Navsari honors noble son

The Navsari Nagarpalika has honored Sir Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy, First Baronet, by naming a road after him. The Sir Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy Marg, which runs from Panch Hatdi to Charpool, was inaugurated by collector of Navsari district R. C. Mina, on February 4, 2007, states a write-up sent by Homai H. Mehta. Mina praised the role of Parsis in the development of the nation and felt it deserves government support in increasing its numbers.

At a well attended function at Jamshed Baug, Rustom Jejeebhoy, chairman of the J. J. Group of Trusts welcomed the guests and said that the honor was not a reflection of the magnitude of Sir Jamsetjee’s wealth but of the manner in which he distributed it. He had a very generous heart and donated liberally to flood, famine and war relief. Though he lacked formal education he championed the cause of education for youth, especially the girl child, by establishing a number of educational institutions.

Solicitor Burjor Antia, senior trustee of Sir J. J. Charities described Sir Jamsetjee as a one-man NGO. He established 11 schools, five agiaries, three dharamshalas, a civil hospital, a full-fledged college of architecture and also built a bridge between Mahim and Bandra which is now known as the Mahim Causeway.

Earlier that morning a jashan was performed by 21 mobeds at the Sir J. J. Agiary where Antia unveiled a portrait of the late Sir Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy, Seventh Baronet, the write-up adds. Dolly Desai, principal of Navsari’s Sir J. J. English Medium School proposed a vote of thanks.