David Sassoon and the Sassoon family of Bombay

17 Apr 2011 6 Comments

by danieldavid100 in Uncategorized

Today the city of Mumbai in which great peoples many of them were not even born in India but gave a lot and contributed so much for the city of Mumbai today their names are still there in the history and in various places of the city but sadly people have started fargeting this people so to help the history of the city I have decided to write about the David Sassoon and the family in the city of Bombay hope all will like it
In 1832 the prince of the exilarch, David Sassoon (1792-1864) fleeting with his family from the persecutions of Daud pasha of bagdad arrived in Bombay from Bushire (in former Persia) david son of Sassoon ben saleh (Sasson means joy in Hebrew and later anglicized as Sassoon) could trace his genealogy back 2,000 years to king david himself.
The saga of the Sassoon merchantile empire began in 1832 when david Sassoon along with his family arrived in the port of the Bombay. The communal head of the parent community in bagdad shifting base to the island city was a turning point in the life of the resident bagdadis who called themselves “jewish Merchants of Arabia, inhabitants and residents in Bombay”. David sasoon began life in india when he nailed his mezuzah his sign of jewish home to his doorpost at 9 tamarind lane within the precicts of the fort which marked the city limits until the walls were pilled down in 1862. being an orthodox jew the hum of the business activity at Sassoon offices would halt at appropriate times for prayers, the observance of shabbth on Saturdays and on jewish holidays according to old timer.
David sasoon becom the focus of community life among the citys bagdadi jews from the very arrival in the Bombay. The home he built in byculla ,sans souci (now masina hospital) become a hub of religious and community activity on shabbath when head of the Bombay jewish community and any visiting rabbis or scholars would meet to study and chant religious hymns. These gatherings led to the establishment in 1855 of Hebrath beth david (brotherhood of the house of david) which become a new model of communal organization among the bagdadi jews. Later in 1861 that david sasoon builts Magen David Synagauge with its imposing clocktower. Interestingly the clocktower was to become a trademark of most of the monuments donated by the patriarch of the Sassoon family,as distinguished from those donated by his descendants. This synaguage catered by his descendants. This synaguage catered to the increasing religious and social needs of the community and also the synaguage is one of the largest and one of the most beautiful buildings in the city its special architect is according to the traditional bagdadi jewish designs and memories of the synaguage which used to be in bagdad. One of the best designs taken from the arcitectures from lundon having special seats for the cohen (the priest according to the jewish bible) at right enterence and special beautiful seating arrangements and overall view of the syngauage is truly the one of the best buildings.
Another familiar landmark of Bombay,the clocktower which now stands at the enterence to the jijamata udyan ( earlier Victoria garden) at Byculla was erected by David Sassoon in 1864 built in the palladian style, the clock tower is over 20 meters in height. It has a plinth of blue stone while the tower itself is of portbundar stone, and is decorated while tiles from England. The clock has four faces,each 1.2 meters in diameter. The museasm which is inside the jijamata udyan was build by david Sassoon called albert museam which was named after his eldest son albert Sassoon and the surrounding area which is todays garden belonged to the Sassoon estate which was donated to the Bombay municipal corporation as the whole. The statute of king athur which is full build of black stone is today kept in the garden was those days near david

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Sassoon library and the name after it to that area was given called as kala-ghoda and today even today it can be seen in the jijamata udyan in Byculla.
David Sassoon build the red brick lal Dewal or the Ohel David (tent of david) synagauge in Poona completed in 1867 today the landmark of the city. Like most of the European from Bombay Sassoons would migrate to Poona during the muggy monsoon and they would celebrate the high holidays with other jews of there the lal deval is magnificent red brick building with 27.5 meters high clocktower which is surmounted by a spire to the north of the entrance porch. Although the stained glass work is not as grand as that is in keneseth eliyahoo synaguage later build by david sassoons grandson Jaco, the sheer siza and setting of this synaguage give it an imposing presence.
The pride of the sassoons contribution to the sasoon hospital was built in Poona after a contribution of the Rs. 213,000 given by David Sassoon toward its endowment and erection in 1863. It was completed in 1867 after his death, Today the Sassoon hospital is the largest hospital for pune district. It also incorporates within its compound later contributions by the family, each with its own plaque of education, like sir Jacob Sassoon European hospital opened on march 1909 and the Rachel Sassoon hospital. In Poona Sassoon also contributed to the old age home for the destiture ,the david Sassoon Infirm Asylum Nirwara.
In the 32 years of the David Sassoon lived after coming to India. The foundation of the Sassoon fortune and philanthropy were firmly laid by him.when Sassoon arrived in Bombay in the early month of 1832,the city on the threshold of the business boom, Sassoon started business cautiously. Beginning with west asia , the territory he knew best,he soon ventured into the china trade in cotton piece-good s yeard and later opium. It was china trade the enormous Bombay fortunes that went to fund its public buildings and its cotton mill industry in which Sassoon played important part. In order to make the most of the opportunities afforted by the economic boom,Sassoon strategically located his agents,inevitably, his capable sons and fellow bagdadi jews in key locations. Just three years before the cotton boom began in 1861, his thrd son Sassoon David Sassoon, went to England to set up a branch office here. This propitious coincidence led to the firm of Messrs. David Sassoon & sons reaping the benefit of the economic boom that engulfed Bombay due to the inflated prices for Indian cotton caused by a shortage of American cotton staple for the Lancashire mills. The period of the American civil war (1861-64) saw one of the wildest economic boom in Bombay. Money from cotton fulled the stock market and saw the growth of numerous banks, financial institutions, and some of the most ambitious business projects.
The prosperity that ensued in Bombay led to a tremendous public feeling of,in the words of governor Bartle Fere “giving back a little to the city that has given us so much”. It was during his time and under his able guidance that most of the Bombays well known public institutions were built. From 1847 onwards David Sassoon donated large amount onwards the building of the David Sassoon Mechanics Institute (what is todays David Sassoon library), the David Sassoon Reformary and industrial institution for Juvenile offenders (the first kind in india) ,the clocktower at the Victoria gardens (now veer Jijamata Bhosle udyan)and the state of the prince consort with the Hebrew translation at its base at the Victoria and Albert museum (now the Bhau Lad Museam)

The David Sassoon Library, completed in 1870,was build in the Victorian Neo- gothic style by the public work department following the design of scott, Mc Clelland&co. The comination of basalt with limestone bands,moulding and cornices the relief medallion of David Sassoon on the entrance pediment,the spires and the clock on the front gable give this building a striking presence among the other heritage building in the Kala Ghoda art district of Mumbai. A marble sculpture of David Sassoon on the entrance pediment, the spires and the clock on the front gable give this building a striking presence among the other heritage buildings in kala ghoda district of Mumbai. A marble sculpture of David Sassoon by Thomas Woolnar ,R.A. stand in the enterence hall,with a fine wooden staircase leading up to the spacious reading room,library and lecture room on the first floor.Teakwood panels ad furniture,and richly coloured minton tiling complement the interiors this library yis todays one of the wellknown buildings and 2nd largest library In the city of Mumbai.
The death of David Sassoon in Poona on November 4, 1864 did not stem the contribution of the family to communal charities and public institution. Taking over the reins at Messrs David Sassoon&sons was his eldest son Abdullah (better known as sir albert Sassoon Bart of Kensinton Gore). His second son Elias broke away from the parent company and founded Messrs E.D. Sassoon &co., which was primarily engaged in banking and property deals.
Albert was immensely successful. He founded the first Sassoon cotton mill in 1874 sassiib spinning and wearing co., ltd at Mazgoan, Bombay. Though the sassoons entered the cotton mill industry much after Parsi and Hindus entrepreneurs always riding the scound wave they went on to become the largest mill owners in pre-independence India. In fact the E.D. Sassoon group united India mill run by them in Bombay of which the Jacob Sassoon mill (1893) was the largest spinning and weaving mill in india .
Unlike his father, Albert took a keen interest in public affaris. He become a leading member of the Bombay Chamber of Commerce and a member of the Bombay Legislative council from 1868 to 1872. He built Bombays first wet dock, Sassoon docks at colaba in 1875 which facilitated the discharge and loading of large chargo ships along side a wharf. The docks also had the facilitated the discharge and loading of large chargo ships alongside a wharf. The docks also had the facilities of a cotton press as they were situated very close to the cotton green ( outside grants Buildings at colaba) where dealers bought and sold bales of cotton.
Among Albert other contribution was Sir Joseph Edger Boehms fabulous brouze equestrian state of King Edwardvii, which commemorated his visit to Bombay as the Prince of Wales. The state was unveiled on june 26 1879, and his since lent its name to the place where it once stood Kala Ghod. Interestingly, one of the panels at the base of the state shows the Prince of Wales landing being welcomes by among others, Alberts son Edward.
Sir Albert Sassoon also contributed toward a new building for the Elphistone Technical High School, which was called the Sassoon building in considersation of his generious donation. When sir Albert left India for England he entrusted the Bombay office of Messrs. David Sassoon &sons to the charge of his brother Soloman Sassoon. The head office of the company was established in London and there began an ever widening gap between the reality of operations in Bombay and the pursits of the Sassoon decendants in

London, which veered toward politics (Edward and Philip Sassoon), arts (Siegfried Sassoon) and high society.
Simultaneous to the growth of the parents company was the steady gorwn of Messrs E.D. Sassoon&co. The head of the company Elias and later Jacob Sassoon, stayed in Bombay, and it went on the become more prosperous then the firm of David Sassoon. Carrying on the philanthrophy of the Sassoon family, the Bombay branch particularly contributed to the grown of community institutions. Sir Jacob Sassoon High school built in (1903) at Byculla for jewish children till today the Hebrew teachings with the jewish shabbth and other high holidays are observed here with other non jewish children and the education of here and is one of the best schools in the city. He built the impressive Kenneseth Eliyahoo Synagauge at Fort in memory of his father in 1884. when Jacob died in 1916 his title went to his brother Edward Elias (1853-1924).
Sir Jacobs contribution to the city of Bombay is very significant. To commemorate the visit of King George v and Queen Mary to India in December 1911 it was decided to build monument at Apollo bunder. Sir Jacob was the largest individual donor towad was to become the Gateway of India (1924) the landmark monument by which the city is most indentified. He was also the largest donor toward the Royal Institute of Science.which was completed a year after Gateway of India was built.
After the death of Soloman Sassoon, his wife Flora tookover the reins of the Bombay operation and the Sassoon mills. She was just 35 years in 1894. progressive in her outlook, she was a member of the Purdah club, along with Lady Cowasji Jehangir and Lady Reay. In the year 1897, when Bombay was rocked by famine and the outbreak of bubonic plague,followed by Asiatic Cholera, which resulted I nthousands of mill workersand inhabitants fleeing the city,she jointed the plague committee and helped to segregate infected cases. In order to stem the anti inculation riot that took place in Bombay, she was the first to take anti-cholera vaccine developed by the Russian jew Dr. Waldemar Haffkine after whom the Haffkine Institute at Parel in named
Another Sassoon ,through not a direct descendant was Sir Sassoon David,was led his office at Sassoon building, the present Ewart Building on Mahatma Gandhi road. He was the founder of the Bank of India and was its chairman during 1908-26. he was also the former owner of Dawn Mills. He Donated the bronze Statue of the Prince of Wales by George Wade, unviled in 1911 which stands on the lawn of prince of wales museam now known as Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya.
The last of the Sassoon industrialists was a grandson of Elias Sassoon, Sir victor Sassoon, who took a keen interest in the Bombay operation of E.D. Sassoon &co and was chairman of the Bombay Millowners Association. Although victor was very wary of Indian nationalist movement (as result of which he shifted operations to shanghai and later to the tax haven to the Bahamas), he was very much a part of the Bombay scene. His personal hobbies flying and horse racing resulted in his patronage of the Bombay flying club (Juhu) his stewardship of the Royal western India Turf club, and the sprawling Eve’s stud Farm in Poona (even today the Poona races have the Eve’s cup). Sir Victor’s public contribution resulted in the building of the Sir Sassoon David Hospital in the compound of Sir JJ Hospital (Bombay) and the nurses quarters of the KEM Hospital (Poona)
By the time India gained independence both brances of the Sassoon family had wound up their business interests in India. This was a direct result of their proximity to Brtisih aristrocary their growing identity as a british rather than Indian business group, the fears they shared with british business circles concerning the uncertainity inherent in a newly indepdendent India.this resulted to emigration of the many jews to Engand and Israel. Though no members of the Sassoon family now lives in Mumbai the name survivies in the many institutions they funded.