The oldest museum in Mumbai, the Bhau Daji Lad Mumbai City Museum, is tapping technology in an attempt to upgrade its image and attract a new generation of visitors. The museum’s revamped website,
, will soon offer virtual tours of major exhibits.
Also, a Facebook page has been launched with details of upcoming shows and events. The 152-year-old museum is also starting to exhibit the work of contemporary Indian artists, including students of the prestigious JJ School of Art in Mumbai. It is also installing a high-tech audio tour that uses headsets and infra-red technology.
“We want to make the museum more exciting,” said honorary director Tasneem Mehta. Originally called the Victoria and Albert Museum — after the one in London — the museum has a wide collection of artifacts from the late 19th and early 20th centuries that showcase the history of communities that migrated to Mumbai. Back in its heyday in the early 20th century, the museum exhibited the country’s most cutting-edge art.