Rezwan Razack’s Museum of Indian Paper Money is a bank where the currency exhibits the limitless ocean of history and heritage, whose foundations were laid down 50 years ago.
Little did Rezwan Razack knew, that the summers of 1971 are going to decide his rest of the life. As Razack recalls, “My hobby got cemented in 1971 during my holidays in Coonoor, when my cousin Sadiq Haroon gave me a reasonable collection of British India banknotes. After I returned to Bangalore, I pestered my grandfather to part with all the antique banknotes that had been demonetized. Thus, began my hobby.” A simple gesture by his cousin implanted a lifelong passion for collecting demonetized Induan currency notes.
Rezwan Razack is the Chairman of the International Bank Note Society-India Banknote Collector’s Chapter and is now living his long-cherished dream in the form of ‘Rezwan Razack’s Museum of Indian Paper Money’, a museum solely dedicated to Indian Paper money anywhere and forever.
The priceless museum is housed in Prestige Falcon Towers on Brunton Road in Bangalore, which was inaugurated on 15th February 2020 by the former Governor of Reserve Bank of India, Dr. C. Rangarajan.
‘Rezwan Razack’s Museum of Indian Paper Money’ is one of kind and can be better described as a treasure trove of information with rare and significant exhibits representing various eras of India’s monetary history. The museum exhibits, from the first-ever official paper money to uniface notes of Colonial India, portrait notes of British monarchs and more, the extensive collection is both comprehensive and diverse.
While being an enriching source of history and heritage the museum wishes to provide an informative experience entertainingly. The notes are segregated into different categories depending on the era of their circulation, place, and significance. Apart from this the museum also has an Auxillary Collection, which is specially curated consisting of important handwritten essays, certificates, proofs, of The and other documents related to the currency on display.
In the true sense, Razack’s hobby has resulted in a national heritage that could otherwise have been long lost amid the fast pacing world. The museum is the result of Rezwan’s 50 years of relentless passion and zest for knowledge. He, in pursuit of his dream, made sure that no one exempted from the rich history of the currency which defines the means with which we engage today; hence, he culminated in ‘The Revised Standard Reference Guide to Indian Paper Money’, a book that Rezwan co-authored and released in January 2012. This guide has become the single most reliable point of reference on Indian Paper Money.
In 2017, Rezwan authored a second book ‘One Rupee – One Hundred Years 1917-2017’ to mark the 100th Anniversary of the issue of the One Rupee note in India. Apart from this, he organizes numismatic events, seminars, competitions and is highly approachable to the numismatic fraternity. He encourages budding collectors and writes regularly on Indian Paper Money for numismatic publications in India and overseas.
He holds numerous accomplishments under his belt, in 2010 the International Bank Note Society Society – IBNS presented the 2010 Achievement Award to Rezwan Razack for Significant Contribution to The Advancement of Numismatic Knowledge by his journal article ‘Banknotes of Portuguese India’. The IBNS presented Rezwan with the Literary Achievement Award 2012 IBNS Journal “Fred Philipson Award” Honorable Mention ‘Varieties of Portrait Notes in India’s King George VI 100 Rupee Series’ (Vol. 51#4). IBNS presented the Literary Achievement Award 2012 Book of the Year – 3rd Place ‘The Revised Standard Reference Guide to Indian Paper Money’ co-authored by Rezwan Razack. IBNS presented Rezwan with the Literary Achievement Award 2017 Book of the Year – 3rd Place (Tie) for ‘One Rupee One Hundred Years 1917 – 2017’. Rezwan was presented the IBNS Literary Achievement Award 2018 IBNS Journal “Fred Philipson Award” 3rd Place “Banco Nacional Ultramarino Banknotes of 1906 for Portuguese India in Goa”.
Also, Razack has joined the Online Educational Program with IBNS to share his knowledge with the other IBNS members, as announced by the Educational Program Manager while presenting the Certificate of Appreciation.
Rezwan Razack’s Museum of Indian Paper Money is proof that dreams do come true!
