https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Dr._Bhau_Daji_Lad_MuseumDr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum - Revision history2026-08-19T08:49:38ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.43.6https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Dr._Bhau_Daji_Lad_Museum&diff=452034&oldid=prevDigitalKush: Content updated and refined2025-11-07T21:55:51Z<p>Content updated and refined</p>
<a href="//en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Dr._Bhau_Daji_Lad_Museum&diff=452034&oldid=200408">Show changes</a>DigitalKushhttps://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Dr._Bhau_Daji_Lad_Museum&diff=200408&oldid=prev>Billjones94 at 12:59, 10 October 20212021-10-10T12:59:16Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Short description|Museum in Mumbai, India}}<br />
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}<br />
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2019}}<br />
{{Infobox museum<br />
| name = Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum<br />
| logo = <br />
| image = Dr._Bhau_Daji_Lad_Museum,_esterno_01.jpg<br />
| imagesize = 250px<br />
| caption = Front view of the Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum<br />
| map_type = India Mumbai<br />
| map_caption = <br />
| coordinates = {{coord|18.979472|72.834806|display=inline}}<br />
| former_name = <br />
| established = {{start date and age|2 May 1872|df=yes}}<br />
| dissolved = <br />
| location = Veer Mata Jijabai Bhonsle Udyan, Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar Marg, [[Byculla]] East, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400027.<br />
| type = <br />
| visitors = <br />
| director = Tasneem Zakaria Mehta<br />
| curator = <br />
| publictransit = <br />
| collection = <br />
| website = {{URL|http://www.bdlmuseum.org}}<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum''' is the oldest museum in [[Mumbai]]. Situated in the vicinity of [[Byculla Zoo]], [[Byculla]] East, it was originally established in 1855 as a treasure house of the decorative and industrial arts,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/2005/09/07/stories/2005090703752000.htm|title=Honour for a treasure trove of art|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|author=Hoskote, Ranjit|date=7 September 2005|access-date=27 June 2009}}</ref> and was later renamed in honour of [[Bhau Daji|Dr. Bhau Daji Lad]].<br />
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==History==<br />
[[File:His Excellency Sir H. B. E. Frere laying the chief corner-stone of the Victoria and Albert Museum, Bombay - ILN 1863.jpg|thumb|Sir [[Henry Bartle Frere]] laying the chief corner-stone of the Museum, with Jagannath Shankarseth in 1862]]<br />
[[John Elphinstone, 13th Lord Elphinstone|Lord Elphinstone]] established the ''Central Museum of Natural History, Economy, Geology, Industry and Arts'', the first museum in [[Bombay]] in 1855; [[George Buist (journalist)|George Buist]] took the major initiative for its inception. In 1857, it was closed to the public and its collection was shifted to the Town Hall. In 1858, [[George Christopher Molesworth Birdwood|George Birdwood]] was appointed curator of the museum. Soon, a committee was formed, comprising him, [[Bhau Daji|Bhau Daji Lad]] and [[Jaganath Shunkerseth]] to raise money for construction of a new building for the museum. The foundation of the new building was laid in 1862. It was built with the patronage of many wealthy Indian businessmen and philanthropists like [[David Sassoon (treasurer)|David Sassoon]], [[Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy|Sir Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy]] and [[Jaganath Shunkerseth]].<br />
[[File:Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum, interno 01.jpg|thumb|left|Victorian Interiors of the Museum]]<br />
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The construction of the present building in [[Jijamata Udyan]] in [[Byculla]] started in 1862 and was completed in 1871.<ref>{{cite web<br />
|url=http://www.maharashtra.gov.in/english/gazetteer/greater_bombay/places.html <br />
|title=PLACES <br />
|publisher=Maharashtra State Gazetteers-Greater Bombay District <br />
|url-status=dead <br />
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110614182506/http://www.maharashtra.gov.in/english/gazetteer/greater_bombay/places.html <br />
|archive-date=14 June 2011 }}</ref> The museum was opened on 2 May 1872 as ''The Victoria and Albert Museum, Bombay''. In 1975, this museum was renamed as ''The Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Mumbai City Museum''.<br />
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In 2003, the [[Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage|Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH)]] in collaboration with the [[Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation]] and the [[Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai]] undertook extensive refurbishment of the building.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/bhau-daji-lad-museum-to-be-finally-inaugurated/256624/|title=Bhau Daji Lad museum to be finally inaugurated|publisher=[[The Indian Express]]|date=2 January 2008|access-date=27 June 2009}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.apollo-magazine.com/mumbais-oldest-museum-looks-to-the-future/|title=Mumbai's oldest museum looks to the future|date=25 August 2017|website=Apollo Magazine|language=en-US|access-date=15 March 2019}}</ref><br />
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After five years of painstaking and intensive work, the Museum reopened to the Public on 4 January 2008. <br />
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== Awards and Recognition ==<br />
[[File:Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum, esterno, torretta con orologio.jpg|thumb|A clock tower is there in the entrance of the 'Veer Mata Jijabai Bhonsle Udyan']]<br />
In 2005, the Museum won Unesco’s Asia-Pacific Award of Excellence in Cultural Conservation after being restored by conservation architect [[Vikas Dilawari]].[https://www.livemint.com/Leisure/a3JbmXgOSeCR7JZzusEElM/Timeless-treasures-of-Bhau-Daji-Lad-Museum.html]<br />
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In 2016, the Museum received the International Quality Crown award in the gold category for its focus on quality, continuous innovation, and customer satisfaction.[https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/mumbais-dr-bhau-daji-lad-museum-to-get-a-crown/articleshow/53616782.cms?from=mdr]<br />
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==Governance==<br />
The Museum is managed by a public-private partnership, a first for a cultural institution in India. The partnership involves the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai, the Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation and the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH).<ref>{{cite web|title=Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum - The Tripatriate Agreement|url=http://www.bdlmuseum.org/bigImgTextLayout.aspx?mnuId=5|work=Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum website|access-date=7 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322195803/http://www.bdlmuseum.org/bigImgTextLayout.aspx?mnuId=5|archive-date=22 March 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref><br />
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Tasneem Zakaria Mehta is the Honorary Director of the Museum and has a Board of Management and Trustees that include the [[Mayor of Mumbai|Mayor]] and the [[Municipal Commissioner of Mumbai|Municipal Commissioner]] of Mumbai.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Tripatriate Agreement|url=http://www.bdlmuseum.org/bigImgTextLayout.aspx?mnuId=5|work=Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum official website|access-date=13 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322195803/http://www.bdlmuseum.org/bigImgTextLayout.aspx?mnuId=5|archive-date=22 March 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref><br />
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==Collections==<br />
[[File:Elefante dall'ingresso delle grotte di elephanta, 540 dc ca. 01.jpg|thumbnail|left|Basalt elephant sculpture from&nbsp;[[Elephanta Island|Elephanta&nbsp;Island]]]]<br />
This museum houses a large number of archaeological finds, maps and historical photographs of Mumbai, clay models, silver and copper ware and costumes. Its significant collections include a 17th-century manuscript of ''[[Hatim Tai]]''<ref>Koppikar, Smruti (21 January 2008). ''[http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?236538 Passage to Bombay]'' in ''[[Outlook (Indian magazine)|Outlook]]'', Vol.XLVIII, No.3, pp.61-3.</ref> It also houses the iconic ''[[Kala Ghoda]]'' statue. Outside the museum is the installation of the monolithic basalt elephant sculpture recovered from the sea, which originated from [[Elephanta Island]] (''Gharapuri Island'').<br />
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==Gallery==<br />
{{Gallery<br />
| title='''Dr. Bhai Daji Lad Museum'''<br />
| width = 175<br />
| height = 175<br />
| lines=2<br />
| align=center<br />
| File:Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum - Queen Victoria Bust - 1.jpg|Bust of [[Queen Victoria]] inside the museum.<br />
| File:Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum - Ceiling - 2.jpg|Museum ceiling.<br />
| File:Byculla statue.jpg|The original ''[[Kala Ghoda]]'' statue.<br />
| File:Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum, interno 06.jpg|Upper storey of the museum.<br />
| File:Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum - Interiors - 1.jpg|Statue inside the museum.<br />
}}<br />
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==References==<br />
{{Reflist}}<br />
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==External links==<br />
{{Commons category}}<br />
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110625071310/http://bdlmuseum.org/onlyImgLayout.aspx?mnuId=1 Museum site]<br />
* [https://www.google.com/culturalinstitute/beta/partner/dr-bhau-daji-lad-mumbai-city-museum Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Mumbai City Museum at Google Cultural Institute]<br />
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{{Mumbai City district topics}}<br />
{{Authority control}}<br />
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[[Category:Culture of Mumbai]]<br />
[[Category:Museums in Mumbai]]<br />
[[Category:Museums established in 1855]]<br />
[[Category:Infrastructure completed in 1871]]<br />
[[Category:Local museums in India]]<br />
[[Category:Decorative arts museums in India]]<br />
[[Category:1855 establishments in India]]</div>>Billjones94