{
  "id": 8282096,
  "title": "Mumbai’s Lost Freedom Movement Landmark: Shantaram Chawl Courtyard Where Gandhi Led 1918 Protest Vanishes Under Construction",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/mumbais-lost-freedom-movement-landmark-shantaram-chawl-courtyard",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-18T17:02:42.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Press Journal",
    "slug": "free-press-journal",
    "url": "https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/mumbais-lost-freedom-movement-landmark-shantaram-chawl-courtyard-where-gandhi-led-1918-protest-vanishes-under-construction"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Mumbai's historic Shantaram Chawl courtyard, where Mahatma Gandhi led an 1918 protest against Governor Lord Willingdon, has vanished beneath new construction. The Indian Home Rule League, founded in 1916, used the site for significant political meetings, including those of Tilak, Annie Besant, Mohammed Ali Jinnah, Benjamin Horniman, Sarojini Naidu and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. The June 16, 1918, gathering of 12,000 people marked a pivotal moment in India's struggle for self-government. Despite its historical importance, the courtyard was replaced in 1939 by Bedekar Sadan, Shantaram Chawl and Malini Block buildings. Resident Ameya Joshi noted that Tilak visited the courtyard 10-12 times, and the site hosted up to 50 political meetings. This year's Ganeshotsav celebrates the area's freedom movement legacy, with a simple, eco-friendly celebration.",
  "summary": "Mumbai: The large courtyard of Shantaram Chawl in Girgaum, where about 12,000 people gathered on June 16, 1918, for a protest against Bombay Presidency Governor Lord Willingdon, has disappeared beneath a later construction. Gandhi-led protest against Governor Willingdon The meeting, presided over by Mahatma Gandhi, was organised to protest Willingdon’s conduct at a War Conference held in Bombay…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}