This volume details the life and public career of one of Bombay’s and India’s legendary individuals, who became a merchant-prince and an influential citizen in colonial Bombay. Born of humble origins, Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy started his career collecting and selling empty bottles, and within years became one of India’s earliest success stories having built up a business empire through the nineteenth-century China trade. Jejeebhoy utilized his wealth for copious charity for the people of Bombay and western India, and became one of India’s greatest early philanthropists. Both the contemporary and mo ... More

This volume details the life and public career of one of Bombay’s and India’s legendary individuals, who became a merchant-prince and an influential citizen in colonial Bombay. Born of humble origins, Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy started his career collecting and selling empty bottles, and within years became one of India’s earliest success stories having built up a business empire through the nineteenth-century China trade. Jejeebhoy utilized his wealth for copious charity for the people of Bombay and western India, and became one of India’s greatest early philanthropists. Both the contemporary and modern literature on Jejeebhoy has been eulogistic and uncritical. This book presents Jejeebhoy in an unconventional light, as an ambitious and canny individual who aimed to carve out a place for himself and the early Indian commercial class of Bombay under British colonialism. It examines his ‘idea’ of ‘partnership’ between the British and the Indians in the public and private culture of Bombay that aimed to give Indians an influential role under colonialism. The volume also examines Jejeebhoy’s personal motivations and larger civic outlook. It discusses the opportunities available to and the challenges faced by an Indian operating under colonialism. Jejeebhoy belonged to the loyal collaborationist class that emerged under early colonialism. He became the first Indian knight and baronet. The honours conferred on him were in recognition of his loyalty, public service, and great charity. Yet, Jejeebhoy faced many challenges in promoting himself and Indian capacities, and his efforts bear testimony to Indian ingenuity under the colonial regime.