'Howsium' Lock, Clock, and Peacock: A Unique Museum

Udaipur:  The Maharana Mewar Charitable Foundation, Udaipur, hosted a special lecture at the City Palace on *‘Howsium’*, a unique museum dedicated to locks, clocks, and peacocks. The lecture was delivered by Dr. Hiren Shah, a renowned pediatrician and photographer from Ahmedabad. The primary aim of the event was to focus on the importance of preserving cultural heritage through innovative museum concepts. In a tribute to ancient heritage, Dr. Shah has created a personal collection of rare artifacts, displayed in his home, and named it *‘Howsium’*.  

Dr. Shah has traveled to over 40 countries and his museum now houses more than 10,000 artifacts, including doors, windows, trunks, clocks, decorative items, furniture, and locks. The most remarkable section of the museum is the *Lock Museum*, which features a collection of over 3,000 locks, making it one of the largest trick lock collections in the world, along with 2,000 intricate puzzles. Dr. Shah has been sharing his expertise globally for the past 15 years. In 2012, *India Today’s* Travel Plus magazine listed Dr. Shah and *‘Howsium’* as one of the 60 most fascinating places in India.

Dr. Shah’s museum is a unique space dedicated to the history and craftsmanship of locks and the art of lockmaking. His collection includes traditional Indian locks from the time of the Indian freedom struggle, engraved with patriotic slogans such as *‘Jai Bharat’*, as well as rare international items.

A special moment for Dr. Shah was when Hans Schell, a renowned lock collector from Austria, visited his museum. This visit added significant cultural and historical value to Dr. Shah’s collection. Inspired by this experience, Dr. Shah and his wife decided to convert part of their home into *‘Howsium’*, where they welcome visitors. The museum serves as an indoor heritage walk, allowing visitors to experience the rich traditions and the importance of preserving such art forms.

At the conclusion of the lecture, Dr. Mayank Gupta, CEO of the Maharana Mewar Charitable Foundation, Udaipur, expressed gratitude to Dr. Shah and introduced the attendees to the City Palace Museum.