Rai Bahadur Jagmal Raja Chauhan
Encyclopedia
Jagmal Raja Chauhan better known as Rai Bahadur Jagmal Raja, was an industrialist in Bombay and a railway contractor at the time of Independence of India. He was born in a small village named Nagher, in Kutch and belonged the Kutch Gurjar Kashtriya community. He carried on his father's legacy, who was also a railway contractor.
with Mulji Meghji of Nagor in 1903 together built bridge over Yamuna at Agra
. Jagmal Raja Chauhan carried on father's legacy. Some of his Railway contract works are in 1904 - railway track from Bulandshahr to Hapur
, 1904- Shahdara
to Saharanpur
, 1906 - Aligarh Station, in 1906 -Balmau to Sitapur
, 1908 - Allahbad Ganges Railway Bridge construction, 1911 - Allahbad Yamnua Bridge doubling, 1912 - Kanpur to Banda including the bridge near Hamirpur
over Yamuna, 1913 - Hooghly
- Katwa
section, 1913 - Jabalpur Gun Carriage
siding, 1914 - Mughalsarai
Yard extension, 1915 - Gaya
- Katras
doubling, 1916 - Gaya
yard extension, 1922- Dhanbad
Yard extension, 1924 - Calcutta Kidderpore
Docks extension, 1925 - Dehri-on-sone bridge, 1927- Bridge over Son River
near Arrah
, 1927 - Allahbad Yamuna
bridge re-girding (in 1911 he had done doubling of same bridge). In 1926, Rai Bahadur Jagmal Raja of Nagor
started construction of Bally Bridge in Calcutta, which he completed in 1932. In all the Railway Contracts done by him, his partners and sub-contractors were Railway Contractors from his own community - Mistris of Kutch.
He built numerous railway lines and Railway bridges in India and was given title of Rao Bahadur
in 1923 at a function held in Shimla
, summer Capital of British India by Viceroy of India, Rufus Isaacs, 1st Marquess of Reading
. His construction of Bally Bridge was noted.Although, he had studied up to fifth standard in his native village ( Nagor
), he had the distinction of being conferred with Degree of AEIE (UK) on recommendation of Viceroy of India, Lord Irwin
. Before that in the years 1924 to 1927, he completed the extension King George VI Docks for Calcutta Port Trust at Khiddirpore at Calcutta.The Bally Bridge was named Willingdon Bridge after Viceroy of India, Freeman Freeman-Thomas, 1st Marquess of Willingdon
, who inaugurated it. The British acknowledged the feat of Jagmal Raja, by naming the first train that ran across Willingdon Bridge as Jagmal Raja Howrah Express. The name plates mentioning Erection & Construction done by Rai Bahadur Jagmal Raja, Allahbad, can still be seen rivetted on each grider of Bally Bridge.His life sketch is also mentioned in Encyclopaedia Britanica and Book of World Knowledge.
In 1932 on completion of Bally Bridge, Jagmal Raja was recommended by Viceroy of India to King of Nepal
, who needed Contractor of repute to do renovation and rehabilitation of his Palaces & temples. He was given the Contract for the same and Parbat Harji Chauhan, Karaman Devji Chauhan both of Kukma
and Manji Shivjee of Madhapar
were delegated by Jagmal Raja to supervise and complete the work.
Further, in year 1924 the extension of Calcutta Port Trust
at Khiddirpore in Calcutta was made by building a new dock named the "King George Dockyard", which was done by Rai Bahadur Jagmal Raja Chauhan with Bhimjee Pancha Chauhan & Mavji Punja Chauhan, all from Nagor
. This work was completed in 1927 and the dock has now been re-named as "Netaji Subhas Docks".
in 1912 and later Bombay Glass Works at Bombay in 1930 and Raja Glass Works at Sodepur
. In 1941 he was conferred Fellowship along with John Northwood and Pandit Vishnu Datta for their contributions to glass and ceramic industry of world. Among his other industrial venture were a paper board factory at Dahanu
named Dahanu Straw Products, Sanitaryware factory at Derol
named Gujarat Pottery Works (1932) Pvt. Ltd., aromatics unit named Hindustan Aromatics, Insurance company named Indian Globe Insurance Co and he also owned a finance company, tiles factory, fire clay factory & export business. He also ventured into packaged food and pickle export business. He was also Chairman of Zandu Pharmaceutical
for several years. He also owned a Steam Navigation Company named Ambica Steam Navigation Co., which operated in western coast of India and Airlines Company name Ambica Airlines, which operated on Bombay - Bhuj
- Rajkot - Jamnagar
air route.
, which he held in partnership with Manji Jeram Rathod of Madhapar
.He also owned Silica mines at Bargad in Shankargarh
.
He shared personal friendship with Maharao of Cutch, Khengarji III and was personal ADC
to him in Coronation ceremony of King George VI
in 1937. He was the only person from any community of Kutch, who had the privilege of being ADC to Maharao Khengarji III. Khenharji Bawa as a mark of his friendship, honored Jagmal Raja, by his presence, when Degree of Engineering was conferred upon him in London. Cutch Castle at Bombay belonging to Royal family of Cutch, was built by Jagmal Raja upon his personal insistence.Apart from Maharao of Cutch, he held friendly relations with Viceroy Lord Irwin, Raja of Shankargarh
, Jam of Rajkot, Jam Sahib of Jamnagar
, Rana of Nepal
and Raja of Rewa
to name a few.
He was very close with Motilal Nehru
and Jawaharlal Nehru
and marriage procession of both the daughters of Motilal Nehru – Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit
& Krishna Hutheesing
had started from his mansion at M.G. Road in Allahbad. He once participated in elections from Allahbad.His residential palace at M.G Road in Allahbad, was spread in acres and built like a royal palace, as a repllica of Prag Mahal
of Bhuj
. Remnants of his palace can still be seen in the city.
Besides Nehru family he also held personal relationship with Malviyaji, Gandhiji, Sardar Patel, Lal Bahadur Shastri
, C. Y. Chintamani
, Dr. Rajendra Prasad
, C. Rajagopalachari
, V. V. Giri
and always helped liberally for Indian Independence Movement. The Yuvraj of Cutch, Vijayaraji
, used to come to his Allahbad mansion, to spend vacation along with his French Tennis coach and play Lawn Tennis in his private court.
During his stay in Calcutta for construction of Bally bridge, through his friends Lira Raja Rathod of Khambhra
and Devram Jetha Jethwa of Sinugra
, he came in contact with Jeewanlal Motichand Shah, who owned a Aluminum Products factory named Jeevanlal & Company later named as Jeewanlal (1929) Limited. Jeewanlal Shah had decided to close his factory of Aluminum utensils, under the influence of Gandhiji, who said these utensils are not good for health. Jagmal Raja Chauhan, who was among top five industrialists in Bombay and had relations with Tata, Birla, Wadia, Walchand came to know that Lala Mukandlal was willing to sale Mukand Iron & Steel. Jagmal Raja persuaded Shah Jeewanlal Motichand to take over Mukand Iron & Steel Co., which he finally did after Gandhiji's blessings along with Jamnalal Bajaj
. Viren J. Shah
is son of Jeewnlal Shah. Thus he was instrumental in helping Jiwanlal Motilal Shah to take-over present day Mukand Ltd
.
at Jhusi near Allahbad. He also built and donated Hostel at Bhuj
, Cutch his native state in 1932.also built a boarding house for students at Poona in 1940. He also donated funds to start ambulance and to build hospitals. He has also built and donated a Hindu temple at Rajkot.At his native village Nagor
, Kutch he had built and donated a huge public garden, a Hindu temple, a housing colony for Harijan
s, several wells and also a 10 km long pucca road from Nagor to Bhuj. His ancestral home still stands there.
Works as Railway Contractor
His father Raja Narayan Chauhan was also a noted Railway Contractor. Raja Narayan of NagorNagor
Nagor or Nagher is a village in Bhuj Taluka of Kutch at a distance of about 8 km from Bhuj town, the capital of Kachchh District of Gujarat in India.-History:...
with Mulji Meghji of Nagor in 1903 together built bridge over Yamuna at Agra
Agra
Agra a.k.a. Akbarabad is a city on the banks of the river Yamuna in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, India, west of state capital, Lucknow and south from national capital New Delhi. With a population of 1,686,976 , it is one of the most populous cities in Uttar Pradesh and the 19th most...
. Jagmal Raja Chauhan carried on father's legacy. Some of his Railway contract works are in 1904 - railway track from Bulandshahr to Hapur
Hapur
Hapur is a city with a population of 216,100 located 65 kilometers east of the capital of India and noted as manufacturing hub of making Stainless Steel Pipes and Tubes, Hapur is also famous for paper cones and tubes....
, 1904- Shahdara
Shahdara
Shahdara , is an area in Delhi, named so because of being established by Mughal Emperor, Shahjahan, is a part of Delhi region in India, situated at the bank of Yamuna river.It is one of the oldest established regions of Delhi and one of the important part of what is known as Purani Dilli...
to Saharanpur
Saharanpur
Saharanpur is a city and a Municipal Corporation in the state of Uttar Pradesh in northern India. It is the administrative headquarters of Saharanpur District as well as Saharanpur Division...
, 1906 - Aligarh Station, in 1906 -Balmau to Sitapur
Sitapur
Sitapur formerly spelled as Citapore is a town and a municipal board in Sitapur district in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. It is in the Lucknow Division of Uttar Pradesh...
, 1908 - Allahbad Ganges Railway Bridge construction, 1911 - Allahbad Yamnua Bridge doubling, 1912 - Kanpur to Banda including the bridge near Hamirpur
Hamirpur, Uttar Pradesh
Hamirpur is a city and a municipal board in Hamirpur district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is the administrative headquarters of Hamirpur District.-Geography:...
over Yamuna, 1913 - Hooghly
Hugli-Chuchura
Hugli-Chuchura is a city in the state of West Bengal, India. It lies on the Hooghly River, 35 km north of Kolkata . It is located in the district of Hugli and is home to the district headquarters. Chuchura houses the Commissioner of the Burdwan Range...
- Katwa
Katwa
Katwa is the head quarters of Katwa subdivision in the district of Bardhaman, West Bengal. The area has a rural charm and natural beauty, but many trading and other business activities has made it clumsy and congested. It is mostly a middle class residential area.-History:The small town has a five...
section, 1913 - Jabalpur Gun Carriage
Gun Carriage Factory Jabalpur
Gun Carriage Factory Jabalpur, also known as G.C.F Jabalpur is a census town in Jabalpur district in the state of Madhya Pradesh, India. Located in the scenic surroundings of the Satpura Range, this small government township is built around its namesake defense establishment. It is about 3 km...
siding, 1914 - Mughalsarai
Mughalsarai
Mughalsarai is a city and a municipal board in Chandauli district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Located around 10 km from Varanasi, it is an important railway junction of the Indian Railways. Once, it enjoyed the position of the largest railway marshalling yard of Asia...
Yard extension, 1915 - Gaya
Gaya, India
Gaya is the second largest city of Bihar, India, and it is also the headquarters of Gaya District.Gaya is 100 kilometers south of Patna, the capital city of Bihar. Situated on the banks of Falgu River , it is a place sanctified by both the Hindu and the Buddhist religions...
- Katras
Katras
Katras is a town equivalent to a city in terms of facilities and a notified area in Dhanbad district in the Indian state of Jharkhand.-Geography:Katras is located at . It has an average elevation of 201 metres .-Demographics:...
doubling, 1916 - Gaya
Gaya, India
Gaya is the second largest city of Bihar, India, and it is also the headquarters of Gaya District.Gaya is 100 kilometers south of Patna, the capital city of Bihar. Situated on the banks of Falgu River , it is a place sanctified by both the Hindu and the Buddhist religions...
yard extension, 1922- Dhanbad
Dhanbad
Dhanbad features climate that is transitional between a humid subtropical climate and a tropical wet and dry climate. Summer starts from last week of March and ends in mid-June. Peak temperature in summer can reach 47oC. Dhanbad also receives heavy rainfall...
Yard extension, 1924 - Calcutta Kidderpore
Kidderpore
Khidirpur or Kidderpore is a neighbourhood of metropolitan Kolkata . Located in the central-west part of the city, it is bounded by the districts of Alipore in the east, Ekbalpore in the south, Hastings in the north, Metiabruz in the south-west and the Hooghly River in the west.-History:One of the...
Docks extension, 1925 - Dehri-on-sone bridge, 1927- Bridge over Son River
Son River
Son River of central India is the largest of the Ganges' southern tributaries. A British 1850s diary shows that the river was written in English as Soane.-Course:...
near Arrah
Arrah
Arrah is a city and a municipal corporation in Bhojpur district in the state of Bihar, India. The actual name of Arrah is Ara but it was misspelt by the British and now corrected to Ara but still known as Arrah in many records. It is the district headquarters of Bhojpur district, located near the...
, 1927 - Allahbad Yamuna
Yamuna
The Yamuna is the largest tributary river of the Ganges in northern India...
bridge re-girding (in 1911 he had done doubling of same bridge). In 1926, Rai Bahadur Jagmal Raja of Nagor
Nagor
Nagor or Nagher is a village in Bhuj Taluka of Kutch at a distance of about 8 km from Bhuj town, the capital of Kachchh District of Gujarat in India.-History:...
started construction of Bally Bridge in Calcutta, which he completed in 1932. In all the Railway Contracts done by him, his partners and sub-contractors were Railway Contractors from his own community - Mistris of Kutch.
He built numerous railway lines and Railway bridges in India and was given title of Rao Bahadur
Rao Bahadur
Rao Bahadur was a title of honour issued in British India to individuals who had performed great service to the nation....
in 1923 at a function held in Shimla
Shimla
Shimla , formerly known as Simla, is the capital city of Himachal Pradesh. In 1864, Shimla was declared the summer capital of the British Raj in India. A popular tourist destination, Shimla is often referred to as the "Queen of Hills," a term coined by the British...
, summer Capital of British India by Viceroy of India, Rufus Isaacs, 1st Marquess of Reading
Rufus Isaacs, 1st Marquess of Reading
Rufus Isaacs, 1st Marquess of Reading, GCB, GCSI, GCIE, GCVO, PC, KC , was an English lawyer, jurist and politician...
. His construction of Bally Bridge was noted.Although, he had studied up to fifth standard in his native village ( Nagor
Nagor
Nagor or Nagher is a village in Bhuj Taluka of Kutch at a distance of about 8 km from Bhuj town, the capital of Kachchh District of Gujarat in India.-History:...
), he had the distinction of being conferred with Degree of AEIE (UK) on recommendation of Viceroy of India, Lord Irwin
E. F. L. Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax
Edward Frederick Lindley Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax, , known as The Lord Irwin from 1925 until 1934 and as The Viscount Halifax from 1934 until 1944, was one of the most senior British Conservative politicians of the 1930s, during which he held several senior ministerial posts, most notably as...
. Before that in the years 1924 to 1927, he completed the extension King George VI Docks for Calcutta Port Trust at Khiddirpore at Calcutta.The Bally Bridge was named Willingdon Bridge after Viceroy of India, Freeman Freeman-Thomas, 1st Marquess of Willingdon
Freeman Freeman-Thomas, 1st Marquess of Willingdon
Major Freeman Freeman-Thomas, 1st Marquess of Willingdon was a British Liberal politician and administrator who served as Governor General of Canada, the 13th since Canadian Confederation, and as Viceroy and Governor-General of India, the country's 22nd.Freeman-Thomas was born in England and...
, who inaugurated it. The British acknowledged the feat of Jagmal Raja, by naming the first train that ran across Willingdon Bridge as Jagmal Raja Howrah Express. The name plates mentioning Erection & Construction done by Rai Bahadur Jagmal Raja, Allahbad, can still be seen rivetted on each grider of Bally Bridge.His life sketch is also mentioned in Encyclopaedia Britanica and Book of World Knowledge.
In 1932 on completion of Bally Bridge, Jagmal Raja was recommended by Viceroy of India to King of Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
, who needed Contractor of repute to do renovation and rehabilitation of his Palaces & temples. He was given the Contract for the same and Parbat Harji Chauhan, Karaman Devji Chauhan both of Kukma
Kukma
Kukma or Kookma is a village near the Bhuj town, taluka in Kachchh District of Indian State of Gujarat. It is located at a distance of 16 kilometers from Bhuj, the headquarters of Kachchh District.-History:...
and Manji Shivjee of Madhapar
Madhapar
Madhapar is a large village located in south western Kutch district in the state of Gujarat, India. Bhuj is the regional hub of the town where the nearest airport exists...
were delegated by Jagmal Raja to supervise and complete the work.
Further, in year 1924 the extension of Calcutta Port Trust
Kolkata Port Trust
The Port of Kolkata is a riverine port in the city of Kolkata, India. It is the oldest operating port in India, having originally been constructed by the British East India Company....
at Khiddirpore in Calcutta was made by building a new dock named the "King George Dockyard", which was done by Rai Bahadur Jagmal Raja Chauhan with Bhimjee Pancha Chauhan & Mavji Punja Chauhan, all from Nagor
Nagor
Nagor or Nagher is a village in Bhuj Taluka of Kutch at a distance of about 8 km from Bhuj town, the capital of Kachchh District of Gujarat in India.-History:...
. This work was completed in 1927 and the dock has now been re-named as "Netaji Subhas Docks".
As Industrialist
He was also a pioneer in Glass and ceramic industry in India and founded Allahbad Glass Factory at NainiNaini
Naini is a satellite locality/township of the city of Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India in the south-east.-History:Naini was infamous for its prison, Naini Jail, where many freedom fighters—including Pt...
in 1912 and later Bombay Glass Works at Bombay in 1930 and Raja Glass Works at Sodepur
Sodepur
Sodepur is a small town yet very fast growing upmarket residencial suburb located about 15 km from Kolkata, which is one of the major Indian cities. Sodepur is a part of the Panihati Municipality under Barrackpore sub-division and North 24 Parganas district of the state of West Bengal...
. In 1941 he was conferred Fellowship along with John Northwood and Pandit Vishnu Datta for their contributions to glass and ceramic industry of world. Among his other industrial venture were a paper board factory at Dahanu
Dahanu
Dahanu is a coastal city and a municipal council in Thane district in the western state of Maharashtra, India.-The Town:The name "Dahanu Gaon" originates from the word "Dhenu Gram" meaning the village of cows. A lot of cattle, particularly cows were owned by the people in Dahanu. Today, Dahanu...
named Dahanu Straw Products, Sanitaryware factory at Derol
Derol Station
Derol Station is a rail station near the village Derol and connected to Kalol, which is a municipality in Panchmahal district in the Indian state of Gujarat.- Geography :Derol Station is located at ....
named Gujarat Pottery Works (1932) Pvt. Ltd., aromatics unit named Hindustan Aromatics, Insurance company named Indian Globe Insurance Co and he also owned a finance company, tiles factory, fire clay factory & export business. He also ventured into packaged food and pickle export business. He was also Chairman of Zandu Pharmaceutical
Zandu Realty
Zandu Realty Limited is an international pharmaceutical company based in Mumbai, India. Company's core business of manufacturing and dealing in ayurvedic and medicinal preparations.-History:...
for several years. He also owned a Steam Navigation Company named Ambica Steam Navigation Co., which operated in western coast of India and Airlines Company name Ambica Airlines, which operated on Bombay - Bhuj
Bhuj
Bhuj is a city and a municipality in Kachchh district in the state of Gujarat, India.-History:It was established by Rao Hamirji in 1510 and was made the state capital by Rao Khengarji I in 1549. Its foundation stone as state capital laid formally on Vikram Samvat 1604 Maagha 5th...
- Rajkot - Jamnagar
Jamnagar
Jamnagar is a city and a municipal corporation in Jamnagar district in the Indian state of Gujarat. The city was built up substantially by Maharaja Kumar Shri Ranjitsinhji in the 1920s, when the district was known as Nawanagar. The district lies just to the south of the Gulf of Kutch and is...
air route.
Personal life
He had residence, offices and factories both at Allahbad and Bombay and his personal mansions at both cities. Like many members of his community ( KGK Community ), he also owned Rajapur Colliery at JhariaJharia
Jharia is a notified area and one of eight development blocks in Dhanbad district in Jharkhand state, India. More than one town in India shares this name.- City :...
, which he held in partnership with Manji Jeram Rathod of Madhapar
Madhapar
Madhapar is a large village located in south western Kutch district in the state of Gujarat, India. Bhuj is the regional hub of the town where the nearest airport exists...
.He also owned Silica mines at Bargad in Shankargarh
Shankargarh
Shankargarh is a town and a nagar panchayat in Allahabad district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.-Demographics: the India census, Shankargarh had a population of 13,116. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Shankargarh has an average literacy rate of 61%, higher than the...
.
He shared personal friendship with Maharao of Cutch, Khengarji III and was personal ADC
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
to him in Coronation ceremony of King George VI
George VI of the United Kingdom
George VI was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until his death...
in 1937. He was the only person from any community of Kutch, who had the privilege of being ADC to Maharao Khengarji III. Khenharji Bawa as a mark of his friendship, honored Jagmal Raja, by his presence, when Degree of Engineering was conferred upon him in London. Cutch Castle at Bombay belonging to Royal family of Cutch, was built by Jagmal Raja upon his personal insistence.Apart from Maharao of Cutch, he held friendly relations with Viceroy Lord Irwin, Raja of Shankargarh
Shankargarh
Shankargarh is a town and a nagar panchayat in Allahabad district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.-Demographics: the India census, Shankargarh had a population of 13,116. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Shankargarh has an average literacy rate of 61%, higher than the...
, Jam of Rajkot, Jam Sahib of Jamnagar
Jamnagar
Jamnagar is a city and a municipal corporation in Jamnagar district in the Indian state of Gujarat. The city was built up substantially by Maharaja Kumar Shri Ranjitsinhji in the 1920s, when the district was known as Nawanagar. The district lies just to the south of the Gulf of Kutch and is...
, Rana of Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
and Raja of Rewa
Rewa
Rewa may refer to:*Rewa Province, Fiji*Rewa, Poland*Rewa's Village, a community project in Kerikeri, New Zealand, named after a Maori chief*Rewa F.C...
to name a few.
He was very close with Motilal Nehru
Motilal Nehru
Motilal Nehru was an early Indian independence activist and leader of the Indian National Congress, who remained Congress President twice, and...
and Jawaharlal Nehru
Jawaharlal Nehru
Jawaharlal Nehru , often referred to with the epithet of Panditji, was an Indian statesman who became the first Prime Minister of independent India and became noted for his “neutralist” policies in foreign affairs. He was also one of the principal leaders of India’s independence movement in the...
and marriage procession of both the daughters of Motilal Nehru – Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit
Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit
Vijaya Lakshmi Nehru Pandit was an Indian diplomat and politician, the sister of Jawaharlal Nehru, the aunt of Indira Gandhi and the great-aunt of Rajiv Gandhi, all of whom served as Prime Minister of India.In 1921 she married Ranjit Sitaram Pandit, who died on 14 January 1944...
& Krishna Hutheesing
Krishna Hutheesing
Krishna Nehru Hutheesing was an Indian writer, the youngest sister of Jawaharlal Nehru and Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit, and part of the Nehru-Gandhi family.-Biography:...
had started from his mansion at M.G. Road in Allahbad. He once participated in elections from Allahbad.His residential palace at M.G Road in Allahbad, was spread in acres and built like a royal palace, as a repllica of Prag Mahal
Prag Mahal
The Prag Mahal is a 19th-century palace located next to the Aina Mahal in Bhuj, Gujarat, India. It was commissioned by Rao Pragmalji II, and construction began in 1865. It was designed by Colonel Henry Saint Wilkins in the Italian Gothic style, and many Italian artisans were involved in its...
of Bhuj
Bhuj
Bhuj is a city and a municipality in Kachchh district in the state of Gujarat, India.-History:It was established by Rao Hamirji in 1510 and was made the state capital by Rao Khengarji I in 1549. Its foundation stone as state capital laid formally on Vikram Samvat 1604 Maagha 5th...
. Remnants of his palace can still be seen in the city.
Besides Nehru family he also held personal relationship with Malviyaji, Gandhiji, Sardar Patel, Lal Bahadur Shastri
Lal Bahadur Shastri
Lal Bahadur Srivastava Shastri was the second Prime Minister of the Republic of India and a significant figure in the Indian independence movement.-Early life:...
, C. Y. Chintamani
C. Y. Chintamani
Sir C.Y. Chintamani was an Indian editor, journalist, liberal politician and parliamentarian of the early 20th century. He was born on Telugu new year day at Vizianagaram, Andhra Pradesh, India. He was called "Pope of Indian Journalism" by Sri V.S...
, Dr. Rajendra Prasad
Rajendra Prasad
Dr. Rajendra Prasad was an Indian politician and educator. He was one of the architects of the Indian Republic, having drafted its first constitution and serving as the first president of independent India...
, C. Rajagopalachari
C. Rajagopalachari
Chakravarti Rajagopalachari , informally called Rajaji or C.R., was an Indian lawyer, independence activist, politician, writer and statesman. Rajagopalachari was the last Governor-General of India...
, V. V. Giri
V. V. Giri
Varahagiri Venkata Giri , commonly known as V. V. Giri, was the fourth President of the Republic of India from 24 August 1969 to 23 August 1974.-Early life:...
and always helped liberally for Indian Independence Movement. The Yuvraj of Cutch, Vijayaraji
Vijayaraji
H.H. Maharajadhiraj Mirza Maharao Sri Vijayaraji Khengarji Sawai Bahadur was the ruling Maharao of the princely state of Kutch from 1942 to his death in 1948....
, used to come to his Allahbad mansion, to spend vacation along with his French Tennis coach and play Lawn Tennis in his private court.
During his stay in Calcutta for construction of Bally bridge, through his friends Lira Raja Rathod of Khambhra
Khambhra
Khambhra or Khamra is a village near the town Anjar and the taluka of Kutch district in the Indian state of Gujarat. The village is eight kilometres from the nearest town, Anjar.-History:...
and Devram Jetha Jethwa of Sinugra
Sinugra
Sinugra or Shinoogra or Sinogra or Sinougra is a village near the town of Anjar, the taluka of Kutch district in the Indian state of Gujarat. The village is located 7 km from the nearest city Anjar...
, he came in contact with Jeewanlal Motichand Shah, who owned a Aluminum Products factory named Jeevanlal & Company later named as Jeewanlal (1929) Limited. Jeewanlal Shah had decided to close his factory of Aluminum utensils, under the influence of Gandhiji, who said these utensils are not good for health. Jagmal Raja Chauhan, who was among top five industrialists in Bombay and had relations with Tata, Birla, Wadia, Walchand came to know that Lala Mukandlal was willing to sale Mukand Iron & Steel. Jagmal Raja persuaded Shah Jeewanlal Motichand to take over Mukand Iron & Steel Co., which he finally did after Gandhiji's blessings along with Jamnalal Bajaj
Jamnalal Bajaj
Jamnalal Bajaj was an Indian industrialist, a philanthropist, and Indian independence fighter. He was also a close associate and follower of Mahatma Gandhi. Gandhi is known to have adopted him as his son. Several institutions in India bears his name, including the Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of...
. Viren J. Shah
Viren J. Shah
Viren J. Shah is a former Governor of the Indian State of West Bengal. Mr. Shah is a Former Treasurer of the Bharatiya Janata Party. He was a member of Lok Sabha from 1967 to 1970 and of Rajya Sabha during 1975 -1981 and 1990-1996. Mr. Shah is Chairman Emeritus of Mukand Steel, a steel and...
is son of Jeewnlal Shah. Thus he was instrumental in helping Jiwanlal Motilal Shah to take-over present day Mukand Ltd
Mukand Ltd
Mukand Ltd India based manufacturer of stainless steel, alloy steel, stainless steel billets, exporter of hot rolled bars. The company is engaged in general engineering work and manufactures iron & steel products, steel castings, steel structurals, EOT and other cranes, and various types of...
.
Charities
He built an ashramAshram
Traditionally, an ashram is a spiritual hermitage. Additionally, today the term ashram often denotes a locus of Indian cultural activity such as yoga, music study or religious instruction, the moral equivalent of a studio or dojo....
at Jhusi near Allahbad. He also built and donated Hostel at Bhuj
Bhuj
Bhuj is a city and a municipality in Kachchh district in the state of Gujarat, India.-History:It was established by Rao Hamirji in 1510 and was made the state capital by Rao Khengarji I in 1549. Its foundation stone as state capital laid formally on Vikram Samvat 1604 Maagha 5th...
, Cutch his native state in 1932.also built a boarding house for students at Poona in 1940. He also donated funds to start ambulance and to build hospitals. He has also built and donated a Hindu temple at Rajkot.At his native village Nagor
Nagor
Nagor or Nagher is a village in Bhuj Taluka of Kutch at a distance of about 8 km from Bhuj town, the capital of Kachchh District of Gujarat in India.-History:...
, Kutch he had built and donated a huge public garden, a Hindu temple, a housing colony for Harijan
Harijan
Harijan was a term used by Gandhi for Dalits. Gandhi said it was wrong to call people 'untouchable', and called them Harijans, which means children of God...
s, several wells and also a 10 km long pucca road from Nagor to Bhuj. His ancestral home still stands there.
See Also
- Contributions of Mistris of Kutch in History of Indian Railways in British India