Cowasji Jehangir
Encyclopedia
Sir Cowasji Jehangir, 2nd Baronet, GBE
, KCIE
(16 February 1879–17 October 1962) was a prominent member of the Bombay
(today Mumbai) Parsi community. He was the son of Sir Jehangir Cowasji Jehangir Readymoney, 1st Bt.
(1853-1934) and grand-nephew of Sir Cowasji Jehangir Readymoney
(1812-1878).
Cowasji Jehangir campaigned for a prominent role for the Parsi Zoroastrian community in independent India
. He had become a member of the "Western India National Liberation Federation", at its founding in 1919, and was elected its president in 1936 and 1937. He was also active in the reactionary "Parsee Central Committee", which was critical of Congress
Parsis like Dadabhai Naoroji
and Pherozeshah Mehta
.
At the second "Round Table Conference" in London
during 1930-32, where the framework for the political and constitutional future of India was laid down, he was one of the three political "liberals" to represent the Parsi community. To the Minorities Committee and the Franchise Committee he advocated a graded franchise based on the standard of education which would have given the Parsis an immense over-representation in future elections. Such a scheme was never taken seriously by any other party in the discussions.
After 1939, when it was apparent that independence was to come in a short while, a large number of Parsis became active in the "Western India National Liberation Federation", whose meetings were often held at his home. As a last ditch effort, on the eve of independence in 1945, he pleaded to the Viceroy in a telegram not to forget the claims of the Parsis. This appeal, made as the president of the "Parsee Central Association" was nullified by a telegram from a group of Parsis calling themselves the "Freedom Group" which rejected any special previlege for the Parsis.
The Jehangir Art Gallery
, the Cowasji Jehangir Hall
and Jehangir Institute of Psychiatry are named after him. The Jehangir Nursing Home (now Jehangir Hospital) in Pune
was founded on property donated by Sir Cowasji and his wife Lady Hirabai. Originally named Readymoney Villa, it was renamed in 1944 after their son Jehangir Cowasji Jehangir, who died in an accident that year.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, KCIE
Order of the Indian Empire
The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1878. The Order includes members of three classes:#Knight Grand Commander #Knight Commander #Companion...
(16 February 1879–17 October 1962) was a prominent member of the Bombay
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
(today Mumbai) Parsi community. He was the son of Sir Jehangir Cowasji Jehangir Readymoney, 1st Bt.
Jehangir Cowasji Jehangir Readymoney
Sir Jehangir Cowasji Jehangir Readymoney, 1st Baronet, KCIE was a prominent member of the Bombay Parsi community. He was the nephew and heir to the childless Sir Cowasji Jehangir Readymoney ....
(1853-1934) and grand-nephew of Sir Cowasji Jehangir Readymoney
Cowasji Jehangir Readymoney
Sir Cowasji Jehangir Readymoney, CSI , was a Parsi community leader, philanthropist and industrialist of Bombay, India .Cowasji Jehangir Readymoney came from a wealthy Parsi family. His grandfather and two great-uncles had moved in the early 18th century from Navsari, near Surat, to Bombay and had...
(1812-1878).
Cowasji Jehangir campaigned for a prominent role for the Parsi Zoroastrian community in independent India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. He had become a member of the "Western India National Liberation Federation", at its founding in 1919, and was elected its president in 1936 and 1937. He was also active in the reactionary "Parsee Central Committee", which was critical of Congress
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
Parsis like Dadabhai Naoroji
Dadabhai Naoroji
Dadabhai Naoroji , known as the Grand Old Man of India, was a Parsi intellectual, educator, cotton trader, and an early Indian political leader. His book Poverty and Un-British Rule in India brought attention to the draining of India's wealth into Britain...
and Pherozeshah Mehta
Pherozeshah Mehta
Sir Pherozeshah Mehta, KCIE was an Parsi Indian political leader, activist, and a leading lawyer, who was knighted by then British Government in India for his service to the law...
.
At the second "Round Table Conference" in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
during 1930-32, where the framework for the political and constitutional future of India was laid down, he was one of the three political "liberals" to represent the Parsi community. To the Minorities Committee and the Franchise Committee he advocated a graded franchise based on the standard of education which would have given the Parsis an immense over-representation in future elections. Such a scheme was never taken seriously by any other party in the discussions.
After 1939, when it was apparent that independence was to come in a short while, a large number of Parsis became active in the "Western India National Liberation Federation", whose meetings were often held at his home. As a last ditch effort, on the eve of independence in 1945, he pleaded to the Viceroy in a telegram not to forget the claims of the Parsis. This appeal, made as the president of the "Parsee Central Association" was nullified by a telegram from a group of Parsis calling themselves the "Freedom Group" which rejected any special previlege for the Parsis.
The Jehangir Art Gallery
Jehangir Art Gallery
The Jehangir Art Gallery is Mumbai ’s most famous art gallery and a tourist attraction. It was founded by Sir Cowasji Jehangir at the urging of K. K. Hebbar and Homi Bhabha. It was built in 1952...
, the Cowasji Jehangir Hall
Cowasji Jehangir Hall
The Cowasji Jehangir Hall is a museum of modern art and was part of the Institute of Science prior to 1996. The hall was built in 1911 by George Wittet and funded by Cowasji Jehangir. It is located in Colaba area of Mumbai, India.-References:*...
and Jehangir Institute of Psychiatry are named after him. The Jehangir Nursing Home (now Jehangir Hospital) in Pune
Pune
Pune , is the eighth largest metropolis in India, the second largest in the state of Maharashtra after Mumbai, and the largest city in the Western Ghats. Once the centre of power of the Maratha Empire, it is situated 560 metres above sea level on the Deccan plateau at the confluence of the Mula ...
was founded on property donated by Sir Cowasji and his wife Lady Hirabai. Originally named Readymoney Villa, it was renamed in 1944 after their son Jehangir Cowasji Jehangir, who died in an accident that year.