The Christian heritage of Mumbai, India (2)

This is a personal blog dedicated to my parents.

When they were young, my parents were quite adventurous and even a little rebellious. For their love, they crossed cultural, religious, national and social boundaries.

The wedding photo of my parents, India, 1953

They married on December 5, 1953, in the large and beautiful Roman Catholic "Cathedral of the Holy Name" (as it is now called) in Colaba, South Mumbai, India. They were ahead of their time, for it was an intercultural and interfaith marriage. More on that later.

The Cathedral of the Holy Name in Colaba, Mumbai, India

Visiting this church, which was not far away from my hotel, was very moving for me. I went there several times, here some pictures and the historical background. As you can see in the picture above, renovation work was carried out on the facade of the church (February 2023).

The Cathedral of the Holy Name where my parents got married

The Holy Name Cathedral was built as a church in 1905 during the British colonial period. It was granted cathedral status only in 1964. It is the seat of the Archbishop of Bombay and the headquarters of the Archdiocese of Bombay. Adjacent to it are other buildings such as the priest's residence and a school.

The magnificent interior of the Cathedral of the Holy Name, Colaba, Mumbai, India

It was declared a heritage building in 1998. It is not only of great value to Mumbai's Roman Catholic community but also an important national treasure.

The cathedral was designed in a highly decorated Gothic Revival style. I was overwhelmed by its huge and imposing facade, by the rich and colorful interior. The vaulted ceilings, covered with elaborate frescoes, were particularly impressive. I won't go into detail here; there's plenty of information on the cathedral's website: www.cathedraloftheholyname.in

The altar of the Cathedral of the Holy Name, Mumbai, India

I actually went there with the intention of finding my parents' marriage certificate. Holding the hard copy of the certificate in my hands, which was delivered to me within a very short time, was a very emotional moment. It was also proof that they had indeed been married in this magnificent church. I wasn't sure, as so many stories circulate in families. You never know whether they are myths, fairy tales, or the truth. At the beginning of my research, I was also a bit confused because my parents referred to the "Cathedral of the Holy Name" as "Wodehouse Church," as it was popularly known at the time because it once stood on Wodehouse Road, which was later renamed Nathalal Parekh Marg.

Back to my parents' love story.

The love story of my parents

My mother, Ida Lorandi, was Italian and a Roman Catholic, while my father, Suniti Sarkar, was Indian and a Hindu.

They met in 1952 in the library of a student club in London (United Kingdom) and fell in love. They had to overcome many obstacles before they married and moved to Bombay. Both their parents did not approve of the relationship at first.

A lovely picture of my parents, Bombay, India 1954

My parents came from completely different backgrounds.

My Italian mother

My mother was born in 1920 in the beautiful village of Malans in the canton of Graubünden, a mountainous region in Switzerland. Her parents were Italians who emigrated from northern Italy to Switzerland around 1910. My grandfather worked for over 20 years as a foreman in the brickworks in the municipality of Landquart, where the family settled. They had five children.

My mother was very brave. She was only 16 years old when she left home and went to Geneva in the French-speaking part of Switzerland. She loved the international flair of this city. She started working in the hotel industry, which took her to various places in Switzerland. Her last job, before moving to London for a year to improve her skills, pursue her career and learn English, was at the world-famous five-star Dolder Grand Hotel in Zurich, Switzerland. There, as a governess (head of the housekeeping team), she was responsible for the maintenance of several guest rooms and public areas. She told me many fascinating stories about hotel life.

My Indian father

My father was born in the city of Muzzafarpur in Bihar, a state in eastern India. However, the family originally came from Calcutta (now Kolkata), they were Bengalis. My father's age is uncertain, as his passport listed him as significantly younger to avoid early retirement. I think he was about three to five years younger than my mother, which was also unusual for a relationship at the time. My grandfather was (as stated in his books) Chief Professor of philosophy at Muzzafarpur Government College and Principal of Muzzafarpur Women's College. My Indian grandparents had eight children.

My father had a humanistic education. He was well-read and loved both eastern and western literature, art, philosophy, and history. His dream job, however, was civil engineering, which he studied at the University of Patna in India. He was curious and wanted to experience the West. After completing his studies in India, he moved to London for three and a half years. According to his CV, he also went there to continue his studies at the Institute of Structural Engineering.

I was born in Bombay, India

After my parents had been married for about two years, I was born in Bombay on May 15, 1955. They were overjoyed, as you can see from the pictures.

As my mother told me, at that time, the Catholic Church only permitted interfaith marriages if the child was baptized and raised in the Catholic faith. Otherwise, she would have faced serious consequences. Although my mother was very open-minded, she would not have liked to be expelled from the Catholic Church. My father agreed, but only if I had a Hindu name. So, on May 21, 1955, I was baptized Chitralekha (a mythological name) at St. Stephen's Church in Cumbala Hill, Bombay. My father never converted; he remained a Hindu.

Leaving our beloved Bombay

My parents loved Bombay, this cosmopolitan city, a vibrant mix of East and West, a city full of contrasts. They lived in South Bombay, then the fashionable residential area of the upper and wealthy, including a growing middle class. It was also the city's historic center. One of their favorite places was Bombelli's near Churchgate Station, an iconic Swiss café and confectionary, where they met many interesting people.

I, too, was very happy in Bombay! (See photos). But after about four years (I was only there for two), my parents decided to move to Switzerland. I never found out the real reason. I only know that my father was looking for a new job. One day in 1957, we boarded a ship that took us to Genoa, Italy. From there, we traveled to Switzerland. And then a new chapter began.

With my parents at Marine Drive, Bombay, India 1957

Love knows no boundaries

Why did I write this blog about my parents? Interfaith marriages are a difficult topic in today's India. In more and more Indian states, couples face so many legal restrictions, rules and regulations that it is almost impossible to overcome them. Added to that is the pressure from society and family. Instead of becoming easier over time, interfaith marriages have actually become more difficult.

But love knows no boundaries, as my parents' example shows, which is why I wrote this blog.

It's an amazing world!