What makes a city? Its infrastructure, administrative boundaries, high population density and municipal governance? “Yes, but more importantly, its people,” notes 
Himanshi Kampani. The proof is in the aisles and booths of CSMVS’ new Mumbai Gallery. Its first exhibition, People of Mumbai, opened to the public on October 14. Kampani, research and project coordinator, gives us a walkthrough of the space.

We begin with a permanent exhibition display in the orientation room. “We plan to keep this exhibition permanent because it summarises the history of Mumbai, right from the Stone Age.” Kampani shares. Housed here are digitised maps of the city, from the 16th century Seven Islands of Bombay to the modern ages, ancient coins, IXth rock edict installed in the mid-third century by Emperor Ashoka Maurya, a small flight of stairs where people can sit and read books, and a mural by XXL Art Labs giving a glimpse into what to expect from the exhibition inside.