“This building, right here, is the latest long-standing bastion of Mumbai’s democratic heritage,” said Architect Abha Narain Lambah. Her eyes were tracing the spine of the saddleback roof above her as her proud smile spoke to the audience in front. We were all assembled at David Sassoon Library in Mumbai for a post-restoration walkthrough of the colonial structure, right before which Lambah was sharing the layered history of the association that made the feat possible.
A history of cultural sensitivity
The Kala Ghoda Association came into existence 25 years ago with the aim to preserve and restore the street heritage of Kala Ghoda district. “We were a bunch of enthusiasts, all from various walks of lives, desperate to save our shared history,” she shares. Soon, the founding committee was renting a local parking lot to host a music performance under the open Mumbai sky. In Lambah’s experience, Mumbaikars have always stood up for the streets they call home, and this time too, there was a crowd gathering to support the cause. The proceeds from this event went to a fund that would go on to compound over the next few decades, fuelling restoration work for iconic buildings such as Elphinstone College and Mumbai University. The art event expanded in tandem, crawling out into the streets of the city as the now-known Kala Ghoda Arts Festival.
The idea may have expanded, but the goal has remained the same. Through this festival, Mumbai has been able to collectively save its cultural heritage while promoting newer sensibilities. The latest project undertaken by KGAF was the restoration of the David Sassoon Library where we all now stood, stunned at the details Lambah revealed about the wood structure surrounding us.
This library is their newest restoration project
Built in the 19th century by Albert Sassoon, son of the Baghdadi philanthropist, David Sassoon, this library in Mumbai was reinforced with a concrete slab on the roof in the 20th century. “But each material, and the structure it’s used in, has a role to play. You cannot flatten a sloping roof without consequence. Soon, the building began to log water damage,” Lambah reveals.
In 2023, the Kala Ghoda Association partnered with Hermès India, the Consulate General of Israel in Mumbai, the MK Tata Trusts and others to raise funds along with The JSW Foundation and ICICI Foundation. The roof was restored to its original form, while minimal cleanup and repair was undertaken inside. The team installed a Burma teak ceiling with reinforcements that were required to keep the roof intact, and opened up the arched windows that had been hitherto hidden. “We tried to maintain the ambiance of the place by installing dim lighting and fans,” shares Lambah. Everything from the tiling to flooring were kept intact, brushed up and retired to its original glory. “Today, we have readers and visitors coming in to soak in the beauty of this place from around the city and even the world, the testimony to which stands in front of me today in the form of a packed audience at yet another successful rendition of the Kala Ghoda Festival,” she signs off.
