February 2012.indd - World Memon Organization Pakistan Chapter

IMMORTAL PERSONALITIESHABIB HAJI PIRMUHAMMADHe was one of three big guns from Bantva- Haji Adam, Hoosen Seth and Haji HabibPir Muhammad were the three wealthiestMemon business men form Bantva withbusiness activities spread all over India. HajiHabib was born in 1895. Since his fatherdied early, he was not able to completeeven his primary education and had to joinhis father’s business, which spread far andwide. Besides being one of the top mostbusinessmen, he was very service-mindedand his generosity was also second tonone. In donating generous amounts, hematched with the top contributors in thefield of education and health care. When heheard about the plight of refugees leavingIndia, he instructed British India SteamshipCompany with which he had big business,to debit his personal account for the ticketsof those refugees leaving for Karachi, andwho could not afford to pay their fare. Healso arranged sufficient ration at all theexit points from India to Karachi. He wasconsidered a king of food grains in whichbusiness he had expertise, which was matchless.It is believed that the Government ofIndia through its First High Commissionerin Pakistan sent him a message that theGovernment of India would be very happyif he would go back to India and continuehis business in food grains. However, HajiHabib refused to go back to India and decidedto stay in Pakistan.MUHAMMAD ALIRANGOONWALALate Mr. Muhammad Ali Rangoonwalawas a legendary person. Some men areborn great, some achieve greatness andsome have greatness thrust upon them. Mr.Rangoonwala was born to parents whohad great aspirations about their son andthey desired him to follow the footstepsof great people. It was in this context thatas soon as their son was born, the fatherwho was somebody who mattered andwas in personal touch with some of theleading politicians in India then, sent acable from Rangoon (Burma) to MaulanaMuhammad Ali Jauhar requesting him tosend his blessings and permit his son to benamed Muhmmad Ali to which MaulanaSahib immediately replied in affirmative.However, great as his upbringing was, Mr.Rangoonwala achieved greatness due to hisown efforts, which efforts he tried to make,throughout his life and achieved pinnaclesof glory, international fame due to his hardwork, sincerity of purpose and by setting forhimself certain ideals and goals.14Mr. Rangoonwala’s father, Mr. V.M.Gany Rangoonwala and mother, Mrs.Zuleikhabai always looked forward andtried to imbibe in their young son ideas ofcharity, philanthropy, large heartedness andleadership. After migration to India fromBurma, the family was deprived of theirwealth and business and young Mr. Rangoonwalawas never upset about his povertyand with pride told his friends that hismode of transport in Bombay was a bicycle.His father was amongst the first couple ofMemons in Rangoon to own a motor-carand headed many welfare organizations inRangoon and Calcutta. Muslim dispensaryin Rangoon thrived to become a well-organizedclinic in later years and RangoonwalaFoundation, London, continued to assistthis dispensary with generous financialassistance. Mr. Rangoonwala always toldhis friends that his parents had taught him alesson to the effect that whatever you donateby your own hands would be your moneyand what you do not donate personallywould be somebody else’s money. Followingthis noble advice, Mr. Rangoonwaladeveloped generosity beyond words. Hegave away large amounts of money to thetrust in the name of Z.V.M. Gany RangoonwalaTrust in Karachi, in 1957, throughwhich first community centre of its typeZ.V.M. Gany Rangoonwala CommunityCentre and V.M. Gany Public School thelike of which may be few and far between inKarachi were set up. Deserving and needystudents are given preference without compromisingwith quality of education. Mr.Rangoonwala did not like the word charity.He always preferred to keep up the moraleof poor students by personally subsidizingtheir full fees from his private purse withoutletting students know that 95% fees studentspaid came from his own purse. This attitudehelped to create sense of dignity amongstthe poor students and also helped both theseinstitutions to be ranked amongst the best oftheir type in Karachi.As narrated here-below, Mr. Rangoonwalabrushed shoulders with princes, rulersof countries and many rich persons aroundthe globe. Sometimes using a limousineas transport, he would walk many a timearound the pavements of Karachi, Bombayand other towns in Indo-Pak sub-continentenquiring sympathetically from the fruitvendors, hawkers etc. as to how much theirinvestment and profit was. He also invitedquite a few of them if they desired somemore money to increase profit he wouldadvance them small loans to expand theirbusiness. This was one of his favorite hobbies.His philosophy in life was rather thangiving fish and loaf to a needy person, givefishing implement so that he can earn hisliving by fishing.He started his international businessin London. He donated munificently tovarious causes including those in Pakistan,India, Rangoon and U.K. Trust in London.The trust in London brought him close toleading philanthropists of Europe and to theRoyal family of U.K. For a particular causeheaded by the Queen, Mr. Rangoonwalawas one of the few invites at the BuckinghamPalace and the Queen desired Mr.Rangoonwala to be one of the trustees. Foranother cause started by Prince Philip whoincidentally, was a friend of Mr. Rangoonwala,the Duke with similar request wouldinvite him to Buckingham Palace. This closeproximity with the royal family and alsodue to his generous donations he becameknown internationally. Through WorldMemon Foundation about hundred andeighty million Rupees were donated by thetrustees of the Foundation. Through hisown funds, with the assistance of his friendsfrom Teli Group and others he helpedacquire land to establish Dhoraji Colony,where some flats and small houses weregiven away either free or on subsidized rateswhereas some plots were sold at no profit.He helped set V.M. Unani Medical Collegeand Zuleikhabai Hospital in Pune, India.During the last few months of his lifehe repeatedly requested for the feasibilityreports of needed institutions for which hecould donate generously. Aligarh University,India, had sent him a word to donateto the community centre there and he wascommitted to send his aide to Aligarh onhis behalf to find out the position. However,he never recovered to fulfill his almost lastdesire.He was one of the first businessmen tomigrate to Karachi and did yeoman servicein the fields of relief to refugees, to helpset up business, trade and industry. Here-activated Karachi Chamber of Commerceand Industries of which he becamethe President, helped establish Federationof Chambers & Commerce and Industries,Pakistan, and also became its President. Hehimself established several industries includingone of the largest oil terminals.He was one of few Asians to become thePresident of International Chambers ofCommerce and Industries in Paris in whichposition he had to undertake visits to manycountries of the world and had the honor ofbeing received by the Heads of States. Hereceived awards and titles from Pakistan aswell as Germany and heads of other countriesfor the services he rendered.Mr. Rangoonwala headed National Bankof Pakistan as Chairman. He was DirectorPICIC and many other organizations, financialinstitutions and similarly he was associ-MEMON ALAM FEBRUARY 2012