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Journalism of Courage
Spread across three rooms at the Dr Bhau Daji Lad Museum in Byculla is the vast architectural history of 19th century Bombay. Through 43 sepia photographs,one gets almost a panoramic view of the citys architectural milestones under the exhibition titled The Sassoon Album. In association with the British Library,the museum has acquired photographs from David Sasoons private collection and provides a documentation of Mumbais architecture. The exhibition is on at the museum till November 24.
On curator Tasneem Zakaria Mehtas recent visit to the British Library in London,she came across the collection that was donated to the library in 2012 by Edwina and Sybil Sassoon,descendants of Mumbais prominent Jewish family in the 18th and 19th century,whose history is intimately connected to that of early Bombay. It is a rare collection of photographs that had never been seen before. We had to get them to the museum for display, says Mehta. The original album also included some early photographs of Pune.
The exhibition covers the heritage architecture that surrounded the areas of Byculla,Malabar Hills up to Fort some privately owned buildings by the family in those times while others were public structures. In most photographs,one gets to see a distinct influence of European style of architecture with improvements to accommodate the climate and geography of the city. This fusion gave rise to a style of architecture that was characteristic to the city,such as the awnings on the first floors,and double windows on the upper floors to keep out rain and sun that are common to most buildings in Fort. The double post balconies with cast iron railings and hooks for temporary awnings on the buildings of Apollo Street in Fort or the high screen teak wood screens on Marine Drive are highlighted in the photographs.
The photographs also capture a sense of the city at that time with horse-drawn carriages ridden on nearly-empty roads with street lamps on the main squares. Faded posters advertising cultural events by Great Variety Troupe and Dramatic Company can be spotted on the walls of the structures. Buildings such as Braganza Hall in Byculla or Sans Soui (the Mesina Hospital),sprawled over acres of land with a landscaped garden,show the space that was available in colonial Bombay.
These photographs are also chronicle the personal stories behind these structures. For instance,the Magen David Byculla Synagogue and School was built by David Sassoon. He wanted a place of worship closer to his residence and hence initiated the construction of the monumental synagogue, says Mehta.
Some of the structures in the photographs no longer exist,but others,such as the Sassoons Clock and Tower in Victoria Gardens (now the Jijamata Udyaan) and the Victoria & Albert Museum (now the Dr Bhau Daji Lad Museum),still remain. The structures are under a constant threat of extinction. While contemporary architecture must grow,whats from the past must thrive as well, says Mehta who hopes these buildings will see restoration.
amruta.lakhe@expressindia.com
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