Service Activity in collaboration with Dr. Bhau Daji, Lad Museum, Byculla

The Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum is Bombay’s oldest (will the adjective venerable go in here?) museum. It started off as the Victoria and Albert Museum, established in 1855 as a treasure house of the decorative and industrial arts. It was also a place for the scientific study of the city’s people, flora and fauna. It was an important landmark.

Byculla was one an elite area of Mumbai- the location of the Governor’s house- very exclusive. In the 19th century, it was a prosperous and elegant suburb, with grand British and Parsi houses. It even housed the most fashionable church in Mumbai. Today the beautiful old structures that once inhabited the area have given way to building complexes. Signs of the 19th century are almost long gone.

Time left its mark on the museum, and the building, whose colors and detailing were effaced, Burma-teak doors painted over, iron pillars separated from their walls, and display objects broken, took four years to restore. The extent of the restoration was breathtaking, and it beat the Beijing Palace to win the highest accolade- UNESCO’s Asia Pacific Heritage Award for Cultural Heritage Conservation.

The museum has partnered with The Dhirubhai Ambani International School and the Bombay International school for the Service component of CAS. Their plan is to involve students in engagement with collections and audiences, assistance with various programmes, and the development of individual projects which will fulfill the interests of both parties. The projects are supervised by museum professionals. We chose a few projects that we would be interested in- like starting a blog about our activities to make people aware about the goings-on, presenting mythological dramas (inspired by the art on the first floor), even revamping the information sheets relating to Indian armor and arms (with the purpose of livening up the ground floor display that only shows some blades- it doesn’t show them off). The library is to be our biggest asset in accomplishing our tasks. If we go according to plan, we should also soon be ready to give individualized, themed tours. Our training is already underway.