If everything goes according to plan, soon, readers will get a warm and cozy book reading club right outside Rudyard Kipling’s childhood home at Fort. The state’s Directorate of Archeology and Museums (DAM) are restoring the bungalow which is located on the campus of JJ School of Art.
Other than the book reading club, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is planning to start several tourist attractions around the bungalow including souvenir shops.
Additional municipal commissioner IA Kundan told Hindustan Times,
We approached the authorities restoring the bungalow so that we can set up reading club once their work is done. We will not touch the main building, which is a heritage structure. The book club, art sessions and souvenir shops will be organised outside the bungalow. While the aim is to attract tourists, we mainly want to pay tribute to Rudyard Kipling. His books fascinate children. Book reading sessions can happen on weekends in the gardens outside the bungalow. We may host other events such as painting sessions as well.”
The BMC is also planning to bring in students from JJ School of Art to help draft blueprints. Apart from the reading club, souvenirs such as refrigerator magnets, key-chains, miniatures of characters from Kipling’s books will be on sale.
Meanwhile, an official from DAM loved the idea but he commented that the final decision will remain with the director.
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