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ESTABLISHMENT
The Sir JJ School of Art was set up in 1857 as the Bombay School of Art & Industry, thanks to the vision and munificence of Sir Jamshetjee Jeejeebhoy.
In the second half of the 19th century, architectural learning was integrated with an art education that followed the Beaux Arts School of sculptural ornament and architectural detailing.
In 1913, one hundred years ago, architecture as a distinct discipline was recognized by the formation of a separate and independent Department of Architecture of the Sir JJ School of Art. Robert Cable was appointed as the first Professor of Architecture and headed the department until 1923. Cable, and his most distinguished successors, Professor Claude Batley (1923-43), Professor C. M. Master (1943-48) and Professor Solomon Reuben (1948-59) took the architectural department into a new modernist phase, making an impact on the city and the country at large with their own architectural practices, while educating several generations of architects who collectively transformed the city of Mumbai and gave a great reputation to the school as the finest architectural school in Asia.
In 1952, the department of architecture became a department of the University of Mumbai, and the school became the Sir JJ College of Architecture. In the last hundred years, the college has consistently excelled and has enhanced its reputation by having some very distinguished alumni including architects Padmashri Achyut Kanvinde and Padmashri Balkrishna Doshi.
Most appropriately, in this Centenary Year, Sir J.J. College of Architecture has been ranked the BEST architecture college in the country according to the independent 2013 Outlook-MDRA Poll (results of the annual survey published in the July 1st 2013 issue). Our college has consistently been ranked in the top 3 architecture colleges in the country ever since the survey began around four years ago, and this is the first time we have topped the list.
The University of Mumbai has consistently supported our aims to architectural excellence through the last six decades.
In the second half of the 19th century, architectural learning was integrated with an art education that followed the Beaux Arts School of sculptural ornament and architectural detailing.
In 1913, one hundred years ago, architecture as a distinct discipline was recognized by the formation of a separate and independent Department of Architecture of the Sir JJ School of Art. Robert Cable was appointed as the first Professor of Architecture and headed the department until 1923. Cable, and his most distinguished successors, Professor Claude Batley (1923-43), Professor C. M. Master (1943-48) and Professor Solomon Reuben (1948-59) took the architectural department into a new modernist phase, making an impact on the city and the country at large with their own architectural practices, while educating several generations of architects who collectively transformed the city of Mumbai and gave a great reputation to the school as the finest architectural school in Asia.
In 1952, the department of architecture became a department of the University of Mumbai, and the school became the Sir JJ College of Architecture. In the last hundred years, the college has consistently excelled and has enhanced its reputation by having some very distinguished alumni including architects Padmashri Achyut Kanvinde and Padmashri Balkrishna Doshi.
Most appropriately, in this Centenary Year, Sir J.J. College of Architecture has been ranked the BEST architecture college in the country according to the independent 2013 Outlook-MDRA Poll (results of the annual survey published in the July 1st 2013 issue). Our college has consistently been ranked in the top 3 architecture colleges in the country ever since the survey began around four years ago, and this is the first time we have topped the list.
The University of Mumbai has consistently supported our aims to architectural excellence through the last six decades.
Sir Jamseetji Jeejeebhoy
A short Biography.
There was a locality called, `Yatha Ahu Vairyo, Mohalla’ near
the Crawford Market in Bombay where Sir Jamsetjee Jeejeebhoy was born.
One of the nicest things to have happened in the city recently, has been the restoration of the portrait of Sir Jamsetjee Jeejeebhoy, First Baronet, a great son of India , whose entire life was a personification of charity.
He was born to a poor Parsi family and became an orphan at a very early age. Yet, he left behind a legacy of tremendous compassion and charity for the citizens of Mumbai.
He lost his parents early in life, and did not have the blessings of a
formal education, something he greatly missed and which prompted to open several boys and girls schools and colleges in the city when he became an affluent man in later years.
But life was hard for the young Jamsetjee. `he was then only 17 years old, Bombay businessmen extended finance and Side by side with his business activities he undertook several charitable projects, all of a cosmopolitan nature.
He spent Rs. 1,45,403 to set up the Sir J. J. Dharamshala at Bellasis Road , and till today immumerable old and destitute people receive free food, clothing, shelter and medicines.
All their needs for the past 150 years, irrespective of caste, creed or religion, have been looked after by the Dharamshala, the first free home for the elderly in Asia .
Jamsetjee later founded the J. J. Hospital and the Grant Medical College
(named after his friend Sir Robert Grant, then Governor of Bombay). .
Before 1845, there was no land communication between Bandra and Mahim and people had to be ferried over the Mahim Creek. It was dangerous, and during the monsoons, countless people would lose their lives on dubious and unrealisable ferry services. Jamsetjee spent Rs. 1,55,800 in order to build the Mahim Causeway, that was justly named after his wife, Lady Jamsetjee Jeejeebhoy.
Not only did it save countless lives, but even today, it is a boon to all of us who live in the suburbs.
Jamsetjee Jeejeebhoy had to his credit 126 notable public charities,
including the Sir J. J. School of Art , and then its departments - the Sir J. J. School of Architecture, the Sir J. J. School of Applied Commercial Art.
As his fame spread, the residents of Poona approached him to build a bund in order to contain the raging waters of the Mulla and Mutha rivers, and the kind man obliged.
He built wells and tanks all over Bombay , hospitals and schools in Surat and Navsari, Agiaries in Bombay and Poona . His charity was not just
confined to human beings. He contributed Rs. 80,000 to a Panjrapole for
animals, distributed money for the feeding of stray dogs, built water places for cattle and horses.
For all his good work, he became the first Indian upon whom Knighthood was conferred. Queen Victoria conferred baronetcy on the first Indian knight,
Sir Jamsetjee Jeejeebhoy who was 74-years-old at that time.
He died two years later, and never before and never after Sir Jamsetjee
Jeejebhoy , Bombay had a son with such a large heart. His charities alone
are estimated at over Rs. 1,000,000,000 in today’s money
the Crawford Market in Bombay where Sir Jamsetjee Jeejeebhoy was born.
One of the nicest things to have happened in the city recently, has been the restoration of the portrait of Sir Jamsetjee Jeejeebhoy, First Baronet, a great son of India , whose entire life was a personification of charity.
He was born to a poor Parsi family and became an orphan at a very early age. Yet, he left behind a legacy of tremendous compassion and charity for the citizens of Mumbai.
He lost his parents early in life, and did not have the blessings of a
formal education, something he greatly missed and which prompted to open several boys and girls schools and colleges in the city when he became an affluent man in later years.
But life was hard for the young Jamsetjee. `he was then only 17 years old, Bombay businessmen extended finance and Side by side with his business activities he undertook several charitable projects, all of a cosmopolitan nature.
He spent Rs. 1,45,403 to set up the Sir J. J. Dharamshala at Bellasis Road , and till today immumerable old and destitute people receive free food, clothing, shelter and medicines.
All their needs for the past 150 years, irrespective of caste, creed or religion, have been looked after by the Dharamshala, the first free home for the elderly in Asia .
Jamsetjee later founded the J. J. Hospital and the Grant Medical College
(named after his friend Sir Robert Grant, then Governor of Bombay). .
Before 1845, there was no land communication between Bandra and Mahim and people had to be ferried over the Mahim Creek. It was dangerous, and during the monsoons, countless people would lose their lives on dubious and unrealisable ferry services. Jamsetjee spent Rs. 1,55,800 in order to build the Mahim Causeway, that was justly named after his wife, Lady Jamsetjee Jeejeebhoy.
Not only did it save countless lives, but even today, it is a boon to all of us who live in the suburbs.
Jamsetjee Jeejeebhoy had to his credit 126 notable public charities,
including the Sir J. J. School of Art , and then its departments - the Sir J. J. School of Architecture, the Sir J. J. School of Applied Commercial Art.
As his fame spread, the residents of Poona approached him to build a bund in order to contain the raging waters of the Mulla and Mutha rivers, and the kind man obliged.
He built wells and tanks all over Bombay , hospitals and schools in Surat and Navsari, Agiaries in Bombay and Poona . His charity was not just
confined to human beings. He contributed Rs. 80,000 to a Panjrapole for
animals, distributed money for the feeding of stray dogs, built water places for cattle and horses.
For all his good work, he became the first Indian upon whom Knighthood was conferred. Queen Victoria conferred baronetcy on the first Indian knight,
Sir Jamsetjee Jeejeebhoy who was 74-years-old at that time.
He died two years later, and never before and never after Sir Jamsetjee
Jeejebhoy , Bombay had a son with such a large heart. His charities alone
are estimated at over Rs. 1,000,000,000 in today’s money
