‘Want to make museum a learning centre for city’

Mehta also asserts the need for a cultural policy and for creating more space for creative industries.

(Source: Express photo)

Withing three days of the announcement of its expansion plans, the Bhau Daji Lad museum in Byculla has been mired in controversy owing to political opposition. Refuting claims made by municipal councillors, managing trustee and honorary director of the museum, Tasneem Zakaria Mehta, tells Tanushree Venkatraman that the expansion plans will not be flouting any civic norms. Mehta also asserts the need for a cultural policy and for creating more space for creative industries.

Can you tell us about the new expansion plans for the museum and what it will entail for Mumbaikars?
We have a tri-party agreement with the Bajaj Foundation, the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) and the BMC. The new addition to the museum will include new galleries for film and culture, an auditorium, an interpretation centre, a children’s centre and other amenities. Our aim is to move beyond the concept of a museum being a showpiece, we want to make it a learning centre for an aspiring city like Mumbai.

The space for cultural activities in the city is constantly shrinking. How do you think can we improve this?
Cultural infrastructure is of utmost importance to a city, where we designate spaces for learning. We are thankful to the civic body to have helped us despite a number of issues. All over the world, there are programmes being conducted constantly for making cultural activities an attraction point. That should be our aim and vision.

Although the museum is public property, it has never been popular among Mumbaikars. Any plans for publicity?
We have always had a problem with funds as the corporation also works on a tight budget. For any business organisation to invest in a project, we have to provide security, which will fortunately happen with the expansion plans now. We are in the process of launching a website where we can schedule our activities. We will also soon get some office space, where we can appoint young, creative people who will help us further.

Do you think Mumbai needs a concrete cultural policy?
For the city to boom, we need more cultural industries and that includes everything from TV shows and publishing books to food and art. Mumbai needs a cultural and a green policy. We will be publishing a white paper on the elements that define Mumbai as a city where we will emphasise that creative industries will be the future of this city.

There has been political opposition to the new plans from corporators across parties. How do you plan to counter this?
The current space being used as a playground is marked as an open ground in the development plan. In no way will we use it as a parking spot because the fume from the vehicles will be detrimental to the objects preserved in the museum. What we will do is beautify the space and make a landscaped garden. We won’t be violating any rules in doing so. This will only add more grandeur.

You had also faced opposition back in 2011 from BMC employees and political groups. Do you anticipate a similar situation?
All we can say is that it is in the nature of politics, we have to try and convince the leaders that we do not have any selfish motives. Ultimately, by building such learning centres, we are only breaking barriers in society.

tanushree.venkatraman@expressindia.com

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