CSMVS Hosts 'Futures of Mumbai' Symposium on Urban Transformation and Climate Pressures

The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSMVS) organised the 'Futures of Mumbai' symposium on August 29 at the Nalanda Learning Centre. The gathering brought together experts to examine whether Mumbai will endure its mounting urban anxiety, climate pressures, and ongoing transformations.

The event was developed under the Digital Library of Mumbai’s Built Heritage Project and received support from the Bank of America. The discussions highlighted the balance between preserving the island city's rich architectural legacy and addressing its future environmental and social needs.

Cyrus Guzder, chairperson of the board of trustees at CSMVS, emphasised the evolving role of cultural institutions in urban discourse. "A museum should be a centre of public dialogue, it is no longer just a repository of objects," Guzder stated.

Keynote speaker Sidharth Bhatia, journalist and author of the book 'Mumbai A Million Islands', raised concerns about equitable development and the future of city residents. Bhatia asked whether every citizen of Mumbai will receive a chance to take part in the future, warning that roughly over 50 percent of the city's population faces displacement. He observed that as high-rise towers continue to rise across the city, affordability shrinks, noting that the true wealth of Mumbai lies in its nature rather than its real estate.

The symposium featured several prominent speakers across conservation, academia, and the arts. Participants included Bittu Sahgal, founder of Sanctuary Nature Foundation and editor of Sanctuary Asia; Hussain Indorewala, professor at the Kamla Raheja Vidyanidhi Institute for Architecture; Shilpa Phadke, sociologist and co-author of 'Why Loiter? Women and Risk on Mumbai Streets'; artist Sameer Kulavoor; and Mustanir Dalvi, professor of architecture in Mumbai.