The orphan man was once Bombay’s biggest merchant, received ‘Knight’ title by Queen Victoria, donated all his money to… he was…

In 19th-century India, creating a name for both trade and social service was a challenging task. However, an orphaned Parsi boy, Indian, was able to create history through hard work, vision, and benevolence. His name was Jamsetjee Jeejeebhoy.

Jamsetjee was born on July 15, 1783, in Bombay (now Mumbai) to a common Parsi family. After the early death of both parents, Jamsetjee lived with his uncle. Born into poverty and a lack of formal education, Jamsetjee carved out his life through sheer willpower and intellect.

Jamsetjee Jeejeebhoy was just 15 years old when he entered the world of commerce. He initially worked with his uncle to gain experience in the trade of opium and cotton. A few years in, he started his own company and expanded his trade overseas, including to China. Before long, he was one of the leading merchants of Bombay (now Mumbai) and well-respected.

However, Jamsetjee Jeejeebhoy was not solely known as a prosperous businessman. He invested many years of his life in social service. His legacy rests in the creation of the JJ Hospital and the JJ School of Art, both of which he financed to a very considerable degree.

Jamsetjee’s philanthropy extended beyond the Parsi community, but he assisted people of all religions and communities. He set up dharamshalas (rest houses), schools, orphanages, and other educational facilities. The sum of money he contributed in those days was in lakhs of rupees, a sum that would be equivalent to probably crores today, and an extraordinary legacy of generosity and social service.

In 1842, he was knighted by Queen Victoria and in 1857 given a hereditary baronetcy; in both cases he was the first Indian subject to receive these honours, as reported by the Royal Collection Trust’s official website. Sir Jamsetjee Jeejeebhoy has been described as ‘the most famous Parsi of his time and perhaps the first famous non-European colonial subject’ because of his honours and public charity.

According to the Sir JJ School of Arts, after a preliminary visit to Calcutta, he undertook a voyage to China, then fraught with so much difficulty and risk that it was regarded as a venture betokening considerable enterprise and courage; and he subsequently initiated a systematic trade with that country, being himself the carrier of his merchant wares on his passages to and fro between Bombay and Canton and Shanghai.

“His second return voyage from China was made in one of the East India Company’s fleet, which, under the command of Sir Nathaniel Dance, defeated the French squadron under Admiral Linois (Feb. 15, 1804),” reads the official website of Sir JJ School of Arts.

It further added, “The total of his known benefactions amounted at the time of his death, which took place in 1859, to over 230,000. It was not, however, the amount of his charities so much as the period and circumstances in which they were performed that made his benevolent career worthy of the fame he won.”

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