120yrold pipe organ gives city a music lesson from the past
MUMBAI:A 120-year-old pipe organ that was installed by the British at Mumbai’s Sandhurst Temple in 1898, was opened to the public on Sunday. The organ, part of the Freemasons’ Hall that was built by former Governor of Bombay William Baron Sandhurst, had not been operational for around eight years.
The British considered the pipe organs an important part of their churches, masonic lodges and auditoriums. But, over the years, these musical instruments fell into a state of disrepair.
On Sunday, after months of servicing and repair, the District Grand Lodge of Bombay, the city’s masonic centre, held its annual Open House, and gave visitors a glimpse of the organ’s history.
“It was an expensive affair to get the pipe organ repaired; a specialist had to be called in from south and it cost us Rs 8 lakh,” said Shreevardhan Sinha, the district information officer at the centre. “But, we did it because we believe we are the custodians of this city’s legacy, and if this organ wouldn’t have been repaired, we would lose a part of history.”
“The equipment for the instrument needed to be imported, which is a costly,” said Sujay Anand, the pipe organ technician from Mysore who worked on repairing the organ. “Also, the organ is complex, when it comes to the technical aspects, which is why we also call it the monster instrument. Most churches that have the pipe organ don’t even play it everyday,” Anand said, adding that the organ at the St Thomas Cathedral at Horniman Circle was dismantled in the 1960s. “Today, buying a pipe organ would cost crores.”
Venkatraman P, the deputy district grandmaster, District Grand Lodge of Bombay, said the organ was made at a cost of Rs 25,000 when the temple was built more than a century ago. He added the pipes were brought from England, and the cabinet and installations were done in India.
“Four years ago, we decided to open up this space to the common man so they can come and find out what our group is about and ask questions. As it has always been a closed-door affair, people tend to add a negative colour to the community,” Venkatraman said.
He added that as a part of the groups tercentenary celebrations in 2017, they decided to repair the pipe organ and let people experience it during their regular open houses.
CONTINUED ON P 7