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{{Short description|Museum in Mumbai, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox museum
| name = Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum
| logo =
| image = Dr._Bhau_Daji_Lad_Museum,_esterno_01.jpg
| imagesize = 250px
| caption = Front view of the Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum
| map_type = India Mumbai
| map_caption =
| coordinates = {{coord|18.979472|72.834806|display=inline}}
| former_name =
| established = {{start date and age|2 May 1872|df=yes}}
| dissolved =
| location = Veer Mata Jijabai Bhonsle Udyan, Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar Marg, [[Byculla]] East, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400027.
| type =
| visitors =
| founder = [[George Birdwood]]<br/> [[Jamsetjee Jeejeebhoy]]<br/>[[Bhau Daji Lad]] <br/>[[Jagannath Shankarseth]] <br/> [[George Buist (journalist)]]
| director = Tasneem Zakaria Mehta
| curator =
| publictransit = {{rint|mumbai|suburban}} [[Byculla railway station|Byculla]]
| collection =
| website = {{URL|http://www.bdlmuseum.org}}
}}

The '''Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum''' is a [[museum]] dedicated to the [[history]], [[art]] and [[culture]], of [[Mumbai]], India. It is the oldest museum in the city. It is situated in the vicinity of the [[Byculla Zoo]], in the suburb of [[Byculla]] East.

It was originally established in 1855 as a treasure house of the decorative and industrial arts,<ref>{{cite news |last=Hoskote |first=Ranjit |date=7 September 2005 |url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/2005/09/07/stories/2005090703752000.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080201041541/http://www.hinduonnet.com/2005/09/07/stories/2005090703752000.htm|url-status=usurped|archive-date=1 February 2008|title=Honour for a treasure trove of art |newspaper=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=27 June 2009}}</ref> and was later renamed in 1975 in honour of [[Bhau Daji Lad|Dr. Bhau Daji Lad]].

==History==
[[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]]
India’s “art manufactures” were widely praised when shown at international exhibitions—starting with the [[Great Exhibition|Great Exhibition of 1851]] in London. Duplicates of the works from the former [[Bombay Presidency]] intended for display at international great exhibitions were put on public display in a new permanent space, named the ''Government Central Museum of Natural History, Economy, Geology, Industry and Arts''. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Jaffer |first=Amin |date=8 July 2023 |title=The time when Mumbai received its first museum, over 160 years ago |url=https://www.architecturaldigest.in/story/the-time-when-mumbai-received-its-first-museum-over-160-years-ago-dr-bhau-daji-lad-museum-amin-jaffer/ |access-date=14 June 2025 |website=Architectural Digest India |language=en-IN}}</ref>

In 1848, the first museum committee was formed under the guidance of [[John Elphinstone, 13th Lord Elphinstone|John Elphinstone]] and the ''Central Museum of Natural History, Economy, Geology, Industry and Arts'', the first museum in [[Bombay]], was officially opened in 1856. [[George Buist (journalist)|George Buist]], the first curator of the museum, took the major initiative for its inception. In 1857, it was closed to the public and its collection was shifted to the Town Hall, now the [[Asiatic Society of Mumbai Town Hall|Asiatic Society Mumbai.]]

In 1858, [[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]].
[[File:Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum, interno 01.jpg|thumb|left|Victorian interiors of the museum]]

The construction of the present building in [[Jijamata Udyan]] in [[Byculla]] started in 1862 and was completed in 1871.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.maharashtra.gov.in/english/gazetteer/greater_bombay/places.html |title=PLACES
|publisher=Maharashtra State Gazetteers-Greater Bombay District |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110809033645/http://www.maharashtra.gov.in/english/gazetteer/greater_bombay/places.html |archive-date=9 August 2011 }}</ref> The museum was opened on 2 May 1872 as ''The Victoria and Albert Museum, Bombay''. A little more than a hundred years later, on 1 November 1975, the museum was renamed the Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum in honour of the man whose vision and dedication enabled its establishment. Bhau Daji Lad was the first Indian Sheriff of Mumbai, a philanthropist, historian, physician, surgeon and secretary of the Museum Committee when it was first instituted.<ref>{{cite web |title=DR. Bhau Daji Lad Mumbai City Museum - About |url=https://www.bdlmuseum.org/about/museum-story.php |website=bdlmuseum.org |access-date=23 April 2022}}</ref>

=== [[Great Exhibition|The Great Exhibition of 1851]] ===
The idea of setting up a museum in Mumbai was first mooted in 1850 when preparations were being made for the first ‘Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of all Nations’ to be held in London's Crystal Palace in 1851. Prince Albert, the consort of Queen Victoria, wanted to present to the world the industrial arts and crafts of Britain's colonies and thereby stimulate trade for these products. The Great Exhibition was a catalyst for other world fairs and resulted in the establishment of new museums across the British Empire. The duplicates of art objects and raw products that were sent from the Bombay Presidency to the 1855 Paris Universal Exhibition thus formed the nucleus of a new museum that was set up at the Town Barracks in Fort and known as the ‘Government Central Museum’.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Museum Story |url=https://www.bdlmuseum.org/about/museum-story.php |access-date=8 March 2022 |website=www.bdlmuseum.org}}</ref>

=== Restoration and revitalisation ===
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, a Grade II-B heritage structure.<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 magazine |last=Thomas |first=Skye Arundhati |date=25 August 2017 |url=https://www.apollo-magazine.com/mumbais-oldest-museum-looks-to-the-future/|title=Mumbai's oldest museum looks to the future |magazine=Apollo Magazine |language=en-US |access-date=15 March 2019}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Johar |first=Niriyah |date=17 January 2025 |title=Byculla's Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum reopens after a two-year-long restoration project |url=https://www.architecturaldigest.in/story/bycullas-dr-bhau-daji-lad-museum-reopens-after-a-two-year-long-restoration-project-bdl-prince-of-wales-tasneem-zakaria-mehta-vikas-dilawari-bmc/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250302130436/https://www.architecturaldigest.in/story/bycullas-dr-bhau-daji-lad-museum-reopens-after-a-two-year-long-restoration-project-bdl-prince-of-wales-tasneem-zakaria-mehta-vikas-dilawari-bmc/ |archive-date=2 March 2025 |access-date=27 March 2025 |website=Architectural Digest}}</ref> After five years of painstaking and intensive work, the museum reopened to the public on 4 January 2008.

The museum underwent another, smaller, two-year-long restoration to restore damages due to the closures during COVID-19 and opened to the public on 8 January 2025.<ref name=":0" />
{{clear|left}}

== Awards and recognition ==
[[File:Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum, esterno, torretta con orologio.jpg|thumb|The David Sassoon clock tower situated at the entrance of 'Veer Mata Jijabai Bhonsle Udyan']]
In 2005, the museum won [[UNESCO|UNESCO's]] Asia-Pacific Award of Excellence in Cultural Conservation after being restored by conservation architect [[Vikas Dilawari]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Talreja |first1=Sarvesh |title=Timeless treasures of Bhau Daji Lad Museum |url=https://www.livemint.com/news/business-of-life/timeless-treasures-of-bhau-daji-lad-museum-1541868156777.html |access-date=23 April 2022 |work=Mint |date=19 January 2018 |language=en}}</ref>

In 2016, the museum received the International Quality Crown award in the gold category for its focus on quality, continuous innovation, and customer satisfaction.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Menon |first1=Rashmi |title=Mumbai's Dr Bhau Daji Lad museum to get a Crown! |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/mumbais-dr-bhau-daji-lad-museum-to-get-a-crown/articleshow/53616782.cms |access-date=23 April 2022 |work=The Economic Times |date=9 August 2016}}</ref>

==Governance==
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>

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>

==Collections==
[[File:Elefante dall'ingresso delle grotte di elephanta, 540 dc ca. 01.jpg|thumbnail|left|Basalt elephant sculpture from [[Elephanta Island|Elephanta Island]]]]
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>{{cite magazine |title=Passage To Bombay |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/magazine/story/passage-to-bombay/236538 |access-date=23 April 2022 |magazine=Outlook |date=5 February 2022 |language=en}}</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'').
{{clear|left}}

==Gallery==
{{Gallery
| title='''Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum'''
| width = 175
| height = 175
| align=center
| File:View of Bhau Daji Lad Museum from Southeast.jpg| View of the Museum Building from Southeast
| File:Cornerstone of the Bhau Daji Lad Museum.jpg| The museum cornerstone, laid during a ceremony in November 1862
| File:Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum - Queen Victoria Bust - 1.jpg|Bust of [[Queen Victoria]] inside the museum.
| File:Statue of Prince Albert inside the museum.jpg| Statue of Prince Albert within the museum
| File:Plaque of the Prince Alfred statue within the museum.jpg | Plaque of the same statue
| File:Elaborate interiors of the museum.jpg| Elaborate interiors of the museum
| File:Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum - Ceiling - 2.jpg|Museum ceiling.
| File:Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum, interno 06.jpg|Upper storey of the museum.
| File:View of the ornate ceilings from the Second Floor.jpg| View of the ornate ceilings from the upper storey
| File:Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum - Interiors - 1.jpg|Statue inside the museum.
| File:Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum at Rani Baugh Bombay (Jijamata Udyan Mumbai) - panoramio - Camaal Mustafa Sikan….jpg
| File:Model of Bombay Castle at Bhau Daji Lad Museum.jpg| Model of the Bombay Castle
|Multi-Barreled cannon| Two cannons placed outside the museum
| File:Statues at the west of the Museum Building.jpg| Statues at the west of the building
}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110625071310/http://bdlmuseum.org/onlyImgLayout.aspx?mnuId=1 Museum site]
* [https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/dr-bhau-daji-lad-mumbai-city-museum Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Mumbai City Museum at Google Cultural Institute]

{{Mumbai City district topics}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Doctor Bhau Daji Lad Museum}}
[[Category:Culture of Mumbai]]
[[Category:Museums in Mumbai]]
[[Category:Museums established in 1855]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures completed in 1871]]
[[Category:Local museums in India]]
[[Category:Decorative arts museums in India]]
[[Category:1855 establishments in India]]

Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum - Revision history

DigitalKush at 21:55, 7 November 2025