A study in silence: Mumbai’s David Sassoon library reopens doors to public after 16 months

Restored at a cost of Rs 4 crore, the revamp project was undertaken in a bid to take the library, which is also Asia’s oldest functioning reading room, back to the glory of its heyday and highlight the Jewish diversity of the city.

Located opposite the Kala Ghoda statue from which the upscale precinct derives its name, the library was one of the earliest structures constructed in the locality. A notified grade I Heritage building, the structure was erected in 1867.

What was earlier named the ‘Sassoon Mechanics’ Institute’ eventually developed as a library and reading room under the watchful eye of David Sassoon, a Baghdadi Jew philanthropist, who had also donated money for the building’s construction.

In January 2022, the David Sassoon Library and Reading Room had signed an MoU with JSW Group’s social development arm, JSW Foundation, to restore and conserve the iconic library in Mumbai.

Having completed the project, the library was handed over to the trustees of David Sassoon library, who was represented by the president of Sassoon Trust, Solomon Sopher on Friday.

The scope of the restoration project included the rehabilitation of the original sloping roof, Minton tile flooring, the stone exteriors and interiors as well as extensive waterproofing.

Conservation architect on the project, Abha Lambah said, “In the 1960s, a flat slab had been installed within the reading hall which had started creating water leakage problems, particularly during monsoon. We learnt that a lot of books were getting damaged because of this. Since the leakage was our main villain, this was the first work we took up. We restored the original sloping roof by demolishing the RCC slab and fixed these issues before last year’s monsoon.”

For Lambah and her team, clues of the restoration lay stacked within the edifice of the heritage structure. “When we first commenced with the project, the colours had peeled off. We started following what the building told us. For instance, during restoration, we found traces of gold paint in the column crowns. On the basis of such clues and archival pictures, we recreated the painting, details of the roof and staircase lamps amongst other things.”

Alongside this, facade coating to prevent salt deposits on the wall as well as new book cupboards were also designed to ensure that structural integrity of the Victorian Gothic building was maintained. Meanwhile, in the second phase of the restoration project, landscaping work will be undertaken within the building compound seeking to provide Mumbaikars a quiet breather from the city hustle bustle.

Minor repair works have also been carried out within the library in the past — in 1995 and 2010.
Speaking of the restoration project, Consul General of Israel in Mumbai, Kobbi Shoshani said, “I had come to the library in the past and observed some leakages. This restoration project is very important for me personally. Soon, we will also be inaugurating the Jewish route.”

“Following its restoration, we believe the David Sassoon library can be the fulcrum of Mumbai’s education and cultural movement,” added Sangita Jindal, Chairperson of JSW Foundation.
The project was carried out by raising donations through the JSW foundation along with ICICI foundation, Kala Ghoda Association, Consulate General of Israel in Mumbai, MK Tata trusts amongst others.