Seth Edulji Dinshaw
Encyclopedia
Seth Edulji Dinshaw was one of the foremost philanthropist
s from prepartition
Karachi
. A member of the Parsi
community, he made his initial fortune during the Second Afghan War (1878–1881) by being a contractor for the British Army
. He then took his wealth and invested it in land and factories which reaped him huge rewards. By the late nineteenth century, he owned around half of the city of Karachi, and the local government is believed to have placed an informal ban on his acquiring any more. His enterprises included a factory for pressing cotton and wool for export and an ice factory. He also had substantial landholdings in Mumbai.
(KPT) and a member of Karachi Municipal Corporation (KMC). For his services to the public, in 1899 he became the first recipient of the C.I.E.award in the city.
, he died at sea, near Port Said
, Egypt
.
continued his philanthropic ways. In recognition of the contribution of Edulji Dinshaw and his son Nadirshaw Edulji Dinshaw
to the city of Karachi, statues of them were placed at the intersection of Karachi's main roads in the 1930s. When unveiling the statute of Edulji Dinshaw, Sir Frederick Sykes remarked that 'It is peculiarly appropriate that the city of Karachi should choose Mr Edulji Dinshaw as a fitting subject to be honoured by the erection of a statue in one of the most imposing and important sites in the whole town, for he had the vision to recognise fully the possibilities of greatness that the city held and also contributed very largely himself to developing it.' After partition, the statues were removed, and can now be seen in the grounds of the Karachi Parsi Institute.
His second son, Framroze Edulji Dinshaw (known as FE Dinshaw
) went on to become one of prepartition India's most prominent businessmen and lawyers.
His grandson Hoshang NE Dinshaw
, who was Nadirshaw Edulji Dinshaw
's oldest son, played an important part in the economic development of Pakistan, including as the President of the Central Board of Directors of the National Bank of Pakistan.
The descendants of Seth Edulji Dinshaw have kept up his philanthropic tradition. The Edulji Dinshaw family remains particularly noted for their charitable donations, especially to non-Parsis.
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
s from prepartition
Partition of India
The Partition of India was the partition of British India on the basis of religious demographics that led to the creation of the sovereign states of the Dominion of Pakistan and the Union of India on 14 and 15...
Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
. A member of the Parsi
Parsi
Parsi or Parsee refers to a member of the larger of the two Zoroastrian communities in South Asia, the other being the Irani community....
community, he made his initial fortune during the Second Afghan War (1878–1881) by being a contractor for the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
. He then took his wealth and invested it in land and factories which reaped him huge rewards. By the late nineteenth century, he owned around half of the city of Karachi, and the local government is believed to have placed an informal ban on his acquiring any more. His enterprises included a factory for pressing cotton and wool for export and an ice factory. He also had substantial landholdings in Mumbai.
Philanthropy
He donated large sums of money for various charitable works which benefited both his own community as well as the general public at large. These included:Hospitals and dispensaries
- Lady Dufferin HospitalLady Dufferin HospitalLady Dufferin Hospital is located in Karachi, Sindh, and it is the largest women's hospital in Pakistan. The hospital, which was completed in 1898, was named after the British peeress Lady Dufferin. Benazir Bhutto, the former Prime Minister of Pakistan, gave bith to a girl in the hospital in...
. When the Vicerene, Lady Dufferin, collected funds to build a hospital in Karachi in 1884, she collected Rs 10,000 from the whole population of the city. Edulji Dinshaw, personally, gave Rs 85,000. - Edulji Dinshaw Dispensary. In 1882, Edulji Dinshaw commissioned the architect James Strachan to build an Italianate charitable dispensary in Saddar in Karachi - the dispensary still functions today.
- Nadirshaw Edulji DinshawNadirshaw Edulji DinshawNadirshaw Edulji Dinshaw was the eldest son of the Karachi landowner and philanthropist Seth Edulji Dinshaw. He lived in Karachi, Sind, British India . When his studies were complete, he entered the family business in land and factories...
Dispensary
Parsi community
- The Bachubai Edulji Dinshaw Nirashrit Fund
- The Soonabai Edulji Dinshaw Charitable Fund
Education
In 1885 and again in 1887, he gave Rs. 3000/- towards the college fund of Sind Art College in Karachi.Other involvements
He was a Director of Land and Shipping Co and a delegate of the Parsi Matrimonial Court. He was also a Trustee of the Karachi Port TrustKarachi Port Trust
Karachi Port Trust is a Pakistani federal government agency that oversees the operations of the Port of Karachi in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan.-History:...
(KPT) and a member of Karachi Municipal Corporation (KMC). For his services to the public, in 1899 he became the first recipient of the C.I.E.award in the city.
Death
On 8 May 1914, while on his way to EnglandEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, he died at sea, near Port Said
Port Said
Port Said is a city that lies in north east Egypt extending about 30 km along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, north of the Suez Canal, with an approximate population of 603,787...
, Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
.
Family
His first son Nadirshaw Edulji DinshawNadirshaw Edulji Dinshaw
Nadirshaw Edulji Dinshaw was the eldest son of the Karachi landowner and philanthropist Seth Edulji Dinshaw. He lived in Karachi, Sind, British India . When his studies were complete, he entered the family business in land and factories...
continued his philanthropic ways. In recognition of the contribution of Edulji Dinshaw and his son Nadirshaw Edulji Dinshaw
Nadirshaw Edulji Dinshaw
Nadirshaw Edulji Dinshaw was the eldest son of the Karachi landowner and philanthropist Seth Edulji Dinshaw. He lived in Karachi, Sind, British India . When his studies were complete, he entered the family business in land and factories...
to the city of Karachi, statues of them were placed at the intersection of Karachi's main roads in the 1930s. When unveiling the statute of Edulji Dinshaw, Sir Frederick Sykes remarked that 'It is peculiarly appropriate that the city of Karachi should choose Mr Edulji Dinshaw as a fitting subject to be honoured by the erection of a statue in one of the most imposing and important sites in the whole town, for he had the vision to recognise fully the possibilities of greatness that the city held and also contributed very largely himself to developing it.' After partition, the statues were removed, and can now be seen in the grounds of the Karachi Parsi Institute.
His second son, Framroze Edulji Dinshaw (known as FE Dinshaw
FE Dinshaw
FE Dinshaw, Framroze Edulji Dinshaw, was the second son of the Karachi landowner and philanthropist Seth Edulji Dinshaw, and was one of prepartition India's most prominent businessmen and lawyers. He died in January 1936.-Landholdings:...
) went on to become one of prepartition India's most prominent businessmen and lawyers.
His grandson Hoshang NE Dinshaw
Hoshang NE Dinshaw
Hoshang NE Dinshaw was the eldest son of the Karachi landowner Nadirshaw Edulji Dinshaw, and grandson of the renowned philanthropist Seth Edulji Dinshaw...
, who was Nadirshaw Edulji Dinshaw
Nadirshaw Edulji Dinshaw
Nadirshaw Edulji Dinshaw was the eldest son of the Karachi landowner and philanthropist Seth Edulji Dinshaw. He lived in Karachi, Sind, British India . When his studies were complete, he entered the family business in land and factories...
's oldest son, played an important part in the economic development of Pakistan, including as the President of the Central Board of Directors of the National Bank of Pakistan.
The descendants of Seth Edulji Dinshaw have kept up his philanthropic tradition. The Edulji Dinshaw family remains particularly noted for their charitable donations, especially to non-Parsis.
Further reading
- The Karachi Zoroastrian Calendar, A record of Important Events in the Growth of the Parsi Community in Karachi. compiled by Jehangir Framroze Punthakey, Translated English version. Reprinted in 1996.