Haji Paroo Pradhan migrated from Bhuj, Kutchh to Zanzibar with his brother Jaffer Paroo in 1850, where he established a small general store in 1852. He made a little but steady progress and opened a branch store at Bagamoyo in 1860. One of the four children of Haji Paroo Pradhan was Sewa Haji Paroo, who was born in 1851, and received his initial exposure to the business world while working for his father.
Sewa's apprenticed came to an unexpected, abrupt and when his two brothers died in 1869, he was consigned the charge of Haji Kanji & Co. During the sixties the firm began supplying caravans with trade goods, such as cloth, beads, copper wire and brass pots and was in turn purchasing ivory, rhino horns and hippo teeth.

The increment in the strength of caravans utilizing Bagamoyo in 1870 induced Sewa Haji to include the recruitment of Wapagazi among the services offered. Financing caravans led by Arabs or Swahilis completed his involvement in virtually every phase of long distance trade and successful management brought him both profits and notoriety. Some Europeans who dealt with him had rather acrimonious comments about this style of operating. But even those who deprecated him spoke of his energy and ability to get the job done. In 1871, he encountered Henry Stanley who made some disparaging remarks about him. Yet a few years later, when Henry Stanley was launching an expedition to Congo, he recommended that an advance man 'should be sent to Bagamoyo to arrange with the Hindi Saywa (Haji Sewa) respecting the Wanyamweiz and a house as soon as possible.'

Sewa Haji had also established a branch of his caravan business at Zanzibar. He was involved in the arms trade. In those days, Bagamoyo served as a major coastal funnel for guns, powder and ammunition into the interior. He estimated that ten thousand guns were transported annually from Bagamoyo to Unanyemble. He, either operating alone or in partnership with Europeans, began to control a large percentage of this trade. Even after competing the German firms had established branches in Bagamoyo, Sewa Haji continued to be a major arms importer. He was the first Asian to receive a honorific title from the German Government.

He never did think in narrow, limited business terms. His association with Sultan Sayed Hamid bin Thwain for whom he was 'chief Indian creditor' in 1896 exemplified his outlook. On May 6, 1896, the two signed a contract of ten years, '....by which His Highness agrees that Siva Haji is to sell all the crops, consisting of coconuts, cloves and clove-stems, grown on the Government shambas situated both in Zanzibar and Pemba, Siva Haji shall try his best to obtain the best prices current in the town, or more, and he is to receive a commission on everything he sells of 5 percent.......Siva Haji has the sole monopoly to sell the said Government product, and no one else can do so until the expiration of said period....' This contract however remained in force for nine months.

From the beginning of his career, he had been a religious man and a leader. He was also noted for his philanthropy. In his will, he had expressed that all the houses located in Dar-es-Salaam and Bagamoyo should go to the German government with the stipulation that the income was to be used in providing food to the lepers. Its income must also be paid to the Bagamoyo hospital. In the early 1880, he purchased few stone houses. It was his expressed desire that a hospital for the destitute and infirm should be erected on the site.

He had a deep concern and respect for education. In October, 1892 he donated a multi-storied building as a school for Indian and African children. It remained in operation until October, 1895, when the government took it over, hired a German instructor and organized a broader curriculum. The 'Shiva Haji Hospital' in Dar-es-Salaam stands as a monument to his philanthropy and invaluable services. Later on, the hospital was annexed to Princess Margaret Hospital.

He died in February, 1891 in Zanzibar. The mission journal recorded that, 'He had been in extraordinary good humor.' The Christian missionaries at Bagamoyo used to call him 'our generous friend'. Eight days after his death, an entry was placed in the mission journal that, 'This devoted friend of the mission will not forget (us) in his last wishes.'

He was originally from Salamia, Syria where he was born most probably in 1835. He was the second Mukhi for Salamia Jamatkhana in Syria, appointed by Imam Sultan Muhammad Shah in 1895. He had acquired deep religious education during his stay in India. The Imam ordered him to introduce some ceremonies in Syria. He had to face hurdles and hitches from his rivals, notably Himadi Umar, the head of the Momin Shahis, who secretly misguided the Ottoman authorities to arrest the Ismailis.
Mukhi Shaikh Ahmad and 12 leading Ismailis were arrested in 1901 in Salamia. Their houses were sealed and the records of correspondence with the Imam were seized. They were detained in Hamma, and were shifted to the prison of Damascus a few weeks later. After the preliminary hearings in 1901-2, they were put in trial before the Court of Appeal in 1903. They were charged with murder, attempted murder, use of violence in collecting religious dues to be sent to the Imam. They however withstood firmly in their commitments that they owned religious allegiance to the Imam, and denied the spiritual power of the Ottoman Sultan Abdul Hamid. They denied all these charges, pointing out that the accusations that they had committed crimes of violence had been brought by their enemies, were based on hearsay and on the unsubstantiated evidence of hostile witnesses, and were, in fact, falsehoods. They also insisted that they were law-abiding subjects of His Majesty, Sultan Abdul Hamid and reiterated that the power of their Imam were exclusively religions and he had no earthy ambitious. The same line of argument was pursued during the numerous sessions of the Appeals court. They accused and their counsel continued to protest their innocence, but the court would not listen to their pleading and convicted them for a treasonable procedure. The British Consul W.S. Richards, reporting on the trial in 1903, commented that the real guilt of the accused was in their denial of the Sultan's claim to the Imamate or caliphate, which of course, was not a crime recognized by the Penal Code.

In the late summer of 1903, Mukhi Shaikh Ahmad was sentenced to death. The decision of the court was forwarded to the Court of Cassation in Istanbul in 1904 for final confirmation. In May, 1905, the Damascus Court reconsidered the case and issued a new verdict, repudiating all the accused to life imprisonment in a fortress.

On May 19, 1905, Mukhi Shaikh Ahmad routed an urgent telegram to the Court of Cassation, wherein he boldly wrote of his faith on Ismailism, stating that the verdict was unfair and unjust. He also denied that his companions intended any harm to the state and concluded with the words, 'My weapons are divine knowledge and good works, and my task is the rejection of untruth and of false belief.' The Court of Cassation made no response to his appeal. He and his two companions however died shortly afterwards in prison. Soon after his death at the end of 1905, the Imam appointed his brother, Shaikh Nasr al-Muhammad as the next third Mukhi for Salamia Jamatkhana, who was also arrested with other 30 Ismailis in 1907 and was released on July 24, 1908, following the Constitutional Revolution in Turkey, proclaiming an amnesty. Mukhi Shaikh Nasr was however summoned in Istanbul to face a hearing, where he boldly defended himself. The court took a lenient attitude and he was exiled to Bursa in Turkey and was allowed to return to Syria after only six months.

It must be known that the Imam has summed up the above tragedy in 'The Memoirs of Aga Khan' (London, 1954, pp. 186-7) that, 'Under the Ottoman Empire, in the reign of Abdul Hamid, there was a considerable degree of persecution. Like several other minorities in his empire, they (Ismailis) suffered hardship, and many of their leaders endured imprisonment in the latter years of his despotic rule. With the Young Turk revolution, however, the period of persecution ended.'

He was born possibly in 1828, and was the first Mukhi for the Salamia Jamatkhana in Syria. It is related that a Syrian Ismaili delegation visited India in 1887 in search of the Imam of the time, finally reached Bombay and recognized the Imam. Mukhi Shaikh Suleman was also one of the members of the delegation. When he returned to Syria, he called a grand meeting at which all the leading Syrian Ismaili Shaikhs were present. He announced that their quest had been successful and that the Imam of the time had been found. Amid a general upsurge of enthusiasm, many of those present declared themselves ready to believe that Sultan Muhammad Shah was the true Imam. He had to face hurdles from those who had proclivity towards the Momin Shahis. He however remained steadfast and succeeded.
In an official letter of 1890, which was the first for the Syrian Ismailis, the Imam had declared his appointment to the office of Mukhi. The Imam also designated Amir Ismail bin Muhammad as his Estate Agent in Salamia. Mukhi Shaikh Suleman was a devoted person and helped the Ismailis with his own means and materials. In about 1892, the Imam also invested him with the title of Varas, the first among the Syrian Ismailis to be honored with this title. He died in 1895 while his visit to Bombay. His companion, Shaikh Ahmed al-Muhammad al-Hajj (1835-1905), was appointed the new Mukhi. Before returning to Syria, he was exhorted the doctrines and rituals of the Ismailis to be introduced in Syria.

He was born and raised in Vaghnagar, Kathiawar in 1883. He was a persuasive religious since childhood. His father, Ghulam Hussain Padamsi was once a famous hostage of Imam Hasan Ali Shah, who died on September 15, 1927.
Manji Ghulam Hussain came to Bombay in 1896 at the age of 13 years, and worked in his uncle's glassware shop, Saleh Muhammad Padamsi. He controlled the whole business after his uncle's death, brought it on steady progress, and became one of the business magnates in Bombay. He formed The Bombay Glassware Merchant Association in 1923 and became its first President till his death.

His appearance in the arena of community services began through the membership of the Panjibhai Club in Kandi Mola, Bombay and was soon appointed its Kamadia. He also served as the Hon. Auditor of the Ismaili Dharmik Library, Khadak, Bombay in 1905. He became the first honorary chief secretary of the Recreation Club Institute. He established the Kandi Mola Girls School on January 16, 1909 and served as Honorary Secretary with Rehmatullah Devji as a President.

He strove much to promote the notion of education amongst the girls and served many years in the Kandi Mola Girls School. It was his oft-repeated words, 'By educating a boy, one gets an educated individual; but by educating a girl, one gets an educated family. So long as girls are kept in the miserable ignorance, all the universities and colleges are a waste.' He would also say, 'Women are treated in society as a lifeless machine, incapable of participating with men in the pursuit of education. Let her world not be confined to her home, beyond which she does not know.'

He spent colossal amount for the marriages of girls who completed their education. He was also a member of the Ismaili Council. In 1922, he was made the member of the Supreme Council for Kathiawar, and in the same year, he was appointed the member of the Central Education Board for Kathiawar. In 1924, he became the President of the Supreme Council for Kathiawar, and also the President of the Central Education Board for Kathiawar. In the second grand conference of the councilors of the local and Supreme Councils for India, held on March 4, 1925 at Jodhpur, he was elected to preside over the conference. He was also a member of the cabinet council for The Aga Khan's Bombay Volunteer Corps. He was also generous and granted a princely fund for the premises of the Ismailia Central Free School in the name of his father, and for the new Jamatkhana of Sarthan

He died on November 24, 1925 at his Padamsi Seaview Bungalow, Bombay at 6.00 a.m. The Imam said at the Bombay Jamatkhana on January 22, 1926 that, 'I am sad for Manji's demise. He served me tremendously. His services are glorified in all places. He was a chief (sardar) in the Kathiawar Supreme Council.'

Master Hashim Bogha was born in Porebandar, India in 1863. He was intelligent and thus eager to get educated, but his poverty fated a hitch in his life. He however continued by hook and crook. He studied till late hours at night. Sometimes he stood several hours below a street-light to study when he had not a single penny to purchase kerosene for the lamp. Despite his down-trodden condition, he had his schooling upto matriculation.
In 1881, his fortune brought him in Bombay at the age of 18 years and joined Khan Muhammad Habib School as an assistant teacher in the English section.

Master Hashim Bogha was one of the most well read persons of his period and acquired adequate knowledge of Arabic, Persian, English, Gujrati, Sanskrit, Marathi and Sindhi. He was well skilled in the allegorical interpretations of the Holy Koran and Hadiths.

He was a devoted Ismaili and cemented his close contact with Mukhi Laljibhai Devraj (1842-1930) and Nainsibhai Pirbhai Muhammad Ruwala (1852-1924). The Imam had formed an education committee of these three persons to propagate the importance of education within the community. In 1901, they established a school in the compound of the Darkhana Jamatkhana in Bombay, where the students were given secular and religious education. Master Hashim taught religious education in the mornings and evenings for two hours. Another school also started in Kandi Mola, Bombay on January 16, 1909, where Master Hashim exhorted religious education.

During the course of his presidential speech at the 15th annual session of the All India Muhammaden Educational Conference held in 1902 at Delhi, the Imam said that there was no hard and fast injunction in Holy Koran regarding the practice of veil in Muslim society. Unfortunately, the Imam's speech was criticized negatively in the orthodox arena through newspapers. As a response to this criticism, Master Hashim Bogha girded his loins and justified the Imam's views with trenchant arguments in the local newspapers. Justice Badruddin Tayyib (1844-1909) was much touched with his rational arguments, and discarded the system of veil in his family. Nay, he also visited the house of Master Hashim Bogha and tendered his special congratulations.

In 1903, the Ismaili Literature Society also came into existence to enhance the notion of religious education. Mukhi Laljibhai Devraj became President with Wazir Virji Premji Parpiya (1881-1946) as Honorary Secretary. Master Hashim Bogha was appointed Supervisor. This small institution played a vital role in publishing religious literature.

The derogatory propaganda, defiling Ismailism was in vogue in those days, and a heap of articles poured down in periodicals. On that juncture, Master Hashim was alone to encounter the diabolic propaganda. When the rival camp did not desist, he produced a bulk of books with his meagre resources as a true fidai. Once his opponents filed a suit against him when he had no support to oppose it. He was not disheartened and succeeded to overcome it.

He was deeply engaged in his religious services and heeded nothing to accelerate his economical condition. He formed an Ismaili Book Agency, the only mean provided him bread and butter.

He however continued his study of Arabic and Persian, and issued several leaflets on different topics. He compiled the 'Ismaili Darpan' in 1906. It was the first book ever written on Ismaili history by any author in India. Hence, he merited himself the title of the first pioneer to publish Ismaili literature. He had a good collection of the Imam's farmans which he published in 1906, namely 'Bahr-i Rehmat' containing the farmans from 1903 to 1905, and was updated in 1911.

It exhausted his 15 precious years to translate the commentary of the old prayers into Gujrati. During the Haji Bibi Case in 1908, the need of the translation of an old prayer arose in court. He forwarded its copy to Justice Louis Pitman Russell in the court through Missionary Juma Bhagat Ismail (1868-1935) on August 5, 1908. The scholars in Arabic examined it and declared it a genuine translation. Thus, he published it in 1908 entitled, 'Tafsir- Dua.'

With the help of his colleagues, he carried the torch of learning to distant parts of India, and when the Ismaili schools on the same pattern started everywhere in India, the need of a syllabus arose for religious education. Mukhi Laljibhai Devraj formed a Text Book Committee with the inclusion of Master Hashim and Manji Ghulam Hussain. Master Hashim had a broad knowledge, he was confided to prepare a syllabus into four volumes, entitled 'Sindhi Chopadi'.

Despite his several engagements, he always stood steadfast in the literary deliberations. In 1907, Edlji Dhanji Kaba published a book, 'Hasan bin Sabbah' against the Ismailis. Master Hashim was confined to bed due to illness, but he compiled his 'Qatelal Hasad' within four hours, refuting the charges branded against Hasan bin Sabbah.

In 1908, when Ibrahim Jusab Varteji had not yet espoused Ismailism, Ahmed Devji, a veteran Ismaili leader was awarded the title of J.P. by British India. The Khoja Panjibhai Club hosted a reception for Ahmed Devji. Varteji was also invited, who took a chance to meet Master Hashim Bogha, whose immense knowledge deeply impressed him.

It is to be noted that the first girls school in Kandi Mola, Bombay established on January 16, 1909 amidst a rousing function attended by 200 guests. Master Hashim Bogha delivered an impressive speech on the importance of education.

According to the report of May 21, 1909, which splashed in the daily 'Bombay Samachar', the Twelvers hosted a grand honour to Jaffer Haji Mohammad Sharif in Jamnagar on May 15, 1909 for the building of 'Makam-i Jafferi' for their community. On that occasion, Ibrahim Jusab Varteji (who did yet not embraced Ismailism) lyrically expressed few verses before the audience. Unfortunately, the Ismaili faith was discredited in their programme. When Master Hashim Bogha mastered the philosophy of the Ismaili faith, he took his pen and bodly refuted the irrational allegations charged against Ismailism through the local newspaper. His arguments were endowed with potent reasons.

In 1911, a member of the Ismaili Council for Bombay told him to publish the approved rules and regulations of the Council into English and Gujrati and offered him a remuneration of Rs. 25/- Master Hashim laughed at him and said, 'How much will you earn while submitting the published copy to the Imam?' To this, the member surprisingly said, 'It is not a matter to astonish. I am doing it voluntarily for the community beyond any doubt.' Master Hashim said, 'The work you intend to assign me will cost no less than a hundred rupees. Since you work voluntarily, I also wish to share you, and will not claim a single penny for it.'

Master Hashim Bogha always received cooperation from Mukhi Laljibhai Devraj in the literary field, whom he respected as a father. He remained indebted to him for getting encouragement.

He died at the end of 1912 in Bombay. He had no child, therefore, his wife sustained on a small grocery shop at home. Upon his death, the members of the Ismaili Religious Library called an urgent meeting to pay tribute to his inestimable services, and passed a resolution that his photo should be kept in the library. Dr. Rajab Ali Ramji Lakhdhir, the President was assigned to send a copy of the minutes of the meeting to the Imam. Below his photo in the library, it was written into Gujrati that: 'The first Ismaili religious author in Gujrati.'

While returning from Europe in 1912, the Imam himself visited the library to perform the unveiling ceremony of his photo, and said: 'He was a very nice person, and rendered services with a true sense of spirit in the promulgation of religious education.' After a short while, the Imam became serious and said, 'Had there been five (persons like) Hashim Bogha, the entire world would have been enlightened with Ismailism. Alas! He was alone.'

He was a prolific and trenchant writer and compiled many books under the registration with British India as per the 25th Act of 1867. He began to publish the following books under the 'Shia Imami Ismaili Dharam Vardhak Gujrati Book Agency.'

Ismaili Darpan' (1906), 'Ismaili Prakash' Part I & II (1906-1907), 'Tafsir-i Dua' (1908), 'Ninda-i Haq' (1908), 'Qatelul Hasad' (1908), 'Taleem-i Dua' (1909), 'Tarbiat-i Dua' (1909), 'Nur-i Vahedaniat' Part I, II, & III (1909)Bahr-i Rehmat' (1911), etc. Nay, he also wrote 'Maqsad-i Haqiqat', 'Haqiqi Aino', 'Bostan-i Ali', 'Hu'n Konn Chhu'n?' etc.

He also published the following books under the 'Ismaili Book Agency'.

Jauhar-i Haqiqat' (1910), 'Asliat-i Khoja' (1912),
etc. Besides, he also brought out 'Zahoor-i Ali', 'Didar-i Ali', 'Bostan-i Marifat', 'Daniya Bhagaya Ismaili tara', 'Mazhar-i Ali', 'Hukka', etc.

His book Asliat-i Khoja (Origin of the Khojas) published few months before his death in 1912. It was in response to the 'Khoja Kom'ni Tawarikh' (1912) by Edlji Dhanji Kaba.

He was born in Badresar, Kutchh, in 1861. His father died when he was 3 years old. Dressed in rags, he arrived in Bombay in 1878 at the age of 17 years. He started to work in a shop, where the grams were baked in the oven, thus earning two rupees per month. He was honest and a hard worker, therefore, his monthly pay was raised to five rupees.
He was regular in attendance to the Jamatkhana with an unwavering faith in Ismailism. In those days, he purchased eight mangoes for one rupee and presented them in a mehmani to Imam Hasan Ali Shah in Bandra. The Imam accepted his humble offering and told a certain Sonbai, 'Give him one of the eight mangoes, and also one bread with sweet rice.' Sonbai gave him these three items, which he ate with his boss outside the premises. Both went to Dandi to have a didar of the Imam with the jamat.

He worked hard for three years. He passed his whole day working with others and baked grams at night to sell for buying bread. His will of iron and determination helped him in surmounting the hurdles and put his petty business on the line of steady progress. In 1880, he erected his own shop at old Hammam Street, Bombay, and made further progress very soon.

He got married at the end of 1881 and got all favours from his wife. In 1900, he opened his office of estate agency and became a broker of houses, buildings and plots in Bombay. In sum, he was able to earn Rs. 50,000/- during the last 20 years.

In 1901, he also purchased the Master Flour Mill in a partnership. His partner severed from him after six months. He was now a sole owner of the mill, named, Prince Flour Mill. Imam Sultan Muhammad Shah visited the mill and graced him much blessings for more progress.

In 1913, he was appointed the Mukhi of Bombay Darkhana Jamatkhana. He is also reputed to have constructed the new building of the Jamatkhana and generated a fund of Rs. 89,500/- including his own contribution of forty thousands rupees. The Imam took a visit of the new premises on Friday, January 22, 1915 in the presence of 6000 Ismailis and performed its opening ceremony, and returned after 20 minutes.

The Imam also visited the Jamatkhana on Saturday, February 13, 1915 at 10.30 a.m., and had a group photograph with the members of the Bombay Council. He then graciously presented a shawl to Mukhi Megji and others by saying, 'You have performed the best services to great extent for the Jamatkhana.' Dr. Rajab Ali Ramji Lakhdhir, the Hon. Secretary of the Council read the account of the new Jamatkhana, and showed that the income of the donation was Rs. 89,500/- in which Mukhi Megji contributed Rs. 40,000/-

On behalf of the Bombay jamat, he routed an urgent telegram with services on February 5, 1918 to Europe to the Imam as under:-

His Highness Aga Khan

Care King

London

Remitted pounds 700 to King through National Bank with telegram and earnestly pray for accepting humble mehmani from young and old, males and females of Bombay jamat.

We all are unsurmountably thirsty for holy didar, and anxiously solicit Your August Highness mercy and favour to place holy feet in Bombay and bestow Your August Highness holy didar most anxiously awaited since last three years; soliciting Your gracious Highness benedictions.

The Imam sent the following reply on February 12, 1918 from Nice:-

Mooki Megji,

Many thank your telegram. I too most anxious to see all dear children but you know travelling long and difficult. Still will come soon. Now all thoughts with you.

He was never close-fisted, but open-handed. He donated Rs. 10,000/- for the building of Jamatkhana in Bandra. He also shared a handsome amount for the new Jamatkhana and musafarkhana of Ahmedabad, whose opening ceremony was performed by his hands on June 10, 1919. The Jamatkhana of Kurala was built under his supervision, and he also contributed a massive amount for the Jamatkhanas of Mahim and Badresar, Kutchh. He built a sanatorium at Lonowali, near Poona, known as Ajbai Sanatorium. He is also said to have laid the foundation of the Karimabad Jamatkhana in Bombay. He generously donated huge amounts to the boardings of Rajkot, Poona, Botad, Vancaner and Andheri. He also built a Marriage Hall for Rs. 5,000/- in Nigar, Kutchh.

In 1922, he unfortunately submitted his resignation from the office of Mukhi to the Imam, because he found certain obstacles. The Imam said, 'Do you have troubles from those persons? You must tolerate it while serving me.' To this, he spoke not a single word. The Imam said, 'All come to me with their complaints, but there was only one to realize my pain and problem, and he was Wazir Ismail Gangji of Junagadh. Listen, I considered the potential affinity of Wazir Ismail in you, but not....' Before the Imam completed his last sentence, the tears streamed in the eyes of Mukhi Megji, and said submissively to the Imam, 'Mawla, forgive me as I forgot. Forgive me as I committed an error. I will never complain, never about anybody.' He withdrew his resignation and bore the hurdles and hitches till his last breath without uttering a word.

On April 29, 1913, the Bombay Council excommunicated Rahmatullah Ismail Tijoriwala due to his violating the rules of the community and harassing the jamat. He continued his malicious activities publicly. Dr. Rajab Ali Ramji Lakhdhir, the President of the Council filed a suit against him, known as the 'Lakhdhir Defamation Case' (case no. 450/B, dated Sep. 13, 1924). Justice Frank Olivera examined the hearings and gave his verdict in favour of the Ismailis on September 27, 1924. Mukhi Megji Mulji played a prominent role in the case as a witness and remained in touch till the ruling of the court.

Wazir Mukhi Megji had 4 sons and 8 daughters, but all died except one son. When his fourth son, Hasan Ali died on April 15, 1925 he was aggrieved beyond measure. The Imam sent the following telegraphic message: -

Nice: April 29, 1925

Children,

Paternal love and blessings feast occasion and thanks message from self and son. Convey my deep sympathy blessings Mukhi on his loss. Hope work for good will makes him forget this very sad loss.

In the loving memory of his son, Hasan Ali, he built the H.H. The Aga Khan's Maternity Home at Sandhurst Road, Bombay, at the cost of two lacs of rupees.

He cherished a desire to decorate the new Jamatkhana with a clock tower. He did not decipher his plan to anyone, even to the Imam, and built it in 1925 at the cost of Rs. 26,000/-. The Imam visited the Jamatkhana on January 25, 1928 and said, 'You have been serving heartily and loyally ever since you came to the office of the Mukhi. You have excellently served with your heart and body. The Jamatkhana is built under your supervision and you contributed a handsome amount. Without indication or suggestion of others, you have built this tower and offered it to me with love and dedication. You did not inform me till the tower became ready. I am much delighted and give you my best blessings.' The Imam also said to the jamat, 'The photo of Mukhi Megji must be placed in the tower and if the Mukhiani consents, her photo will also be placed, and I will be highly happy. This is the first occasion that I place the photo of a woman.'

On November 2, 1926, the Bombay jamat celebrated the birthday of the Imam during the didar programme. While looking at the cheerful Ismailis in jubilation, the eyes of Mukhi Megji moisted with tears. So choked was he with the smoke of anguish and pain that his throat could not fetch so much as a sigh. To this, the Imam asked for a reason, and he said, 'Mawla, I remember my late son on this auspicious occasion. I am thinking that who will be with me when confined to bed during last hour of my life.' The Imam soothed and quieted him and assured, 'Mukhi, don't you be worried. My son Prince Aly Khan will be present at your bed at that moment.'

In view of his meritorious services, he merited the title of Wazir in 1932.

Prince Aly Khan came in India from Europe on December 5, 1932 and Mukhi Megji accompanied him during his tour in India.

He arrived in Karachi on December 23, 1932 when Prince Aly Khan was on a flying visit of Karachi. He was present in all the Jamatkhanas wherever Prince Aly Khan visited. In the Garden Jamatkhana, he sat on a chair due to his impairing health, therefore, Prince Aly Khan advised him for rest. His condition seriously shattered on the next day and was hospitalized. Prince Aly Khan went to see him and put strips of cologne water with his hands on his forehead and remained 15 minutes at his bed. No recovery was gained and at last he died on the third day.

His dead body was brought to Bombay in a grand procession, and buried with great honor on December 31, 1932. The Ismailis closed their businesses on that day. His photographs were placed in the halls of the Jamatkhanas in Bombay and Karachi according to the guidance of the Imam, who also sent the following message during his sad demise:-

'My thought and paternal loving memory are with beloved Wazir Mukhi, whose picture remains before my eyes at all moments.'

Prince Aly Khan also sent a message to his wife, Mukhiani Ajbai that, 'Late Mukhi Megji was a great person and his loss will be felt amongst the Ismailis.'

Prince Aly Khan visited the H.H. The Aga Khan's Maternity Home, lying at Sandhurst Road, Bombay on December 15, 1933 at 10.35 a.m. Alijah Ghulam Hussain Bandali Somji, the Managing Trustee, Ghulam Ali G. Merchant, the Trustee of late Mukhi Megji and Huzur Wazir Ali Muhammad R. Macklai warmly welcomed him. He inspected the overall work and supervision. He entered into the main hall, where Mukhiani Ajbai and her two daughters submitted their humble presents to him.

The Imam had also taken a flying visit of the H.H. The Aga Khan's Maternity Home on January 10, 1934 and blessed Mukhiani Ajbai and her two daughters.

The Imam visited Khadak Jamatkhana, Bombay on January 15, 1934 and said in the mehmani presented by Mukhiani Ajbai, that, 'Late Wazir had served me too much, and offered me his life with his whole heart. His photograph must be kept in the Jamatkhana, so that the believers look at it and learn the exhortations of his services. I have also made the same farman in Karachi.'

The Imam presented the pachhedi to Mukhiani Ajbai and her two daughters. The Imam also blessed the trustees and the staff of late Mukhi.

Prince Aly S. Khan was also present on that occasion paid glowing tribute to late Mukhi. He also recollected his last meeting with the late Mukhi in Karachi.

Mukhi Megji Mulji left behind 8 daughters and 4 sons. Six of his daughters predeceased him. His first son, Rahim was born, in 1884, who died at the age of 12 years in 1896. His another son, Somji was born in 1886, who also died at the age of 2 years in 1888. In 1891, his third son, Abdullah was born, who also unfortunately died at the age of 25 years in 1916. His fourth son, Hasan Ali also died in 1925.

Varas
Moledina Megji, also known as Varas Moloo or Moloo Kamadia, was born in Mundra,
Kutchh in 1854. His forefathers were the renowned merchants, conducting the
businesses of grains, ghee and wool in the name of Vali Parpiya, and extended
their mercantile influence as far as Karachi and Jamnagar. His father ran a
business with two brothers, then severed and started his own business in the
name of Megji Vali. When he died, his son Varas Moledina continued it. His
business involved collecting wool in Kutchh. For shearing the annual wool crop,
it was necessitated to confine the sheep flock in close quarters for clipping.
The accumulated wool packed in big bundles, which were transported to their
agent Allana Manji in Bombay for sale. The grains and foodstuffs were purchased
from the proceeds of wool to be sold in Kutchh. It was a hard work indeed,
because the whole wool was not collected in one place. He and his brothers had
to travel on camels in different villages with provisions to procure wool. When
his business extended, he sent his elder son and younger brother to Bombay and
opened an office. He had a mathematical mind and could perform surprising feats
of mental arithmetic. He had a thorough grasp of counting orally the rates of
wool for five to ten years old without referring to old books. He was the
biggest merchant of wool in Kutchh and none competed him.

Sind
lies in the north of Kutchh, Kathiawar in south, and there is a desert in the
east and the Arabian Sea in the west. Apart from the infertile area, the region
of Kutchh is spread in 6500 sq. miles. Kutchh is divided into eight divisions,
each consisting of different villages. During the period of Varas Moledina, the
State of Kutchh was governed by Maharao Desal (1836-1860), Maharao Pragmall II
(1860-1874) and Maharao Khengar III (1874-1942).

It
appears that his neck was hanging to his right side. It is said that once he
visited his godown with clients and they sat near the heap of sugar bags to
examine a specimen of wool. Suddenly, few weighty bags fell upon his neck,
causing the breakdown of his neck-bone. He remained unconscious for three days.
When he recovered, he found his neck hanging. The injury became so old that the
doctors in Bombay could not treat it.

Courage,
truthfulness, patience, religious spirit, and services emerged in his
personality since childhood. He had not taken high education, but could impress
the audience with his oratory fills. He mastered his mother tongue and could
present touching examples in his speeches. He delivered several speeches in
Bombay on different occasions.

He
formed a Panjibhai Group in 1868 at the age of 14 years and was its first
Kamadia. He continued to serve during the period of Imam Hasan Ali Shah through
the Panjibhai Group. In 1883, Imam Aga Ali Shah had taken a visit of Kutchh,
and Varas Moledina was consigned arrangement of the lodging the jamats coming from outside. He worked
hard day and night for the service he had been assigned. The tents were pitched
outside the village in the gardens in Mundra for the Imam and his family.
Suddenly, a terrible storm blew with heavy rain. The Imam and his family were
shifted quickly in the bungalow of Seth Lakhamidas Ladha, and the horses were
tied in the compound of the mausoleum of Hasan Pir. Varas Moledina and his
colleagues rendered yeoman services beyond measure.

Soon
after the departure of the Imam, he continued his services under Varas Harji
Fakirani and acquired much proficiency. When Varas Harji expired in 1900, Imam
Sultan Muhammad Shah enjoined upon him the charge of Mundra and some other
villages of Kutchh. It is to be noted that he erected the Khoja Panjibhai Club
in Jamnagar on August 16, 1904 with Kamadia Haji Nazar Ali as President and
Ghulam Hussain Alibhai as Hon. Secretary. This institution paved a virtual way
to the betterment of his service career.

Varas
Moledina visited Bombay on several occasions to submit the latest reports of
Kutchh. In 1903, the Imam launched a historical visit of Kutchh for 15 days. He
stayed in Mundra for six days between November 16, 1903 and November 22, 1903.
The Imam proceeded to Badresar on November 23, 1903, in Nagalpur between
November 25, 1903 and November 29, 1903, in Kera between December 1, 1903 and
December 2, 1903. The Imam also paid a visit to Sinugara, Anjar, Madavpur,
Bhuj, Bharapur, Baladia, etc. Varas Moledina remained with the Imam during
those 15 days and made excellent arrangements for the didar programme.

While
leaving for Jamnagar, the Imam told him, "Moloo
Kamadia, you have served me tremendously. I give you much blessings. You always
continue to serve the jamat and me. I
wish to make you my Wazir." To this, he said, "Mawla, I do not
deserve for the high post. You may consign me some other petty post." The
Imam said, "Well, you form a
committee and I make you its Chairman." Varas Moledina became the
Chairman of the 18 Council Committees in Kutchh on April 5, 1905. He appointed Muhammad Amarsi as his
Secretary, who had come from Kathiawar and served as a teacher in Kutchh.
According to the census report, the Ismailis mostly resided in 23 different
villages in Kutchh, having a registered population of 4245 persons. In Mundra,
there were 1317 Ismailis in the time of Mukhi Laljibhai Raisi and Kamadia
Alarakhia Murji.

Varas
occasionally held meetings, during the year, in different villages to eliminate
the rubbles and bubbles of problems. He also founded a Volunteer Corps in some
places in Kutchh.

The
average Ismailis in Kutchh earned their bread and butter by the sweats of their
brows, and were deplorably lagged behind in education. There was a lingering
prejudice against educating the women among most of the conservative people.
Education was said to contribute to the plea that led to materialism. Educating
the girls mainly became the target of attack and even an object of ridicule. He
was not well-educated, but promoted the notion of education in the jamat. It must be known that the first
official school in Kutchh started in 1850 in the time of Maharao Desal
(1836-1860) for the teaching of English and Gujrati. There were hardly 43
schools in Kutchh during the period of Maharao Pragmall II (1860-1874), and about
130 schools during the rule of Maharao Khengar III (1874-1942) in Kutchh. In
sum, in the 1000 villages of Kutchh, the rulers funded only 85 schools. Nay,
there were only seven small libraries in Kutchh. In the milieu, the Imam
emphasized to promote education among the Ismailis during his visit in 1903.
The Imam had told him, "Moloo
Kamadia, you establish schools in the villages of Kutchh wherever is required,
and also erect libraries wherever is possible. You write me for its expenses. I
will sanction its grant."

With this mandate, Varas
Moledina's services entered into another phase. He visited different villages
and established the first school in Mundra on April 5, 1905 with 150 boys and
50 girls. Badresar, Nagalpur and Sinugara followed it where the Ismailis
resided thickly. Later on, he also opened schools in other villages. In sum, he
established 17 schools and 13 libraries during his lifetime. It must be noted
that he gave the literary life to the pens of Missionary Alibhai Nanji and
Master Muhammad Amarsi. He, himself,
supervised the management and visited the schools from time to time.

In
1906, a case was under hearing in the Kutchh Court regarding the mausoleum of
Sayed Ghulam Ali Shah. It continued for six years and resulted in an uncertain
condition of the Ismailis in Kutchh. In 1912, the Imam visited Bombay, where
Varas Moledina submitted a report of the case. The Imam said, "And from today, I appoint you my Wazir for
Kutchh. You take over the whole affairs of Kutchh and prosecute the case."
This time he could not refuse, but said, "Mawla, I will continue to serve
your house till my last breath. And if a pride flares up in my heart because of
this high post, it will hitch in my earning for hereafter." The Imam
assured him and said, "Nothing will
happen. You choose one capable man, and I will make him Kul Kamadia for Kutchh. You also arrange one competent secretary
for you." This farman was
officially announced next day in Darkhana Jamatkhana, Bombay.

The
news of his appointment as a Wazir spread
speedily through out Kutchh, where he was warmly hailed in Mundra. In his reply
to the jamat, he said, "I have
been granted this honor with the grace of the Imam, but all this is your honor
with your well sympathies. The burden of this duty is increased upon me, which
will be carried out with your cooperation."

After
assuming the office, Varas Moledina made a long journey in the villages of
Kutchh by bullock cart, and made minute inspection of the jamati activities. The community was cast down with ageworn customs
and habits. He realized that the old tendencies must be replaced by the latest
traditions. On those days, the Ismailis were spending massive amounts in the
fairs of the mausoleums of different saints. For instance, the village of Nigar
was famous for having the footprints of Hazrat Ali, where the Ismailis went to
pay homage. The Ismailis venerated the shrine of Sayed Ghulam Ali Shah in Kera,
the mausoleum of Hasan Shah in Mundra and the staying place (a’astana) of Pir Tajuddin in Barapur. In
replacement, Varas Moledina arranged the holding of annual majalis for the first time in Kutchh to divert the attention of
those who visited the shrines and practicing the old customs. The first majalis was reported to have been held
on March 10, 1907 in Nigar. It became discontinued for a year, but with the
efforts of Mukhi Laljibhai Devraj, it was re-started on April 4, 1909.

The
average condition of the Ismailis was economically crippled and socially
pitiable. They were petty shopkeepers, untrained servants, illiterate and
neglected group of persons destitute of any aim in life. Financially they were
worn out and socially no status worthy of any consideration. Cradled under the
shadows of new thinking, Varas Moledina necessitated to create donation in Kutchh
and Bombay for the lodging and fooding of the jamats. He also built a big hall for the majalis, and invited missionaries from Bombay on that occasion. He
however faced innumerable obstacles and hitches, but the Ismailis readily
responded to his every call.

On
February 20, 1910, the Imam visited Rajkot, where thousand of Ismailis from
Kutchh also arrived for didar. Varas
Moledina arranged the bungalow of Karim Jivan in Rajkot for lodging the Kutchh jamats. He hired a steamboat and brought
the Kutchh jamats in Mundra. The
travellers were more in numbers than expected, the ladies and children were
given priority in the steamboat and other boats were arranged for the gents.
They reached Jamanagar, where the Imam
graced them didar on the next day.

Meanwhile,
Varas Moledina received a message of the Imam on the evening to see him in the
next morning. When he arrived, he saw four to five persons of Kutchh sitting
out of the Imam’s bungalow, including those two persons from Bombay who had
misguided the jamat in Kera against
Varas during the Kera Case of 1906. They complained against Varas, and the Imam
summoned all of them for reconciliation. When he entered into the bungalow, the
Imam asked, “Wazir! Is there any enemy
in Kutchh?” He answered, “Mawla! since the time you vested me the office of
Wazirate, I have been considering all young and old as my own children.” The
Imam pointing his hand towards those persons and said, “Do you have any enmity with them?” He said, “All the affairs are
being done with your blessings and the assistance of these persons.” The Imam
laughed and said, “Wazir, you have
conquered the whole Kutchh with your sweet tongue.”

It is
recounted that in 1906, some rich persons from Bombay, belonging to Kera,
Kutchh brought a gold kalsh (a water
pot put on the top of the minaret of the shrine) to place in the shrine of
Sayed Ghulam Ali Shah. The local Ismailis prevented them to perform the
ceremony. They returned to Bombay and complained before the Imam. The Imam
deputed two persons in Kutchh to make an investigation and report him. They
arrived in Mundra to hold a talk with Varas Moledina, who was not yet
designated as a Varas. Before their
arrival in Mundra, two persons contacted them at the distance of four miles
from Mundra. They misled the Imam's representatives and spoke against Varas
Moledina that he had nothing to do with this matter.

Trusting
on the report, these two persons changed their route and went to Kera instead
of Mundra. They held several meetings with the concerned people and
excommunicated 12 persons in the jamat.
It ensued after a short while that they had taken a hasty action, which
resulted two divisions in the jamat.
The oppression thickened and grievances multiplied very soon. The persons who
were outcast gained support of the local people on that night and took
possession of not only the shrine of Sayed Ghulam Ali Shah, but also the
Jamatkhana. The Ismailis divided into two rivals, i.e., the Agakhanis and the
Masjidia. The case was filed against the Masjidia in the court in Bhuj on the
next day. The court declared its verdict in favour of the Ismailis on November
9, 1909. The Masjidia however referred the case in Civil Court, which took
about six years. In the meantime, the Imam invested Varas Moledina the title of
Varas at Bombay in 1912 with the
charge of the affairs of Kutchh.

Equipped
with copious stamina and fresh vitality, Varas Moledina studied and prosecuted
the case. He confided his business to his younger brother, Bhanji and hired a
room in Bhuj for his office. He also took services of Kul Kamadia Ratansi Ibrahim of Madapur, and engaged himself with
the lawyers in the office, about 33 miles from his residence. In short, the
verdict of the court declared itself in favour of the Ismailis. The opponents
made an appeal in the ruler’s court, which processed under the Maharao of
Kutchh. Varas Moledina was not nerveless and continued his endeavours. The
final ruling in favour of the Ismailis however declared when Varas Moledina was
no longer alive.

In
1914, Varas Moledina went to Calcutta to raise donation for the first Boarding
in Kutchh. On that occasion, the Imam returned from Rangoon for Calcutta by sea
on February 20, 1914. The governor of Calcutta was also in the steamer. The jamat arranged a steamboat to bring the
Imam, the governor and his wife at the port from the steamer, therefore, three
chairs were placed in the steamboat. The Imam and the governor dismounted from
the steamer and got into the steamboat. The governor’s wife did not come for
some reasons. The Ismaili leaders stood before the Imam in a line, including
Varas Moledina who was standing at the end of the line. When the Imam saw him,
he called for him and asked the reason of his coming in Calcutta. He told all
about the scheme of the Boarding. The Imam said, “Well, this is a noble work.
You have grown old and tired. You sit on this chair.” Varas thought it
indecency to sit with the Imam in presence of the leaders, he tried to sit down
at the feet of the Imam. But, the Imam held his arm and offered him to sit on
the empty chair of the governor’s wife.

In
1918, a terrible famine in Kutchh caused heavy rack and ruin to the local
Ismailis. With generous and benevolent aids, he served the affected ones within limited resources.

Paying
a well-deserved tribute to Varas Moledina’s meritorious services, Missionary
Alibhai Nanji writes in “Ismaili Satpanth Prakash” (Bombay,
February 2, 1919, p. 183) that, “Varas Moledina holds complete authority to run
the schools in Kutchh as a Supervisor, and looks after the schools excellently.
He regularly visits the schools on a six month basis and makes necessary
changes. He is eager, all the times, to enhance their standard, which is
apparent from his commitment. It is his desire to improve the schools and bring
them on top levels during the visit of the Imam, and also to establish a
Boarding school on a firm foundation.”

The old
Jamatkhana in Nagalpur was too small to accommodate the Ismailis. He was
requested to build another new Jamatkhana. He started a campaign for funds.
Seth Kassim Lalji remitted Rs. 25000/- from Zanzibar through the Bombay
Council. The President of the Council asked for kind permission and the Imam
approved it through a telegraphic message from Europe on July 28, 1918. Soon
after the gracious approval, Seth Kassim Lalji also came in Nagalpur to lay the foundation stone. A dispute
arose among the local Ismailis to decide the location of the new Jamatkhana. In
the meantime, the Imam arrived in Bombay in March, 1920. A deputation from
Kutchh arrived as well in Bombay with Seth Kassim Lalji and humbly implored the
Imam to lay the foundation stone. The Imam blessed them and said, "It is
now the hot climate in Kutchh. I will not come this year. You get it performed
by Varas Moledina. You will consider it as if I have performed it."

Varas
Moledina came in Nagalpur and eliminated the local dispute at first and
selected another location for the new Jamatkhana. He started its construction
and when completed, he performed its opening ceremony on Monday, April 18, 1921
in presence of the Revenue Commissioner of Kutchh, the Justice of Anjar,
administrators and dignitaries. The Ismailis of Nagalpur, Sinugara and Anjar,
including the Muslims and Hindus of Nagalpur were repasted twice.

The
Jamatkhana of Mundra, which was about 150 years old, was also worn out. He was
also requested to be in charge of the
new one. He assured the jamat that it
would be built, but the first priority would be given to the Boarding in
Mundra. He raised a donation for Rs. 37000/- in which Seth Ibrahim of Bombay
shared for Rs. 20000/- and established the first Ismaili Boarding in Kutchh. It
must be known that Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1947) had taken a visit of this
Boarding and remarked, “Moloo! I like the Ismaili community too much. It has
made excellent progress with the mercy of the Aga Khan. Besides, the Ismailis
are the chain between the Hindus and the Muslims.”

It had
taken a long time to the Imam to visit Kutchh. Varas submitted humble requests
several times to the Imam in Bombay, but the Imam delayed his visit due to an
overload of work. The Imam visited the Bombay Jamatkhana on March 3, 1920 when
Varas submitted a fresh humble request for a didar programme. The Imam said, "Well, I will talk to you
later on." The Imam asked for the mehmani
on behalf of Kutchh. To this, he answered, “Mawla, we will present the mehmani when you order.” It was decided
to present the mehmani on Tuesday,
March 9, 1920 in the big hall of the bungalow of Mazgon.

On
March 9, 1920 during the mehmani ceremony,
the Imam blessed the ten individual jamati
members of Kutchh, and said to Varas Moledina, "You come to my
bungalow in Valkesar on Friday, March 12, 1920 with five to seven persons,
where I will talk to you in private."

Meanwhile, the Imam asked
Varas Moledina for the mehmanis of
the villages of Kutchh. He said, “Mawla, our foremost humble request is for you
to make a visit in Kutchh.” The Imam said that, “I will come soon after the
occasion of dewali. You know that it
is the hot climate now in Kutchh. My lodging is made out of a tent, not in a
bungalow. It is not advisable to visit Kutchh during the hot season.” Varas
said, “Mawla, you have to go Karachi, and it is possible to proceed to Karachi
from Kutchh. You make a junction only in one place for eight days, where the
people of all villages will gather to accomplish their desires.” The Imam said, “Making a gathering of all
villages in one place will cause hardships to them. I have to visit all the
villages to see the jamats. I will
visit Kutchh via Jamnagar after dewali,
and will stay for twenty days.” The Imam further said, “Is there a motorway in
Kutchh?” Varas said, “There is a road for cars, and there are the motors of
Maharao. When Patel Manji of Madhapur visited the court of Maharao, he also emphasized
to bring the Aga Khan in Kutchh.” The Imam said, “Maharao shares a good
friendship with me.” Then, the Imam
graciously accepted the mehmanis of
Nagalpur, Sinugara, Badresar, Mundra, Madhapur, etc.

When
Varas came to the bungalow on March 12, 1920, he said reverently that, “Mawla,
our Pirs have imparted in the ginans
that no salvation will be destined to the one who has not taken the bayt of the Imam. Most of the Ismailis
in Kutchh are so destitute that they cannot afford to visit Bombay for didar. What will happen to them if you
will not grace them your mercy?” The Imam became serious and said, “Varas, I am
too busy this year. I will come next year.”

Varas
arrived in Bombay on the following year with the jamat and went to the bungalow of the Imam during the evening. He
was informed that the Imam would go to Poona on the next morning for few days
to take rest. He returned and came back on that evening and found the Imam busy
with some persons. Later on, the Imam summoned the members of the Kutchh jamat in his room and heard the report.
The Imam said, “I do not want to bother the jamat.
You bring all of the mehmanis of the
Kutchh jamats tomorrow in early
morning at Wadi.”

Varas informed his jamat
to assemble at Wadi on the next morning. The jamat brought fruits and reached Wadi. It was a cool morning and
the Imam was in a pleasant mood. The Imam pointed with his finger at the south
of the lawn, where now exists the garden of the hospital and said, “Varas, you
bring all of your mehmanis over
there.” The chair for the Imam was placed under the tree and he accepted the mehmanis of the Kutchh jamats and blessed them. Varas Moledina
submissively reminded the Imam for a didar

in Kutchh. The Imam showed his inability once again and made a promise for
next year. Varas worried emotionally, but spoke nothing. The Imam looked at him
and said, “Varas, do you think that
there is a snag in my affection for you?”
The tears burst out of his eyes and could not speak a single word. The
Imam said, “Listen Varas, do you know
how much I love you? The father having one son will love him by taking him in
his lap. But, I have so many children and cannot take them in my lap,
otherwise, I will love to have them all in my lap.” The Imam turned towards
Missionary Alibhai Nanji and said, “Tell
to all the missionaries and my followers to convey my farman to all the jamats
in Kutchh.”

The Imam again said after a short while, “Inshallah, I will come next year.” Varas
said this time, “Amen Mawla.”

In 1922, he built the new Jamatkhana in Badresar with Rs.
20,000/- from the Imam and Rs. 23,000/-, which he had collected through
donation. Seth Ladha Aloo Trikmani donated a piece of land adjacent to the
newly built Jamatkhana. During its opening ceremony, Missionary Hamir Lakha
recited his admirable gazal before
the jamat. The Recreation Club had
appointed him the President of the Provincial Committee of Mission for Kutchh
in 1922.

The Imam visited India and graced didar to the jamat in
Bombay on March 1, 1923. With a tendency to look upon this bright opportunity,
Varas Moledina rushed to Bombay and earnestly implored the Imam, “Mawla, you
have promised last year to come in Kutchh. Now you graciously accede to our
humble request.” The Imam said, “Varas,
I have some important affairs this year. I will come next year.” The moment
was absolutely unbearable for him and said emotionally with tears moisting in
eyes that, “Whenever I make request,
you give me false promises!” The people around were astonished, but it was an
inner voice of his humble longing and love. The Imam laughed and put his hand
on his shoulder and said, “This time I
am making a true promise. You take a paper and pen, I will sign on the
undertaking.”

On next year in 1924, Varas came in Bombay and sat far
from Imam’s chair. The Imam at once called for him and said, “Varas, how many
days it will take you for the preparation of didar in Kutchh? I will come this time and make my stay at one
place.” The gravity of happiness, which gushed out in his face to the hearing
of the good tidings of the didar, was inexpressible. He sent telegrams from
Bombay to all the jamats in Kutchh,
inviting a fleet of energetic social workers to assemble in Bhuj before eight
days for making necessary preparations. The hill of Bhujia was a historical place
in Kutchh, having a British military camp. The lodging of the jamats was made on the foot of the hill.
There was also a residence of political agents at a little distance, where a
bungalow for the Imam was reserved. The weather was pleasant, therefore, most
of the Ismailis also came from Bombay. The bungalow was renovated and decorated
with latest items with the help of his Parsi friend, called Seth Fardhunji
Pestanji. Necessary items for the bungalow were imported urgently from Bombay.
In sum, the bungalow was transformed into a royal palace within few days.

Two special steamboats of the Jam Saheb of Kutchh were
reserved, and when the Imam arrived at the port of Tuna with the deputation
of Jamnagar, the Varas with other
leaders came with a special train to welcome the Imam in the presence of the
bands, scouts and volunteers at the Bhuj station. At length, the Imam graced
his didar to the jamats on the next day and said, “This is a beautiful place. Its
weather is akin to Europe.” The Imam stayed for six days and performed all the
works with the jamats. Varas came at
the bungalow with some leaders during the departure of the Imam and said,
“Mawla, the journey of Kutchh is very difficult due to the lack of facilities.
We seek apology for any snag in our hospitality.” The Imam said, “Varas, you
have served me too much. I am much happy and bless you and the jamat. Wherever I went, everyone served
me. But I have seen that you served my jamat

excellently, and I am much happy. Keep protecting the jamat all times in this very same manner.”

Varas Moledina is reported to have launched a scheme of
the Poor Fund in Mundra. During the marriages, he levied small amount on each
family and deposited in the Poor Fund. It was used for the welfare of the
destitute. It certainly played a vital role to reduce poverty in Kutchh.

He was regular in his nocturnal worship. He recited the ginans in the Jamatkhana with his sweet
voice. Sometimes he also delivered waez
with rich quotations of the verses of Shah Abdul Latif and other Sindhi Sufi
poets. Sayed Abdullah Shah was his close relative in Mundra, who was well
versed in the Sindhi literature. Varas invited him on several occasions and
organized the gatherings.

Varas Moledina was also a member of the Municipal
Corporation in Mundra and served it till death. There was hardly any
association where he had not served as a member. He had procured close relation
also with Maharao Khengar of Kutchh.

Missionary Abdul Hussain Bachal published his letter in
the weekly “Ismaili” on September 7,
1924 and wrote the latest progress of Kutchh he had seen under the able
leadership of Varas Moledina. He wrote that, “I give the latest reports
whatever noteworthy points attracted my attention during my visit to Kutchh.
Our religious schools exist everywhere in Kutchh. The Ismaili libraries exist
in Mundra, Baladia, Bharapur, etc. The religious activities are seen in all
villages. The girl’s school in Mundra runs on sound foundation, where
embroidery and knitting works are being taught in proper manner. Besides, the
Ibrahim Pradhan Ismaili Boarding runs excellently with 30 to 35 children under
well administration. I was emphatically satisfied to visit the graveyard in
Mundra, where the required arrangements are available. Its outlook and management
excelled with other graveyards. The services of Master Muhammad Amarshi, the
Inspector are admirable, who takes parts in the jamati services with enthusiasm. The services of Mukhi Manji,
Kamadia Kalyan Hasham and Noor Muhammad are laudable. The services of Varas
Saheb Moledina Megji are well known. The jamat
is united, the reforms are being implemented quickly.”

The
Imam started the didar on January 22,
1926 in Bombay. The jamats of Kutchh
also arrived in Bombay and returned after performing religious ceremonies.
Varas Moledina prolonged his stay for a few more days for business purposes.
The Imam also bequeathed him an errand in the morning. He discharged it and
went to the Imam’s bungalow at a late hour on an evening on February 6, 1926.
The Imam was busy with two leaders of Kathiawar that took some time. The Imam
then came out of his room to see Varas, who reported the Imam about the
progress of the work. The Imam said, “Well, you come to see me tomorrow in the
evening.”

He left
the bungalow and came to his office at 9.00 p.m. and discussed his business
with his sons, Muhammad and Ghulam Hussain. He returned to the house at 9.30
p.m. His daughter had also come from Calcutta and he talked with her and slept
at 10.30 p.m. His son Ghulam Hussain knocked the door at 11.00 p.m., he stood
up to open it and slept. It was his usual habit to wake up in early mornings,
but he didn’t this time. His son found him lying on the bed in the same posture
as he slept during the night. He also found his father’s cold body. The doctor
was called, who declared that he had passed away three to four hours ago due to
heart attack. It implies that he expired on February 7, 1926 in Bombay.

Someone
informed the death of Varas Moledina at Hasanabad. The Imam called for Wazir
Ghulam Ali Vakil and said, “I have just received a news of the death of Varas
Moloo, but there used to be any enemy of the great man. You probe narrowly and
let me know in the Jamatkhana.” Wazir Ghulam Ali investigated and reported the
Imam in the Jamatkhana. The Imam stopped the mehmani nimbly and asked the jamat
to sit down. The Imam told the jamat
that, “I have received today a sad news
and you will also become sad to hear it. My beloved Varas Moloo has expired
today. He has served me excellently during his whole life.”

When
the news of his death reached to Kutchh, the Ismailis closed their business for
three days. The other communities also followed and it appeared a sort of
strike in Mundra. The Ismailis poured down at his residence in multitude to
participate in the last ceremonies.

The family members presented
the Ruhani Mehmani on the third day.
The Imam asked Alidina, the younger brother of Varas Moledina that, “Is it the mehmani of the late Varas?” He replied
affirmatively with tears in eyes and said, “The head of our family has gone
away.” The Imam said, “Yes, the head of
your family has gone, but actually the head of my whole jamat of Kutchh has gone. You should not mourn for him. He has
returned to my presence. He has served me too much.”

In a mehmani at Khadak Jamatkhana in Bombay on January 3, 1934 presented
by Varas Ghulam Hussain Moledina, the Imam admired the services of his father,
Varas Moledina and emphasized him to continue the services in Kutchh like his
father.

During
a long span of 73 years, he had served the jamats
of Kutchh for 58 years. Upto the moment of his last breath, he placed his heart
and soul in the services of the Imam and the jamats. The credit goes to him to orient the Ismailis in Kutchh, in
whose hearts his name shall be ever dominated.

The one and the only way in which we have to record his towering
greatness, he had all along been a true leader and zealous servant of the Imam.
We are nonetheless, forced to conclude that without the unstinted services of
Varas Moledina, the Ismailis in Kutchh would have been like a rudderless ship
sadly at the mercy of mountainous waves threatening to engulf it from all
sides.

His son
Varas Ghulam Hussain continued his services on the footprints of his father. He
was appointed the Chairman of Council Committee for Kutchh after his father’s
death. On the occasion of the annual majalis
of Bharapur, Kutchh, Wazir Ghulam Hussain Moledina performed an opening
ceremony of the new Majalis Hall on October 20, 1926. Mukhi Alidina Bandali of
Jinja, Uganda, built it. He sent its report to the Imam, and received following
message:-

Vazir Ghulamhusein Moledina,

Mundra, Kutchh.

Warmest thanks and blessings for the entertainment and
the presentation of the Hall on such a good occasion.

He
encouraged religious education in Kutchh and arranged to publish textbooks for
religious schools in 1936 with the help of Master Mohammed Amarsi. He made a
business trip in East Africa in 1946, where he also continued his jamati services. He returned to India
and became the Hon. Treasurer of the Ismailia Association for India. He had
been again in East Africa, and the Imam specially invited him to attend the
Avian Conference in Paris in 1952. Later on, he came in Karachi and served as
the Vice-President of the Ismailia Association for Pakistan. He died on January
24, 1973.

He was born on August 12, 1916 and educated in the English High School, Bombay. His father, Alijah Ghulam Ali Fazalbhoy was a dealer of estates and properties. His son, Muhammad Ali also took up the estate business after his schooling.
He was an Honorary Secretary of the Religious Educational Department of the Ismailia Association for India in 1950. The Imam appointed him the President of the Ismailia Association between 1952 and 1958.

In June, 1956, the Imam also appointed him as his Special Commissioner for Sidhpur for some important jamati works. He also presided the All Malaya Ismailia Conference in Singapore in 1956, which created for the first time the All Malaya Ismailia Council.

He left Bombay for Europe on June 25, 1957 and stayed three days in Geneva, where he had an audience with the Imam. He then proceeded to Paris and London and returned back to Geneva on July 9, 1957. He went to Barkat Villa on July 10, 1957. He once again went to Barkat Villa on next day at 11.30 a.m. The Private Secretary of the Imam arranged to bring him inside the bungalow and said with tears in eyes that, 'The condition of His Highness has become much serious. The eminent doctors are on the duty, but frustrated. Only disappointment is seen today and nothing else.' He could not talk any more and wept like a child. He became motionless like a body without soul. He returned to his hotel, but was anxious to go back to Barkat Villa once again. Meanwhile, the news spread in the city at about 1.30 p.m. that Imam Sultan Muhammad Shah was expired at 12.30 p.m.

He was exceedingly shocked with sudden nervous tension. He hired a taxi and reached Barkat Villa, where he found a heavy rush of press reporters outside the Villa. He arranged to enter into the bungalow and found Prince Aly Khan with tears in eyes. After few minutes, Prince Aly Khan told him, 'The holy body is in that room. Go for its didar.' He entered the room and paid solemn homage.

He returned and came back on July 12, 1957, where other leaders were also gathered. Mata Salamat (1906-2000) told them that, 'The declaration of 49th Hazar Imam will be made on tomorrow before you.' On that night at 8.30 p.m., he was in Hotel Buerevej, where the official copies of the Will of Imam Sultan Muhammad Shah were distributed among the press reporters. The news spread within 45 minutes in the world press that Prince Karim was designated as the next Imam.

On Saturday, July 13, 1957, he came to Barkat Villa at morning. The Ismaili leaders gathered in the room where Imam breathed last, and a chair was placed. Mata Salamat entered the room with Prince Amyn Muhammad in first appearance. Prince Karim as the next Imam followed them with a radiant face at 10.30 a.m. and sat on the chair. The leaders recited 'Amen.' Imam Prince Karim Aga Khan said, 'According to the Will of my beloved grandfather, I am your Hazar Imam from today. I am your 49th Mawla Mushkil Kusha.' The room echoed with the utterances of 'Amen! Amen!'

The leaders took the bayt from Hazar Imam, then came out for a group photograph. They returned back into the room and performed the dastboshi. The Imam gave them paternal maternal loving blessings and it was followed by the recitation of the munajat, Ya Ali Khub Majalis.

Wazir Muhammad Ali Fazalbhoy once again had the last glimpse of the mortal remains on July 16, 1957, which was taken to Aswan on July 17, 1957. He also accompanied the leaders in the chartered plane and reached Cairo on next day. The burial ceremony of Imam Sultan Muhammad Shah was performed on Friday, July 20, 1957. Mawlana Hazar Imam led the funeral prayers.

Hazar Imam also gave the didar to the leaders on the same day in Semirames Hotel in Cairo at 11.30 p.m. The Imam told them that it touched him deeply for the love, devotion and loyalty demonstrated for his beloved grandfather. The Imam also said that he would go to Geneva on the next day and after offering the memorial services of his grandfather in London on August 21, 1957 and in Paris on August 22, 1957, he would come to see the jamats. The Imam also gave best loving blessings to all the jamats.

Wazir Muhammad Ali G. Fazalbhoy also became J.P. on January 1, 1958. The Imam appointed him the member of the Federal Council on September 30, 1958

Besides, he was the Hon. Secretary of Masalawala Cooperative Bank Ltd., the member of the Diamond Jubilee Trust, Education Committee, Al-Ismailia Helping Society, Aga Khan Health Centre, Diamond Jubilee Celebration Committee, Platinum Jubilee Investment Ltd., District School Board Bombay Suburban District for four years, Ex-Officio member of the Panjibhai Committee, etc.

He was the President of the Ismaili Society, Cosmopolitan Consumers Cooperative Society Ltd., Parle-Andheri Vepari Maha Mandal and the founder President of Andheri Market People's Cooperative Credit Society. He was also the Chairman of Market and Garden Committee of Andheri in 1950, Flag Day Committee for Andheri District and was awarded a trophy for two consecutive years. He was also the Councilor of Parle-Andheri Borough Municipality (1949-1950).

He also served as the President of the Housing Colony Committee of the Federal Council, and the President of the Fidai Girls Educational Institute, Andheri Residence Association, the Hon. Secretary of the Bombay Bihar Relief Fund Committee and the Rotarian of Bombay West Rotary Club, etc. He was also the Chairman of the Housing Colony Sub-Committee.

As is evident from the list of the institutions with which he was associated, his activities as a social worker are not confined to the narrow circle of the community. With his modesty, genial temperament, cosmopolitan outlook, he had made himself universally popular. He had also travelled in England, Japan, France, Switzerland, Germany, Egypt, Burma, Sri Lanka, Malaya, Singapore, Hong Kong, Beirut, Pakistan, etc. He had also launched several trips in all parts of India.
He also served as the Honorary Presidency Magistrate for five years.

He merited the title of Alijah in 1950 and Wazir on April 15, 1956 in a message of the Imam through the Supreme Council for India as under:-

Cannes : 15th April, 1956

My dear President and Members,

With pleasure I have given the title of Wazir to the President of Ismailia Association Mahomedali Fazulbhoy for his devoted services and I give him my best loving blessings.

On June, 1968, he became the member of the Society of the Justice of Peace & Honorary Presidency Magistrate. He died on December 3, 1981 in Bombay.

<
/body>

He belonged to well-known Fazalbhoy family, whose all members have been closely connected with the community services. He graduated in 1924 and passed LL.B. in 1926 from Bombay University. He passed the Solicitor's examination in 1928, and became the Partner of Perera Fazalbhoy & Co., the famous Solicitors and Notary Public since 1929. He practiced in Bombay and earned a highest respect in all quarters in the legal circles, in public life and within the community. He was well respected by the Bench and the Bar. In youth, he was the Joint Secretary of Historical Society with K.T. Desai. He also as an Ismaili Solicitor served in the Federal Council for many years.
He was the member of the Bombay Council in 1934. He was also appointed the Hon. Chief Secretary of the Supreme Council for India between 1941 and 1949. He also became the Vice-President of the Federal Council for India in 1958 for 5 years, and the President on March 21, 1963

He was also the President of the Aga Khan Legion and Diamond Jubilee Celebration Committee and collected the donation of 80 lacs in India. He was the Trustee of Diamond Jubilee Trust from its existence in 1946 and served for 17 years.

When Platinum Jubilee Investment Ltd. was established, its Chairman was Wazir Abdul Hamid Hasan Ali and he was its Director. When the Chairman had gone out of India, he was elected the Chairman till his death.

He was an ardent believer in honesty, sincerity and dedication to duty in all walks of life. He was gifted with aptitude, tact, and hard work organizing capacity. In sum, he rendered 30 years services to the community.

He died on Thursday, June 13, 1963 at Bombay. The Imam sent the following message upon his death:-

Much grieved to hear the sad demise of President Vazir Mohamed Hasan Fazalbhoy. Best loving blessings for the soul of late President Fazalbhoy and I pray eternal peace and rest his soul. Best blessings for the family for courage and fortitude in their great loss.

Muhammad Rawjee, the grandfather of Muhammad Ibrahim Muhammad Rawjee was born in Bombay on 1830. He got married at the age of 16 years in 1846. It is said that he was the first amongst the Indian Ismailis to have visited China at an early age in 1853, where he opened his branch. Initially, his business ran on partnership, but he alone conducted it after some time. He was noted for initiating many welfare institutions in 1883 and donated free houses to over fifty Ismaili families without charging rent, which was named after his father-in-law, Dhanji Karmali. In 1890, he established the first Khoja Orphanage, known as the 'Khoja Ashram', and on September 27, 1894 he established a sanitarium at Poona, where clothes and foods were provided to the poor Ismailis, which was opened by the Imam. He also funded the needy couples in their marriages. The Ismailis accorded him warm honor in view of his invaluable services in 1893. When his father-in-law expired, the Imam presented him a khilat and a title of Varas to his son, Ibrahim. Muhammad Rawjee died on May 20, 1898.
Varas Ibrahim, the son of Muhammad Rawjee was born in 1862. Soon after his education, he continued to tread on the footprints of his father. He served many years in the justi, the traditional council as a member under Mukhi Ladakbhai Haji (1827-1907). He was credited to become the first President of the first Ismaili Council in Bombay with Alijah Ahmed Devji (1859-1925) as an Honorary Secretary on April 9, 1906. Varas Ibrahim Muhammad Rawjee had an honour to ordain the Constitution of the Council for the first time on March 4, 1910, whose draft was a splendid testimonial to his scholarly mind. He had also served as Honorary Secretary of Panjibhai Club. He also continued to nourish the benevolent works instituted by his father. He merited the title of Varas and died in 1911. His son, Muhammad, known as Muhammad Ibrahim Muhammad Rawjee continued to serve the jamat with great deal of enthusiasm and zeal.

Muhammad Ibrahim Muhammad Rawjee was born in Bombay in 1900 and was hardly 11 years during the death of his father. He faced many hitches ahead in childhood, therefore, the Imam said, 'He is my son.' Since then his problems melted away. The Imam also looked after his education personally.

Muhammad Ibrahim Muhammad Rawjee began his services in the community in the year 1921 at the age of 21 years when he became the member of the Ismaili Council, its Hon. Secretary and then the Vice-President. The Imam appointed him as the President of the Supreme Council of Bombay Presidency. Soon afterwards, he was appointed the President of the newly formed H.H. The Aga Khan's Federal Council for India in 1934. The Imam said to him, 'You are the true pillar of Ismaili faith.' He remained on the office till 1958.

On December 29, 1933, the Imam graciously visited his bungalow, Manohar Mahel at Band Garden, Poona; where about 50 other Ismaili leaders were invited. The Imam inspected every room in the bungalow and remarked that it was the first class bungalow in Poona. The Imam graced him compliments and said, 'You are serving me too much. Bravo! you are a true pillar. Your father had also served me too much. You are the second Muhammadbhai. You have been serving me since childhood.'

The Imam appointed him as the Legal Advisor of all the existing Ismaili Councils in India with the honorable title of Wazir on January 31, 1935. In his one telegraphic message on the occasions of Eid al-Azha and Navroz, the Imam called him his Chief Minister. The message reads:-

20.3.1935

Properties, Bombay

(M.I.M. Rowji)

I ask you as my Chief Minister. Convey my blessings to all jamats India two feasts.

He was a keen and enthusiastic worker and munificent. He built a sanitarium in Poona and Matehran for the Ismailis, where he also erected a small Jamatkhana for the Ismaili tourists.

He was also elected as a Corporator in 1932 for Bombay Municipal Corporation and served till 1948. During his association of 16 years in the Municipal Corporation, he also gave his services for 11 years in its Standing Committee. The British India also made him J.P. in 1934. The Bombay government made him the Sheriff of Bombay in 1937. He became as well a Mayor of Bombay in 1946, and remained on the office for one year. He was also the Managing Trustee of the Dhanji Karamali Boarding, Bombay for several years. Being an architect, he had made the design of the Sanitarium of Panchgani.

The worth of his meritorious services in the community can be measured from the fact that the Imam invested him the grand title of Dewan in 1946 and became the first Ismaili to be graced with this unique title.

He retired from the office of H.H. The Aga Khan's Federal Council for India with his Chief Secretary, Itmadi Hussain Ali M. Visram on March 21, 1958. The Imam sent the following message on May 6, 1958 for him:-

My dear Dewan Saheb,

I send you my best paternal maternal blessings for your life long devoted services. I am sure you will continue to do your utmost for the uplift of the community.

The Federal Council for India honored him with his Chief Secretary in a princely reception on April 19, 1958 in Taj Mahal Hotel, Bombay.

Dewan Muhammad Varas Ibrahim Muhammad Rawjee died on July 1, 1965. He left behind two sons and three daughters. The Imam sent the following message on July 20, 1965: -

My dear President and Members,

I have received your letter of 8th of July, and I was much grieved to hear of the sad demise of Dewan Muhammadbhai I.M. Rawjee.

I send my best paternal maternal loving blessings for the soul of late Dewan Muhammadbhai Rawjee, and I pray that his soul may rest in eternal peace. Late Dewan Muhammadbhai's services will always be remembered by my jamats of India and myself.

I send my best loving blessings to the family of late Dewan Muhammadbhai Rawjee, for courage and fortitude in their great loss.