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Restored David Sassoon Library in Mumbai Revives Historical Charm and Cultural Significance

A total of 30,000 volumes in English, Hindi, Marathi, and other languages were the library's original residents, which Jindal made sure to maintain.
on Jun 02, 2023

The conservation team's enormous restoration of the 1870 building required some historical sleuthing to determine what was below the numerous interventions made to the structure.

Even an heirloom jewel occasionally has to be cleaned and maintained in order to show off its grandeur. One such Mumbai treasure, the David Sassoon Library in Kala Ghoda, south Mumbai, has been brought back to life and will reopen on Friday after spending 16 months meticulously renovating.

The restoration team's mammoth renovation of the 1870 building required some historical investigation to uncover what was hidden beneath the structure's numerous modifications.

For instance, the expansive first-floor reading room's original sloping ceiling was seen in an old image. The main light at the foyer entry may have been gas-lighted, as suggested by the finding of an ancient gas line. Thus, it has been lit to evoke a time when electricity was widely used.

Conservation architect Abha Narain Lambah has spearheaded the restoration project. "The entire roof had been demolished and replaced in the 1960s with a concrete slab which had corroded and leaked like a sieve," she adds.

In particular, during the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival, this library welcomed me and millions of other visitors with open arms, according to Sangita Jindal, chairman of the JSW Foundation and a supporter of several conservation initiatives.

"We think the David Sassoon library can be the center of Mumbai's educational and cultural movement after it has been restored."

In honor of the Jewish philanthropist who financed this and many other ancient structures in Mumbai, the JSW Foundation and a number of other organizations, including the Israel Consulate, helped convert what was first intended to be a maintenance project into a full-fledged restoration.

The Kala Ghoda Association, the M K Tata Trusts, the ICICI Foundation, and the French fashion house Hermes are other sponsors.

A total of 30,000 volumes in English, Hindi, Marathi, and other languages were the library's original residents, which Jindal made sure to maintain. The first-floor reading area, which now resembles the classic university libraries of Cambridge and Princeton, is lined with them on the floor-to-ceiling shelves.

Libraries inspire reading, writing, contemplation, and the occasional fast nap thanks to small touches like vintage switches, chandeliers, and the original Victorian Minton tile flooring. Additionally, the original teak tables have been repaired, and a row of planters' chairs is patiently waiting for both older folks and college students.

Libraries inspire reading, writing, contemplation, and the occasional fast nap thanks to small touches like vintage switches, chandeliers, and the original Victorian Minton tile flooring. The original teak tables have been repaired, and a row of planters' chairs is patiently waiting for both older folks and college students.

Mumbai residents will be able to relax in peace after a long day in the city, thanks to this. The library gardens are a wonderful respite from the crowded public streets and are one of the few green open areas in this historic neighborhood. The library is the focal point of Mumbai's educational and cultural movement because of its proximity to educational and cultural institutions, including Elphinstone College, the museum, and art galleries.