The David Sassoon Library and Reading Room has just opened a cheerful chapter. It has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with JSW Foundation for restoration and conservation of the iconic monument at Kala Ghoda. The work on the SoBo landmark began a day ago and has a timeline with a 2023 finish. The initiative is in collaboration with conservation architect Abha Narain Lambah.

Reciprocate

Sangita Jindal, chairperson JSW Foundation, claims this is “giving back” to the institution. Jindal stated it was reciprocation for the welcome the Library has given people, especially during the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival. Jindal called the building “a primary institution of learning in the heart of Mumbai’s art and heritage precinct”, pointing to its proximity to educational and cultural hubs like Elphinstone College and Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sanghralaya (CSMVS), the museum. Hemant Bhalekar,  David Sassoon committee president said, “We have been waiting for this day for a long time”, while Lambah added this was about “restoring the magical legacy of the icon”. Lambah said, underpinning the importance of the edifice, that the Library is “among the oldest landmarks in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Victorian & Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai. The conservation plan covers restoration of the interiors and exteriors. This includes rebuilding of the original sloping roof over the library, restoring the façade and conservation of the interior”.