Mumbai, June 19 (NDTV): After the sprawling Mumbai bungalow of Homi Bhaba, one of India's best-known scientists, was auctioned for 372 crores to an unidentified buyer, the Maharashtra government has asked the Prime Minister to intervene.
"People of the state feel that his residence should be declared as a National Monument," said Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan in a letter to the PM, adding that the house should be preserved as "a source of inspiration" for the youth and other scientists. The Chief Minister urges the central government to acquire the property and turn it into a memorial. (Read the Letter)
Leading Indian scientists like CNR Rao have been seeking the government's intervention to stop the sale of "Mehrangir", located in the fancy Malabir Hill area, to a private buyer. The Bombay High Court is scheduled to hear the case on Monday. It had refused to suspend the auction, stating that the sale could be revoked, if required.
Homi Bhaba, the father of India's nuclear energy programme, died in 1996 in a plane crash, after which his brother Jamshed, a patron of art and culture, became the custodian of the estate. When he died in 2007, the property was transferred to the National Centre for Performing Arts, an institution that he was closely involved with.
The Centre sold the large three-storey building with a spectacular view of the sea yesterday.