“Do you know them?”

Having read Joy Schneider’s appeal "Do you know them?” (Readers’ Forum, Parsiana, December 7, 2007), and having instantly recognized two names, I would like to share some information. Rustom Dorab was the first Patel of Bombay, a fisherman from Bhagva Dandi, Surat, who arrived in Bombay around early 1700 AD. His direct descendant was Sir Cawasji Patel, who married for the second time at the age of 80 years, taking for his bride a young Iranian refugee in her 20s. His son, Rustom Hirjee, had four sons, one of whom was Hirjee Rustom, also known as Duke of China. He would surely be the lost link that Schneider is so eager to trace. Hirjee Rustom was renowned as much for his adventurous business travels to faraway lands as he was recognized for his philanthropic charities and flamboyant lifestyle.

Sunabai Hirjee Rustom

First married to Jerbai Readymoney in Bombay, Hirjee Rustom is subsequently believed to have married a princess from China (of which there is no record) and later a countess in England. Limji Davar was the kaka (paternal uncle) of Justice Dinshaw Davar who presided over Hirjee Rustom’s Bombay Will case against his paternal aunt Soonabai Limji Davar and her four brothers and the half siblings of Hirjee Rustom’s English offspring. The matter was reportedly settled for a princely sum of one lakh rupees in the 1800s. My husband is descended from the same family.

MICKIE SORABJEE

nashmick@hotmail.com