In the first of a new weekly series on forgotten footnotes, we say, walk in a circle to discover the treasurer of Baghdad's link with a city garden
South Mumbai's Horniman Circle may be named after the pro-Independence editor of the Bombay Chronicle, Benjamin Horniman, but before 1947, it was Governor John Elphinstone whose stamp lay on the circular garden skirted by a crescent of buildings dating back to the 1800s. Nowhere is there a mention of a connection Jewish philantrophist and founding father, David Sassoon.
Then
Of the semi-circle of uniform buildings that line the gardens, the block at the northern half, towards the Town Hall end, was originally named after Sassoon. Jewish scholar Dr Shaul Sapir stumbled on the fact during one of his visits to the city. "I was astounded to learn that Sassoon's name was attached to this landmark," he tells The Guide, showing us a mention of the fact in a copy of The Bombay Builder dated April 5, 1865.
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Piqued, we decide to take a stroll around the area to discover a celebration of architecture styles by Rienzi Giesman Walton, who also designed the gardens. Despite a mix of Italian Renaissance, Baroque and Victorian influences, the uniformity is unmistakable. Originally a playground, it was Governor Bartle Frere's first commissioned project, and was named after his predecessor, Lord John Elphinstone. Its foundations were laid in October 1864 while the gardens were laid out in 1869. The plan was completed shortly before the Duke of Edinburgh's visit in 1879. In 1947, it was renamed after Horniman.
Now
A circular walk, with your neck craned up will have you applaud the makers for creating a connecting arcade that protected pedestrians from the rains and scorching sun. We look for a sign, a plaque, something to reveal the Sassoon link. There is none. Now, if only the male and female faces (each with a varied facial expression and unique hairdo) engraved in the buildings' stone facades would look down, and tell the story.
Where - Off Shahid Bhagat Singh Marg, opposite Town Hall, Fort.
Did you know?
The Sassoon family name resonates with several city landmarks, from a library (David Sassoon Reading Room) to a dock (Sassoon Dock), and the Dr Bhau Daji Lad Museum, to which they made contributions. David Sassoon's palatial home in Byculla — Sans Soucci, is where Masina Hospital operates from today.
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The area of Horniman Circle Gardens in square yards
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