https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Oval_MaidanOval Maidan - Revision history2026-09-07T09:56:47ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.43.6https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Oval_Maidan&diff=168159&oldid=prev95.24.3.34 at 18:54, 31 May 20212021-05-31T18:54:47Z<p></p>
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{{Use Indian English|date=May 2018}}<br />
[[File:Mumbai, India, Mumbai public park, Oval Maidan.jpg|thumb|Panoramic view of Oval Maidan]]<br />
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The '''Oval Maidan''' is a large [[Grade I]] recreational ground situated in [[South Mumbai]], [[India]].<ref name=dna11>{{cite news|title=Mumbai's green getaways|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/slideshow_mumbai-s-green-getaways_1570587-2#top|accessdate=30 January 2012|newspaper=[[Daily News and Analysis]]|date=29 July 2011}}</ref> It is so named because of its oval shape and is situated just south of [[Churchgate]]. It is a popular recreation ground, with the most popular sports played there being [[cricket]] and [[association football|football]]. The ground measures {{convert|22|acres}} in area.<ref name=dna11/> Political rallies and religious functions are banned in the maidan.<ref name=ire08>{{cite news|title=List 23 grounds as heritage spaces, panel tells BMC|url=http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/List-23-grounds-as-heritage-spaces-panel-tells-BMC/270030/|accessdate=30 January 2012|newspaper=[[The Indian Express]]|date=7 February 2008}}</ref> <br />
[[File:OvalMaidan-1875.jpg|thumb|Oval Maidan in 1875]]<br />
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==History==<br />
Until the early 20th century the vast expanses of the Oval Maidan, [[Azad Maidan]], [[Cooperage Ground]] and [[Cross Maidan]] formed the area known as Esplanade.<ref name=kellyjanina>{{cite book|last=Kelly Shannon|first=Janina Gosseye|title=Reclaiming (the urbanism of) Mumbai Volume 3 of Explorations in/of urbanism|year=2009|publisher=SUN Academia|isbn=90-8506-694-8|pages=125}}</ref><br />
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Until the late 20th century the ground was owned and run by the state government and was very poorly maintained. It was frequented by beggars, prostitutes and drug peddlers. Finally, in 1997 the Oval-Cooperage Residents Association (OCRA) was formed as a public charitable trust set up by the residents of the area. OCRA petitioned the Maharashtra government to maintain the Oval maidan. The Maharashtra government did not respond to the petition, leading the group to take it to the [[Bombay High Court|Mumbai High Court]]. The Court ruled in their favour, forcing the government to either maintain the maidan or hand it over to OCRA which it subsequently did.<br />
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The OCRA then went about fencing the ground and building a jogging course around the periphery. A lane which cut through the diameter of the ground was metalled to facilitate a smoother thoroughfare.<br />
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For a few years the former [[Indian cricket team|Indian cricketer]] [[Dilip Vengsarkar]] operated the Elf cricket academy to the north of the ground.<br />
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==Gallery==<br />
<gallery><br />
File:Bombay - The High Court from afar (2006).jpg|Oval Maidan with Mumbai High Court in the background<br />
File:Oval Maidan, Mumbai.jpg|Oval Maidan with Mumbai High Court Building<br />
File:Mumbai, India, Rajabai Clock Tower and palm trees.jpg|Rajabai Clock Tower<br />
File:Mumbai, India, Oval Maidan, Sports.jpg|Cricket games<br />
</gallery><br />
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==See also==<br />
*[[Cross Maidan]]<br />
*[[Azad Maidan]]<br />
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==References==<br />
{{reflist}}<br />
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{{coord|18|55|46.3|N|72|49|43.9|E|display=it}}<br />
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[[Category:Parks in Mumbai]]<br />
[[Category:Maidans in India]]</div>95.24.3.34