Pune's Sassoon Hospital gets a namesake visitor

The government-run Sassoon General Hospital had an unusual visitor on Wednesday. Tim Sassoon spent more than 2 hours at the hospital, set up by his great-great-grandfather, David Sassoon.

The third generation descendant of the Jewish businessman and philanthropist said, “I just wanted to see the hospital that my great-great-grandfather established.” Tim is president of Sassoon Film Design (SFD), a visual effects and post-production facility in Santa Monica, California, that has worked for films, including the
Harry Potter series, The Aviator, Alice in Wonderland and G-Force.

On a business trip to India, Tim decided to pay a visit to the hospital. He was taken around the hospital after being welcomed by the dean, Dr Renu Bharadwaj, and staff.

His first stop was the foundation stone laid by David Sassoon. Thereafter, he visited the outpatient and psychiatric departments.

He was also taken to the ward where Mahatma Gandhi was admitted in 1925 for an emergency appendicitis operation.

He interacted with the hospital staff and visited the orphanage located on the premises, Society of Friends of Sassoon Hospitals (Sofosh). “The hospital staff made me a celebrity. I am overwhelmed by the welcome that I received,” Tim said.

He donated $10,000 to the hospital. “I would like to tie up with the HIV/AIDS projects run by the hospital. I think it needs better maintenance, and when I return I would request my friends to contribute to the hospital built by my ancestor,” he said.

“Nobody from the Sassoon family has visited the hospital. I am the first member to visit this place in 120 years,” he noted. Born in London, Tim said his company is collaborating with Tata Elxsi and have some projects to convert 2D images in 3D.