Tales of legend

There is more to David Sassoon than a statue and a library; Prof. Shaul Sapir separates myth and fact going all the way back to the opium trade

LAST TUESDAY, ON NOVEMBER 6TH, Prof. Shaul Sapir shared an experience all humans have shared – curiosity – and its consequences. In Sapir’s case, he went into a museum, something he saw that triggered his interest and he tried to get to the bottom of it. Sapir is a professor at the Hebrew University and is an Israeli of Indian Baghdadi origin. This is why the statue of David Sassoon at David Sassoon Library caught his attention. In spite of having contributed to the heritage of Bombay, Sapir realised that there is very little known of the Baghdadi community here. This led him to research David Sassoon.

Shaul’s dramatic voice, while narrating the history of David Sassoon, drew everyone’s attention and interest. Shaul went on to mention how stories of the Sassoon dynasty were the stuff of both speculation and legend. Its ancient origins, followed by dealings in opium during the pioneering days, have together contributed to colourful myths.
Among Bombay’s chief benefactors, the Sassoon family was often referred to as: “The Rothschilds of India”. Unlike the
Rothschilds, the Sassoons were merchants, opium dealers and textile industrialists in the Far East who claimed Davidic (relating to the Biblical David and his descendants) and other descent and who socialised with British royalty in England.

After a brief introduction to the Sassoon legacy, Shaul revealed more insight on David Sassoon’s life. He was the Chief Treasurer of Baghdad. Sassoon married Hannah in 1818. They had two sons and two daughters before she died in
1826. Two years later he married Farha Hyeem (who was born in 1812 and died in 1886). The pair had six sons and three
daughters.

Following increasing persecution of Baghdad’s Jews by Dawud Pasha, the family moved to Bombay via Persia. Bombay then was a town going through intense development and monumental changes under the British Raj. New opportunities were
flourishing and Sassoon adapted to these changes very well. Sassoon was in business in Bombay no later than 1832, originally acting as a middleman between British textile firms and Gulf commodity merchants, subsequently investing in valuable local properties.

By 1840, Sassoon developed his textile operations into a profitable triangular trade: Indian yarn and opium were carried to China, where he bought goods which were sold in Britain, from where he obtained Lancashire cotton products. In addition, he traded in textiles, tea, dried fruit, metals and other goods as well as in real estate enterprises in Bombay, Shanghai and Hong Kong.

To have trustworthy hands helping in business, David involved his sons in his enterprises. The later part of Shaul’s speech included a presentation/ slideshow of pictures he had taken which included the legacy and the contribution
of David Sassoon in Bombay and Pune. David Sassoon spent 32 years of his life in Bombay, these years were an essential landmark in the establishment of the Baghdadi Jewish community in the city.

Besides being one of the most successful business magnates, Sassoon was also a keen philanthropist, who channelled much of his surplus fortune towards helping his brethren and the general population of Bombay as
well.