THE ASIATIC SOCIETY OF MUMBAI

The Mumbai Research Centre
of the Asiatic Society of Mumbai
Presents
BLAZING INFERNO, RAGING CONFLAGRATION
The Bombay Dock Explosion of 1944
an Online talk on Zoom by Captain Mohan Narayan, IN (RETD)

The modern port of Mumbai, since its inception in the closing decades of the 19th century, has witnessed steady and sustained growth. It did have its share of incidents and accidents, both minor and major, but in the overall context it had an enviable track record of safe operations. That reputation took a beating on a scorching summer’s day in Apr 1944. It was a catastrophe that has remained nonpareil in its annals for it severely crippled port operations for the next seven months right in the midst of a raging World War.

This paper will attempt to study in detail the actual reasons for that catastrophe and the callous response of the authorities, all under the guise of wartime exigencies. It would also endeavour to highlight what has become symptomatic and quotidian to our times – individual acts of courage, resilience and stoicism in adversity of the average Mumbaikar and that much abused hoary cliché ‘spirit of Mumbai’ when officialdom fails them.

TUESDAY, 09TH SEPTEMBER 2025
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
NO FEES, NO REGISTRATION

Zoom Link
https://tinyurl.com/4pb3a34n

Watch live on our Youtube channel at https://youtube.com/@asiaticsocietymumbai

 - Prof. Mangala Sirdeshpande, Hon. Secretary Asiatic Society of Mumbai 
 - Dr. Shehernaz Nalwalla, Vice President of the Society & Chairperson – MRC