Dr. Aroon Tikekar Memorial Fellowship Year 2025-26
Fellowship Subject:
‘Mumbai in all its diversities’
Background and prompt: From being the home of Kolis and Agris to a Portuguese colony transformed by the British into an important trade-and-port city, Bombay became a significant centre of the anti-British freedom movement and, after independence, the economic and entertainment hub of India. In its many avatars, Bombay, later Mumbai, displayed immense diversity in ideological thought, character, communities, natural ecology, commercial enterprise, culture and religion, food and drink, housing and slums, language and dress, politics, and public life.
The core theme of diversity can be explored in any or all of the following ways: what this diversity tells us about the city; has it been mapped and described, if so in what ways; how has diversity in any field contributed to the making of the city; is it on the decline or is it being strengthened; will it survive or thrive in the decades to come; and how does it compare with other cities in India. These are indicative topics that can be explored within the theme during the Dr Aroon Tikekar Memorial Fellowship 2025-26.
Download link
1. Tikekar Memorial Fellowship Application Form 2025-2026
2. Terms and Conditions of the Fellowship 2025-26
Sarmaya Talks: Talk by Moin Mir on Friday 17th May, 2024 from 6 p.m. onwards
Sarmaya Talks
Sarmaya Arts Foundation is excited to host its series, Sarmaya Talks at the Durbar Hall, The Asiatic Society of Mumbai on Friday, 17th May 2024 from 6 p.m. onwards.
Sarmaya Talks is a space for conversations where we invite scholars, authors, and experts to speak on a topic of their choice, introducing our audience to a wide range of subjects from art, culture, and history. We have hosted a diverse range of speakers including Ira Mukhoty, Rudrangshu Mukherjee, Rana Safvi, Girish Shahane, Madhavi Menon, Bijoy Jain, V Sriram, Manu Pillai, Devdutt Pattanaik, and Javed Akhtar.
Our session for the evening is:
A Journey in Search of Unity by Moin Mir
17th May 2024 (Friday)
6 p.m. onwards
Durbar Hall
The Asiatic Society of Mumbai
About the Speaker:
Moin Mir is a writer of non-fiction and fiction. His first non-fiction book, Surat: Fall of a Port. Rise of a Prince, was published in 2017. His novel, The Lost Fragrance of Infinity, featured in The Times of India’s top five reads of 2021 and William Dalrymple described Mir as “…a prodigious talent, the new Amin Maalouf”. In his latest non-fiction book, The Monastery of Solitude, Mir travels in the footsteps of the third-century philosopher, Plotinus, who left Rome in 242 CE with a desire to read the Upanishads in ancient India. In this contemporary journey in the footsteps of the philosopher, Mir marries his personal experiences, philosophy, and poetry to present a compassionate world view to the reader.
The event is free for all with limited seating. To register, please click here.
ASM-MRC Talk on 31st May 2024 - Bombay Booked 4 with Hussain Zaidi
THE ASIATIC SOCIETY OF MUMBAI
The Mumbai Research Centre
invites you to the 4th Bombay Booked (May edition series)
with Hussain Zaidi talking about his bestselling book
“Dongri to Dubai, Six Decades of the Mumbai Mafia”
The Mumbai Research Centre of The Asiatic Society of Mumbai is pleased to invite you to the 4th Bombay Booked. The May edition of this series has author Hussain Zaidi, talking about his bestselling book Dongri to Dubai, Six Decades of The Mumbai Mafia.
Mr Zaidi is a prolific author and former investigative journalist. His book chronicles Mumbai's underworld, tracing its journey from street gangs and Haji Mastan to the organised crime of Dawood.
Mr Zaidi will be in conversation with Anirban Bhattacharyya, who is an Indian television producer/writer and author.
Date: Friday, 31st May 2024
Time: 5.30 p.m. (Tea is at 5 p.m.)
Venue: Durbar Hall
- Prof. Mangala Sirdeshpande, Hon. Secretary, Asiatic Society of Mumbai
- Dr. Shehernaz Nalwalla, Vice President of the Society & Chairperson – MRC
ASM-MRC Walk: Afghan Church Walk on 1st June 2024
THE ASIATIC SOCIETY OF MUMBAI
The Mumbai Research Centre
Afghan Church Walk with Kirtida Unwalla and Sharon Irani
The Mumbai Research Centre of the Asiatic Society of Mumbai is happy to announce the Afghan Church walk with Kirtida Unwalla and Sharon Irani.
Discover the fascinating story of how this elegant church, with its striking Indo-Gothic architecture, became a symbol of resilience and unity during times of conflict. From its origins as a memorial to British soldiers who perished in the First Afghan War to its restoration as a beacon of cultural heritage, each corner of the Afghan Church whispers tales of courage, sacrifice, and the enduring legacy of Bombay's connection with Afghanistan and the North West Frontier.
SATURDAY, 1ST JUNE 2024
10 AM
AFGHAN CHURCH
₹750/- (₹500/- FOR MEMBERS)
Registration links:
General: https://rzp.io/l/AfghanChurchGEN
Member: https://rzp.io/l/AfghanChurchMEMBER
- Prof. Mangala Sirdeshpande, Hon. Secretary Asiatic Society of Mumbai
- Dr. Shehernaz Nalwalla, Vice President of the Society & Chairperson – MRC
NOTICE - Rare Book / Special Collections Room
THE ASIATIC SOCIETY OF MUMBAI
Town Hall, Shahid Bhagatsingh Road, Mumbai 400 001
Ref. No. ASM/Notice/2024-25/228
N O T I C E
Kindly note that the Rare Book / Special Collections Room will remain closed from 11th May to 31st May 2024.
- Prof. Mangala Sirdeshpande, Hon. Secretary
Place: Town Hall, Mumbai Date: 9th May, 2024
YOUTUBE LINK
ENDOWMENT LECTURES SECTION
- Fourth Dr Meera Kosambi Endowment Lecture held on 12th March 2024
by Dipankar Gupta on “The Urban Shift: From Patriarchy to Masculinity”
https://drive.google.com/file/d/ 1d24c6G5dSaNXSSjblX7xJkvKDjXAJ p1E/view?usp=sharing - Prof. L B Kenny Endowment Lecture held on 21st February 2024 by Brinda Somaya
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EUZLdYSU5hnXfrzPWgcfwm6ph3uPMc17/view?usp=sharing -
30th Smt. Bansari Sheth Memorial Lecture by Mr Justice Rohinton Nariman Former Judge of the Supreme Court of India and former Solicitor General of India
on “The Constitution of India: Checks and Balances” held on Friday, 15th December 2023
https://www.youtube.com/live/JMNW2QCM9ac?si= ncSY4v3lt8XSdiFN - Dr Mani Kamerkar Endowment Lecture by Dr. Ramachandra Guha held on 8th December 2023
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1sqoxBRA_6SdVgjNJS1-KcO7swud2x0aN/view?usp=sharing - Lit Club talk held on 30th August 2023 by Dr. Usha Thakkar and Dr. Pam Rajput
https://drive.google.com/file/d/ 1Od8wdaMga2HYlA2d4k5cNKUFhf7ZJ pVJ/view?usp=sharing -
Third Dr Meera Kosambi Endowment Lecture by Arshia Sattar, Ph.D. to be held on 29th March 2023
https://drive.google.com/file/d/ 19suuGtPEDCiz78sGzb9FadrLYnIPY qXF/view?usp=share_link - 13th B G Deshmukh Endowment Lecture by Ambassador Shyam Saran held on 5th April 2023
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GzFryOw8_evH_ yTkxUqjVig7snRrYJRm/view?usp= share_link - Gulestan & Rustom Billimoria Lecture by Prof. Naman Ahuja held on 27th February 2023 :
https://drive.google.com/file/d/ 1JaOmgKBMlWhGPy1nWRuqAALqg6u38 dE9/view?usp=share_link -
Eleventh Professor Dhirendra Narain Endowment Lecture by Dr. Chithra Madhavan, Historian, on “Art and Architecture of the Pallavas - bearing on Society and Culture,”
Dr. Usha R Vijailakshmi, Professor of History, Patkar-Varde College & Vice President, Asiatic Society of Mumbai, presided at the lecture.:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AJBFvv1PqeOQJZ2LWcVOF_ qewXs3-gGW/view?usp=share_link -
ASM LitClub talk by Dr Manil Suri held on 24-01-2023 : : https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FDuwkqMIYpeRQVoJOg7rgzVzGhmN8vkk/view?usp=share_link
-
33rd Nabadurga Banerji Endowment Lecture held on 18th January 2023 by Dr. Choodamani Nandagopal, Art Historian, UNESCO Fellow & Tagore National Fellow,on “Imagery of Female Messengers Dutikas/Sakhis in Indian Art, Thought and Literature.” : https://drive.google.com/file/
d/18rDPm4XHpqWBFoMyQ9UAmrEYd7_ jdDvI/view?usp=share_link - Dr. Mani Kamerkar Endowment Lecture by Dr. Syed Ali Nadeem Rezavi held on 7th November 2022 : 1. https://youtu.be/8XMmBMNV3VE (part 1) / 2. https://youtu.be/0tP5zhoW544 ( part 2)
- Dr. Meera Kosambi Endowment Lecture : https://youtu.be/MqeLV8MLT8E
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The 12th B.G. Deshmukh Endowment Lecture (Online) delivered by Professor Bharat Karnad - YouTube held on 2nd March 2022 : https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=
ZQZvEZBUsEU -
The 24th Gulestan and Rustom Billimoria Endowment Lecture (Online) by Professor Vasant Shinde on 23rd February 2022 : https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=
SuukxGXZmRo - The 27th Bansari Sheth Memorial Lecture by Justice Gautam Patel : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEnWx1GYcAs
- 23rd Gulestan and Rustom Billimoria Endowment Lecture delivered by Dr Jonathan Mark Kenoyer : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ugAURDFI5M
- 15th Mani Kamerkar Endowment Lecture : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfQWiREpJiI
- “The Ant who Swallowed the Sun - The Abhangs of the Marathi Women Saints” : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I46Yp-Uu0nI
- Nabadurga Banerjee Endownment Lecture by Dr. Radhika Seshan : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTHBtfDfPQQ
- 9th Durga Bhagwat Endowment Lecture by Dr. Shrikant Bahulkar : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NrTd0c2BlE
- Ninth Professor Dhirendra Narain Endowment Lecture delivered by Professor Dr Phiroze Vasunia : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WU_T9Pjn2M0
- 27th Justice K.T. Telang Memorial Lecture (online) by Dr Madhavi Kolhatkar : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=immO1uO9uYk
- 11th B G Desmukh Endowment Lecture by Mr. Harsh Mariwala, Chairman, Marico Industries : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jskIs1YozpE
- The 40th Mahamahopadhyaya Dr. P. V. Kane Memorial Lecture : https://youtu.be/iKhVHPUTYyk
- Dr. Usha Thakkar on the Congress Radio: Voice of Freedom in 1942 : https://youtu.be/c1xNJfAOwWs
- Maharashtra through Maps Session I - Palghar to Sindhudurg with Sudhakar Solomonraj : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ReZyHm9wbgU&feature=youtu.be
- Maharashtra through Maps Session II - Khandesh to Western Ghats with Sudhakar Solomonra : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JuG-2BliqQY&ab_channel=MumbaiFestival
- Maharashtra through Maps Session III - Marathwada with Sudhakar Solomonraj : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vpcXMU2Xu
- Maharashtra through Maps Session IV - Vidarbha with Sudhakar Solomonraj : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9vc2EEpTqA&ab_channel=MumbaiFestival
- Two Hundred Years of Mumbai na Shamachar: Public Address by Berjis Desai : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8ymryQyE9o
- Congress Radio - Voice of Freedom in 1942 : https://youtu.be/c1xNJfAOwWs
- From Bombay to Bokhara: India and Afghanistan in the Age of Empire : https://youtu.be/rzS3k5pn1cI
- 32nd Nabadurga Banerji Lecture held on 15th November 2021 : https://youtu.be/_doJBtEGjDQ
-
The 16th Dr. Mani Kamerkar Endowment Lecture “Early Christian Sailing Circuits in the Western Indian Ocean,’ held on 4th January 2022. : https://drive.google.com/file/
d/ 16E0hyiUBudOJMk16DwD7e8edZEoTX EkE/view - 32nd Nabadurga Banerji Endowment Lecture “Radio, academies, public concerts and the staging of modern Indian classical music: a case for new socio-aesthetic categories,” on 15th November 2021 : https://youtu.be/_doJBtEGjDQ
- 13th Professor L. B. Kenny Endowment Lecture (Online) by Rahul Mehrotra, Architect and Professor of Urban Design and Planning, Harvard University, on ‘Architecture and Planning in a Time of FLUX’
held on 17th January 2022. : https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VwBj0hVix0WZ6rz57dRpo8_ Eu2F_Z-aD/view?ts=61eb787a - Professor Jyotindra Jain: The Ferocious Consort ( 10 th Durga Bhagwat Endowment Lecture) : https://youtu.be/Yi8pcrOrnps
Lit Club Lecture : https://youtu.be/_doJBtEGjDQ
- The Ranakpur temple ( Justice K T Telang lecture by Dr. Saryu Doshi) :
https://drive.google.com/file/d/ 1uxJkdErgYz0rpsGbql3q7o5OIVAeg pk8/view?usp=share_link - Recording of Lit Club talk by Sunil Shanbag :
https://drive.google.com/file/d/ 1RWEqEfh6g98g1RsmIAY3am21RB74b 8TU/view?usp=share_link - Lit Club Lecture: The Heritage of the Kakatiyas of Warangal - Dr. Varsha Shirgaonkar
Youtube link : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EmhNU-bQnc&feature=youtu.be
Aroon Tikekar Fellowship Award and Guest Lecture
- 5th Dr Aroon Tikekar Memorial Fellowship - Award & Guest Lecture : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ml3SK_jbb2E&
MRC Lectures
- Gerald Aungier (1640-1677), President of Surat and the 2nd Governor of Bombay (1669-1677), succeeding George Oxenden : https://drive.google.com/file/
d/ 1dJnCT6gMsYRT7CJmboiaCTvciwg_ rDzB/view?usp=share_link - Shokhiyon mein ghola jaye... A Musical programme on Dev Anand. Concept and presentation Manek Premchand : https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/14wkd00jjEvdWyADtT7g8szGTtKHbyhUF?usp=sharing
- Bombay Memorabilia (Part I) by Rajan Jayakar : https://youtu.be/RZJKOPJMeNs
- Bombay Memorabilia (Part II) by Rajan Jayakar : https://youtu.be/M7rg9gitkS0
- MRC Public Lecture - The Story of Bombay Through Philately by Pascal Roque Lopes : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9rMU07YwDY
- In Search of the Unknown - A Photographic Talk by Bharath Ramarutham : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVDDjXldXwY
- Seeing Time - Public Clocks of Bombay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRyrPVKGlLg
- Orientation - The Geography of Belief : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdQbhFVeDCI
- From Tents Shows to the Lost Cinemas - The Story of Bombay's Early Film Culture by Sharon Irani : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Q6-oDStWOw
- Jashn - Literature Panel Discussion : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96OXNTl0Zco
- Jashn- Forgotten Mumbai : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Duexhujh7u0
- Jashn - Ranjit Hoskote - Alkazi in 1950s Bombay : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4oJBk-7-Pk
- Jashn – Masala Trail with Anjali Koli : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6vqH6OXkk4&
- Jashn – Closing Ceremony and Valedictory Address by Gyan Prakash : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4N3cuY4QvpE
- Jashn - The Story of Mumbai through Puppets : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hba1khK-eY
- Jashn - TRANSLATING THE CITY : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uGTIljCHM0
- Jashn - BOMBAY EK GEET : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8lWv-gFeWQ
- Jashn - HERITAGE, CONSERVATION AND DEMOCRACY : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMEQBWrr5yo
- DASTAAN MUMBAI MEIN THEATRE KE AMAD KA : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1qCDl-QyM8
- Jashn - RIVERS OF BOMBAY : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpZrwDGTWXg
- Jashn - LIVE DEMO OF GRANTH SANJEEVANI : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egJ0phEB3ig
- Jashn - LOOK UP MUMBAI : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSEPqwXvzK4
- Jashn- THE OTHER MUMBAI : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8YHNHbBveM
- Jashn - A GLIMPSE INTO THE ASIATIC SOCIETY : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9V2tKWttic0
- Jashn - WATER WALK : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jK30Jq9yow
- Jashn - A MARITIME VOYAGE OF MUMBAI : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=278ivj_F1Jk
- Jashn - KEYNOTE ADDRESS : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLrz1tin5kE
- Jashn Trailer : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_S1ZSsBVZts
- Jashn – Christopher London (Original) : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPZdz9D0rrU
- Jashn-e-Dastaan-e-Mumbai Live with Rochelle Potkar : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSnKeQtUhOY
Foundation Day
- 217th Foundation Day Lectures by Jim Masselos and Arvind Ganachari : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_S_uYPdoeV4
- Conservation of Old Books in the Asiatic Society of Mumbai : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfZCZn3xyr4
- Rare Books and Microfilming in the Asiatic Society of Mumbai : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvxeftcfEsw
- Binding of Old Books in the Asiatic Society of Mumbai : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3izVaXufSjQ
- Governor of Maharashtra visits Asiatic Society of Mumbai : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJrIADNrT68
- Granth Sanjeevani : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3UxTfBopsA
- Street Fauna and the Ecology of Mumbai : https://youtu.be/jwQ3OXhLyO4
- Naturally Mumbai: A Tribute to Sunderlal Bahuguna : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9d744Kdh3Q&ab_channel=MumbaiFestival
- Caring for Life: the Cipla Story since 1935 : https://youtu.be/LLScHbU5vrM
- Regenerating India's Ecological Civilization and Aranya Sanskriti" by Dr. Vandana Shiva" : https://youtu.be/QeAtggC6ePg
- Farokh Udwadia on "Medicine in Bombay Through the Ages": https://youtu.be/m-U_6X4dVVI