Seth and Sethna family

The F. H. B. Sethna Legacy Trust, Bombay has sponsored a research project on the Genealogy of the Seth and Sethna family: 1930-2010 at the K. R. Cama Oriental Institute (KRCOI), Bombay under the supervision of Dr Navaz B. Mody, former head and Sir Pherozeshah Mehta professor of civics and politics, department of civics and politics, University of Bombay.

The Seth and Sethna families are the descendants of Rustom Manekji who was born in Surat in 1635 and was an influential person of the vibrant Parsi community there. He was engaged in business with private shippers and was a broker at Surat with the East India Company and later of the United East India Company, as also with the Moghuls and the Marathas. He had three sons — Framji, Bomanji and Nowroji. Due to his influential position coupled with his generosity, he received the title of Seth, which in later years was adopted as the family surname.

The Bombay Seth khandan (family) came into prominence after the foundation of a trust of religious charities by Manokji Nowroji, the grandson of Manekji. Later, the Seth family was also known as the Sethna family. Some of the family members are well known for their philanthropy as they have established several charitable institutions and trusts, public fire temples and charities.

Two volumes on the genealogy of the Seth family have already been published which trace the family history from its founder, Rustom Manekji (1635-1721) to 1930. Both these volumes are in Gujarati and are authored by Jalbhai Ardeshir Seth and Shapurji Kavasji Hodivala. The current project aims at updating the genealogy of these families in the period from 1930 to 2010, as well as to translate the earlier mentioned volumes from Gujarati to English in order to make them available to researchers and general readers.

We appeal to all members of the Parsi Seth and Sethna families to kindly respond, cooperate and forward to us minute details and literature about their family. We also appeal to other members of the community to send us information about these during the period under study. You may contact or mail the information to Louiza Rodrigues, C/o The K. R. Cama Oriental Institute, K. R. Cama Oriental Institute Building, 2nd floor, 136 Bombay Samachar Marg, Opposite Lion Gate, Fort, Bombay 400023; e-mail: sethnafamilyt@ rediffmail.com Louiza may also be contacted on 9224221193 between 8 and 9 p.m. DR NAWAZ B. MODY

Joint Honorary Secretary

The K. R. Cama Oriental Institute