot of people may have the money and the capacity to do such things but how many can leave behind their selfish desires and do things for the society?

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