Naser was
from Jamnagar, Kutchh and he came from a noble family. He migrated towards
Zanzibar in 1851 to find a better life for his family. He had only a son,
called Mohammad, who was born in Zanzibar in 1864. Mohammad Naser served the jamat devotedly in different fields. He
was also noted for his generosity. When the first Ismaili Council established
in 1905 at Nairobi with Varas Mohammad Rehmatullah Hemani as its President,
Mohammad Naser was also appointed as one of its founder members (1905-1914).
On January
15, 1912, the Imam sent him a letter from Karachi and appointed him as his
Estate Manager to take care of the Imam’s estates in Zanzibar in place of Varas
Saleh. He took over its charges also from Kamadia Pradhan.
Imam Sultan
Muhammad Shah made his third visit to Africa in 1914. The Imam arrived at the
port of Zanzibar by a French mail steamer, Oxes
on July 15, 1914 at 3.00 a.m., and graced the didar in the Jamatkhana at 8.00 a.m. On that occasion, the Imam
said, “The bungalow which Mohammad Naser
has arranged for my stay is very excellent. I give him best blessings.”
Mohammad
Naser spent handsomely on travelling and entertaining the guests, and gave all
expenses of Imam’s visit to Zanzibar in 1914. On August 2, 1914, Imam Sultan Muhammed
Shah said in view of his generous services that, “Since my arrival, you have been serving me day and night. It is not
enough when I say Khanavadan for you,
even if I keep saying Khanavadan day
and night. Your entertainment (mehmani)
does not confine to it, but continued since my arrival over here, because the
bungalow with foods, including for the staff – all have been provided by you.
Besides, you discharge your duty feasibly and help the Council and jamat all the times, and participate in
all occasions. You also render my other services excellently, for which I give
you much blessings.”
Imam Sultan
Muhammed Shah also invested him the title of Wazir on August 6, 1914 and said, “You are Varas means Wazir from today. When the African jamat was small, there were three
Wazirs, but now it is a big jamat. I
have sent thousand of people during ten years in the villages of Kampala,
Uganda, Majunga, etc. Thus, there must be at least four Wazirs in Africa. Wazir
Mohammad Rehmatullah and Varas Alidina Visram are (Wazirs) at present, and I
also vest in Mohammad Naser the office of Wazir.” The Imam also presented
him the robe, ring and a pin with best blessings.
When
the Khoja Panjibhai Club came into existence in Zanzibar, Lyoid William Mathew,
the British Counsel General inaugurated its room on September 9, 1899.
Initially, there were about a hundred members, each paying the membership fee
of Rs. 4/- per year. When its members took no interest, the Imam ordered to
exempt its fees, and himself started an annual grant of Rs. 3500/- for its
upkeep. On that juncture, Mohamed Naser worked hard in the progress of the
Khoja Panjibhai Club. He introduced many recreation activities and gave a new
life to the Club. On March 21, 1926, Imam Sultan Muhammad Shah said to Ghulam
Hussain, the son of Mohamed Naser in a mehmani
that, “Earlier, your father, Mohamed
Naser organized the Panjibhai Club in an order in 1899, rather he gave new life
to the dormant members. He also helped too much in past, and served the
community financially. You too serve with full heart like your father.”
Wazir
Mohammad Naser died at the age of 60 years on September 29, 1924. His son,
Ghulam Hussain maintained the tradition of the illustrious services of his
father.
Ghulam
Hussain Wazir Mohammad Naser Jindani was born in Zanzibar on August 8, 1891. He
took his education in Zanzibar and became one of the business magnates, and
owned many valuable estates.
He took
important parts in the community services. He sailed for London on December,
1924, and reached Marseilles via Genoa, and finally arrived to Villa Yakimour
in Cannes. Imam Sultan Muhammed Shah graced him an audience in the Ritz Hotel,
and prayed for the soul of late Wazir Mohammad Naser Jindani. On that juncture,
the Imam conferred upon him the title of Wazir.
Imam Sultan
Muhammed Shah arrived in Zanzibar on February 17, 1925, where he declared new
members for the Council. Varas Mohammad Rehmatullah Hemani was appointed the
President with Ghulam Hussain Mohammad Jindani as its member. The Imam also
declared 9 members for the School Committee, including Ghulam Hussain Jindani
as its Chairman with Abdul Hussain Jaffer Rahim as Hon. Secretary. The Imam
also told to them, “You must form the
sub-committees, three for secular and three for religion educations, and three
for the girls. You should avail full benefit of my grant and send me your
report directly, and endorse its copy to the Council. Have much courage for
it.” In the Ladies Committee, twelve members were appointed, including his
sister, Kamadiani Kulsumbai. The Imam also vested him the title of Wazir, and said, “I have conferred the title of Wazir to you in Europe. Now I award the
title in public and also appoint you the member of the Council.”
The Sultan
of Zanzibar hosted a standing ovation to the Imam in a princely reception on
February 21, 1925. It was attended by distinguished persons, notably Shaikh
Suleman bin Naser, Shaikh Hammad bin Hamid, Shaikh Saeed bin Hamid, Wazir
Ghulam Hussain Mohammad Jindani, Varas Mohammad Rehmatullah Hemani and other 22
special guests of honour.
Wazir Rahim
Basaria (1885-1927) died on February 15, 1927 in Bombay. The Supreme Council
held an urgent meeting in Zanzibar to pay him a well-deserved tribute. It was
also resolved to close the businesses on February 16, 1927. The Council and jamat performed the religious ceremony
for late Wazir Rahim Basaria at the residence of Wazir Ghulam Hussain Mohammad
Jindani, where Missionary Alidina Mukhi Mamu delivered waez.
In
1934, one African delegation visited London to discuss with the Imam to promote
education system in the villages of East Africa. The delegation comprised of
Ghulam Hussain Jindani (Zanzibar), Alijah Kassim Sunderji (Dar-es-Salaam) and
Mukhi Rajab Ali Kassim Suleman Virji (Mombasa). Soon after the meeting, he and
his wife took an opportunity of visiting Cairo and returned to Zanzibar on
October 8, 1934.
On February
7, 1937 during the occasion of Golden Jubilee, Mr. and Mrs. Jindani hosted a
dinner to the Imam and Mata Salamat at the Aga Khan Club. It was attended by
1000 guests, including the Resident (Governor) Sir Richard Renkins and Lady
Renkins, Sultan Sayed Khalifa bin Haroon, the ruler of Zanzibar, etc.
On March 1,
1937, the Golden Jubilee was celebrated in Nairobi, making the hearts of the Ismailis
full of happiness and excitement. The
Supreme Council for Africa formed the All Africa Golden Jubilee Celebration
Committee comprised of 18 members, in which Wazir Ghulam Hussain Mohammad
Jindani was selected as a member from Zanzibar. The All Africa Golden Jubilee
Celebration Committee held a meeting and launched an Executive Committee of six
members to control the entire supervision, in which Wazir Ghulam Hussain
Jindani was also selected as its member. The ceremony of Golden Jubilee was
performed at the ground of The Aga Khan Club, where a mammoth concourse of
70,000 Ismailis assembled. It took about 40,000 shillings to decorate the pendol. In the middle, a platform of
100 square yards was erected for weighing ceremony. On that occasion, Wazir Ghulam
Hussain Jindani had a privilege to read the welcome address. In his speech, the
Imam graciously accepted the gift of gold and declared it’s use for the
upliftment of his spiritual children, thus formed a Gold Grant Committee to
devise the best means of applying the money for different social and welfare
projects. The Imam also declared nine members of the Gold Grant Committee, such
as Wazir Ghulam Hussain Mohammad Jindani, Varas Abdullah Sharif, Alijah Ismail
Jivraj Pirani, Varas Kassim Sunderji Shamji, Wazir Fateh Ali Dhalla, Wazir
Hassan Kassim Lakha, Dhanji Jadawji Bhatia, Alijah Hashim Ismail Lakhani, and
Sir Eboo Pirbhai. Later on, the charge of the Gold Grant Committee was taken
over by the Central Committee in 1946 with a fund of 10,000 pounds.
On that
occasion, Imam Sultan Muhammed vested an hereditary title of Count to Ghulam Hussain Jindani and
Abdullah Sharif Kanji. The Imam also resented him a Gold Medal of Chevron Bar.
This was the first occasion where the conferment of the title of Count was introduced specifically in
East Africa. This had never been done anywhere in the Ismaili world.
Imam Sultan
Muhammed Shah emphasized to the Ismaili leaders to establish an Insurance
Company, and summoned a meeting of the leaders and experts on February 20, 1937
at Dar-es-Salaam and said, “I will
insure my estates and houses and provided you to establish an Insurance
Company. I will give you a business of over 40,000 shillings, and then you
procure the insurance business from rich class, and then start life insurance
policy, which will be more profitable to you.” The Imam gave 30 minutes to
the participants to finalize the project. After an end of 30 minutes, the Imam
summoned them and asked, “Who will take
responsibility of the Directors for Insurance Company? If you are ready, I
shall give insurance of my all houses. I am now an old, and no company will
take risk of my life policy, but will give you life policies of Prince Aly Khan
and Prince Sadruddin. You start life policy after some time, and make its head
office in Mombasa.” The Imam also declared the names of the Directors, such
as Count Ghulam Hussain Jindani, Varas Mohammad Varas Saleh Kassim, Count
Hassan Kassim Lakha (1892-1982), Varas Zaver Karshan, Varas Kassim Sunderji
Shamji, Alijah Dhanji Jadawji Bhatia and Kassim Ali R. Paroo (1906-1998). The
Jubilee Insurance Co. finally came into existence on August 3, 1937. The
fledgling company began its small office in Mombasa with a staff of six and
assets of only 500,000/- shillings. Its Directors served for 30 years without
fees or travelling expenses. Few years later, the promoters were privileged to
see the benefits of the insurance project. It is to be recorded that after the
Imam’s family, the family of Count Ghulam Hussain Jindani were the largest
shareholders of the Insurance Company. Public in nature, the Jubilee Insurance
Company provided a productive spur to the economy of the African Ismailis.
Ghulam
Hussain Jindani was also appointed the Chairman of the Aga Khan’s Executive
Council for Africa (1937-1946). He and his wife, Fatimabai were also appointed
the ex-officios of the Ismailia Supreme Council for Africa. The Imam enjoined
upon him the authority to ordain the rules of the Ismaili Councils for Africa.
He shaped the Constitution and published it for the first time in 1937.
The Jindani
family had proud privilege of serving the Imam and the jamat. Varasiani Sonbai, the mother of Count Ghulam Hussain
Mohammad Jindani worked in different fields, In recognition of her outstanding
services, Imam Sultan Muhammed Shah, graciously presented her a gold medal in
Zanzibar on January 31, 1937.
Pir Sabzali
(1884-1938) had started his third and last visit of Africa on January 5, 1937
as a Special Commissioner of the Imam, where he stayed for 23 months. On
February 10, 1938, a son was born in the Jindani family. Pir Sabzali received a letter from the Imam, who told
him to see Count Ghulam Hussain Jindani in Zanzibar on his behalf and
congratulate for the birth of a son. The Imam also told Pir Sabzali to present
him two rupees with loving kisses and named the son. When Pir Sabzali came to
Zanzibar during the course of his tour, he met the Count and Countess and
presented congratulations to them on behalf of the Imam and named the son as
Mahomed. He was the second son, the first was Abdul Mahomed, who died at the
age of 10 years on June 2, 1924. A daughter was also born on April 24, 1927.
The husband and wife were longing reverently for a son till the birth of
Mahomed.
Prince Aly
Khan arrived in Mombasa on February 19, 1939. Wazir Ghulam Hussain Mohammad
Jindani accorded him a warm ovation at airport. He acted as a Private Secretary
of Prince Aly Khan during the tour. Prince Aly Khan was an exceptional hunter
and took him in his hunting expedition in the forest of South Masai.
He was also
appointed the President of the H.H. The Aga Khan Legion for Africa (1942-46)
On May 26,
1946, Imam Sultan Muhammed Shah convened at Nairobi, a Territorial Conference
for the Diamond Jubilee. Eminent leaders representing the African jamats
participated in the conference.
It was officially resolved after a long discussion with the Imam that
the venue of the Diamond Jubilee would be Dar-es-Salaam. Count Ghulam Hussain
Mohammad Jindani and Alijah Karam Ali Mahomed managed the arrangement of the
Territorial Conference, and won the best blessing of the Imam.
The Diamond
Jubilee of the Imam was celebrated in Dar-es-Salaam on August 9, 1946. Wearing
a robe of white and silver brocade, studded with five-pointed stars and a
headwear woven of gold thread, Imam Sultan Muhammed Shah was warmly welcomed at
the Sports Ground of the Aga Khan Club by seventy thousand people, including
the governor of Kenya, Tanganyika and Uganda. On that unique occasion, Count
Ghulam Hussain Jindani was credited to read the welcome address on behalf of
the African jamats.
He was
appointed the first Chairman of the Jubilee Insurance Co. Ltd. with 19
directors in 1940. Its head office was situated at Kilindini Road, Mombasa with
a branch in Kampala.
Count Ghulam
Hussain Jindani was generous donor for several causes. In 1949, the Imam said
to him, “Would it not be nice if I had a Jamatkhana in Paris?” On that
juncture, he humbly presented five thousand British pounds for the construction
of the Jamatkhana at 36, Rue de Prony, Paris.
Count
Ghulam Hussain Jindani rendered his services with such marked distinction that
the Imam vested him the coveted title of Dewan
through a telegraphic message on December 29, 1948. It reads:- “Occasion Imamate record I confer on you for
all your great services title Dewan for first time given in Africa.” It is
to be noted that Count Ghulam Hussain Jindani was the first recipient of title
of Dewan among the African leaders -
an honorific conferment forceful unparalleled for 35 years till his death in
1983.
Prince Aly
Khan passed away on May 12, 1960 in a tragic motor car accident near Paris. It
was Prince Aly Khan’s wish, that he should be buried in Salamia, Syria. His
burial ceremony took place on July 10, 1972 in Salamia. With respect to the
desire and wishes of the Imam, only 36 delegates of India, Pakistan, Africa,
Europe, United States and South East Asia attended the ceremony. Only four
special guests were also invited, viz. Dewan Ghulam Hussain Mohammad Jindani
(Mombasa), Varas Chhotubhai (Nairobi), Tutti Hussain (London) and Varasiani
Gulzar Muller. The delegates and guests first gathered at Nice. Air France
Chartered Boeing transported the embalmed body of Prince Aly Khan to Damascus
on July 10, 1972. The coffin committee transferred the coffin by a helicopter
from Damascus to Salamia escorted by Prince Amyn Muhammad alongwith six
delegates and four guests. Prince Sadruddin with other delegates travelled in
another helicopter. The coffin was lowered into the last resting place on the
same day.
The Imam
arrived in Mombasa on February 15, 1976 with Begum Salimah when Dewan Ghulam
Hussain Mohammad Jindani was about 85 years old. While looking him in the
airport, the Imam said, “Dewan you look
92 years.” Since then, he implanted a conclusive thought in his mind that
the span of his life would be 92 years.
His life
certainly bridged a long span of 92 years, and expired on May 26, 1983. The
Imam sent following message to his wife, Countess Fatimabai on June 27, 1983:-
Her Highness the Begum and I have learnt with
great pain and sorrow about the passing away of your beloved husband Dewan
Count Jindani in Mombasa. I send my most affectionate paternal maternal loving
blessings for the soul of the late Dewan Count Jindani and I pray that his soul
may rest in eternal peace. I send you and all the members of your family my
most affectionate paternal maternal special loving blessings for strength and
courage in your great loss. The late Dewan Count Jindani’s devoted services to
my late grandfather, to my late father and to my jamat of all Africa will always be remembered by my jamat and me, and he will be greatly
missed by all. In this painful time of bereavement, my dear Countess, you and
your family are particularly in my heart and thoughts and prayers.
Countess
Fatimabai was also devoted in her community services. She died in June, 1989. The Imam sent following message from
London to her son, Mahomed on July 21, 1989:
I
was deeply grieved to learn of the passing away of your mother Countess Fatma
Jindani in Nairobi.
From my very young days when I was in Kenya, I
well remember the late Count and Countess Jindani and how their services to the
Imam and the jamat had continued for
many many years. Ultimately to be recognized by the late Count being given the
title of Dewan for the first time in the jamat.
The late Dewan and Countess Jindani had rendered truly exceptional services and
I give my special paternal maternal loving blessings for the eternal peace and
rest of their souls. I very much hope that their wonderful tradition of service
will be continued by you and other members of your family.
I send you and all the members of the Jindani
family my most affectionate loving blessings for courage and fortitude in your
great loss. You are all particularly in my heart and thoughts and prayers in
this difficult time.
Dewan Ghulam Hussain Jindani was a kind, honest, sincere and served the
community through thick and thin for an eventful period of over 40 years. He
left behind an enviable record of services. His kindness, humility, and desire
to shoulder the burden of others, distinguished him from the formative stage of
his career from the rest of the community. He would never let a poor man feel
that he was destitute. Indeed, the lowly would be given extra consideration.
Kindness to others was like a mission of life to him. His philanthropic
disposition blossomed into charities and donations even when his business was
still struggling to find stability. His hospitality was famous not only in
African countries, but applauded as far as India and Burma. It was a day of
happiness when he hosted guests at his residence. Suffice to write his
invaluable services that the Imam merited him as the Power behind Throne and The
Executive in Parliament in his one private letter. As for the Supreme
Council for Africa, the Imam said, “You
must humour them.”
Dewan
Ghulam Hussain left behind seven daughters, Samira, Amina, Munira, Zainab,
Gulzar, Shireen, Mira and a daughter, Mahomed.