Seth Edulji Dinshaw

Seth Edulji Dinshaw (died 8 May 1914) was one of prepartition Karachi's foremost philanthropists. A member of the Parsi community, he made his initial money 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 which reaped him huge rewards.

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 Hospital
* Edulji Dinshaw Dispensary.
* Nadirshaw Edulji Dinshaw 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. [Jehangir Framroze Punthakey, "The Karachi Zoroastrian Calendar, A record of Important Events in the Growth of the Parsi Community in Karachi", Karachi, (1996) p. 100]

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 Trust 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 8th May 1914, while on his way to England, he died at sea, near Port Said,Egypt.

Family

His son, Nadirshaw Edulji Dinshaw continued his philanthropic ways.

References

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.