Celebrate, a Diamond

60 rich years of the Museum Society of Mumbai: Knowledge, culture, aesthetics. An intense labour of love. A report.

By Raju Mansukhani

It was the start of a celebratory evening on May 29, 2025 at the Premchand Roychand Gallery of the iconic Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSMVS), marking 60 years of the Museum Society of Mumbai. The gallery was packed with trustees and committee members, past and present, senior academicians, volunteers and members. The meticulously compiled publication titled ‘Celebrating a Diamond: The Museum Society of Mumbai 60 Years of Legacy and Learning’ was released by the dignitaries.

Seen on the dais were:  Dr Pheroza J Godrej, chairperson of the Museum Society of Mumbai, Cyrus Guzder, chairman of board of trustees of CSMVS, Amitabh Singh, chief post master general and Suchita Joshi, post master general of the Mumbai Region and director general of the CSMVS Museum, Dr Sabyasachi Mukherjee.

Applause from the audience, and in the speeches of Dr Godrej, the contribution of the author Meher Marfatia, a senior journalist, and editor, Dr Shefali Balsari-Shah, was duly acknowledged for documenting 60 years of the Society’s history in the 260-page large format book. 

What made the evening special, in its own old-world way, was the release of the ‘Special Cover’ by Amitabh Singh, chief post master general and Suchita Joshi, post master general of the Mumbai Region. Readers may not be aware that ‘special covers’ are released by the Department of Posts in India to commemorate historic events, people and places with stamps designed for the occasion; in the pre-Internet days, ‘special covers’ were much sought after by collectors and enthusiasts alike.

Pages of ‘Celebrating a Diamond' provide a befitting continuity taking the readers to 1977 when a special stamp was released commemorating the birth centenary of AK Coomaraswamy, a doyen among academicians who gave Indian art history its identity in the 20th century. 

‘Celebrating a Diamond’ details the rich history of the Museum Society of Mumbai and the legacy that has been assiduously cultivated over the years. Quite clearly, both the publication and Society have been born of an intense labour of love.

In the opening pages, Dr Pheroza Godrej’s message states, “The Society's dedication to promoting knowledge, culture, and education through the Museum has made a lasting impact on countless individuals and communities. It is this enduring legacy that we honour today. We also recognize and honour the unwavering commitment of our volunteers, members and volunteers who have shaped the Society into what it is today. Their passion and vision have laid the groundwork for our continued growth, allowing us to expand our reach and engage with new generations of learners. Most importantly, we reflect on the values that have guided the Museum Society of Mumbai since its inception, by those who came before us. We have always believed in the power of collaboration - between individuals, communities and institutions - to bring culture, history and education to life in meaningful ways, and aspire to continue the tradition.”  

The Museum Society of Mumbai, we must remember was earlier the Museum Society of Bombay, while the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSMVS) was once known as Prince of Wales Museum established in the heydays of the British Raj in the early years of 20^th century. It was in 1997-98 that the museum was renamed in the honour of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. 

The 'Golden Jubilee Year' celebrations in 2013 are indicative of the drive towards sharing knowledge through performances, lectures and talks, events and guided trips. While the annual Coomaraswamy memorial lectures and the Karl Khandalawala memorial lectures have their own trajectory covering the spectrum of Indian, Asian and global art history, it is the events which are eye-catching.

'Four generations of movie stars' was one such event, a conversation between film star Tanuja, her brother Jaideep Samarth, and sister Chatura Samarth. It was moderated by Bharati Pradhan, a cine journalist who highlighted the four generations, starting with Rattan Bai, her daughter Shobhana Samarth, grand-daughters Nutan and Tanuja, and great grand-daughters Kajol and Tanishaa. Not just a chapter in the history of cinema in India, it must have captured a slice of the life and times of Mumbai's glamourous elite.

The art auction, in aid of the children’s creative centre in 1970, and the inaugural function of the centre itself on July 3, 1972 tell the story of how the Museum Society of Mumbai has continued to add value to the CSMVS.

The words of Dr Sabyasachi Mukherjee, the director general of CSMVS, sum it all up: “The partnership between the Museum and the Society is more than just an operational alliance. It is a shared commitment of making culture accessible to all. Together, we have created a space where art, history and knowledge converge, encouraging visitors to engage with the past while thinking critically about the present. The Society's volunteer driven efforts have enriched our offerings, introducing innovative programs that cater to the interests of both our long-standing patrons and newer, more varied audiences.”  

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Raju Mansukhani is a researcher-writer on history and heritage issues; contributing columns and features in leading Indian and foreign newspapers, portals)

Photos 1,3,4,5: Credit: Mumbai Society of Mumbai, CSMVS.