Chhaganbhai Nanjibhai Bhadlawala

Children

Chhaganbhai was born on 14-4-1908 in the village of Bhadla, near Rajkot, in a modest family. His father was engaged in farming. He completed primary education up to Standard 7, and at the age of 14, in 1922, he joined a school as a teacher. Along with his job, he also helped manage his ancestral agricultural work.

In the village, anyone who wished to write applications for government matters had to obtain official permission. After receiving this permission, he began writing applications for people. During his spare time, he joined a trader’s firm to learn accounting, where he often had to work late into the night. In 1927, he married Savitabai, whose father, Alibhai Ghadiyali, was from Lakhtar village in Wadhwan State.

Gradually, Bhadla began to feel too small for Chhaganbhai. With ambitions of starting a larger business, he was inspired to move to Jamnagar State. In 1933, with great courage, he began trading in wool, and also started dealing in groundnuts, groundnut oil, and cotton. Initially the business was small, but with determination he expanded it. Within a few years, the business grew significantly, and his wool began to be exported overseas.

Operating under the trademark N.P.B. (Nanjibhai Premjibhai Bhadlawala), the firm became highly successful. Every year, his firm earned about fifty lakh rupees in foreign exchange for the country through its trade.

Although he was settled in Jamnagar, he frequently visited Bhadla and maintained a deep love for his native village. In memory of his mother Nandubai, he built a Balmandir (kindergarten) in the village. At that time, the only sources of water were wells and stepwells from which people had to draw water manually. Therefore, in the name of his elder brother Velsibhai, he constructed a stepwell (vav) in Bhadla.

In Jamnagar, his firm earned a reputation for reliability and leadership. During these years, from 1935 to 1940, he served for five years as a member of the Bombay Legislative Council. He also began serving the Indian National Congress.

He was appointed President of the Nawanagar Chamber of Commerce from 1959 to 1962. He also served as a member of the Gujarat State Sales Tax Committee and worked on the Price Control Committee.

He was widely respected as a distinguished personality from Bhadla village, which is located near Botad.

In 1925, the Aga Khan Boys’ Hostel at Botad was inaugurated by Vazir Rehmatullah Alibhai Dholerawala. Initially, the hostel began in a rented building with 14 students. In 1942, a permanent building was completed on land purchased for the hostel. Chhaganbhai served on the Management Committee of the Botad Hostel. After the death of Vazir Rehmatullah Alibhai Dholerawala in 1952, he was appointed President of the Hostel.

He also served for more than 20 years as a member of the Aga Khan Education Board, Supreme Council Rajkot, during 1935–1945. He took many initiatives to encourage children’s education and traveled extensively across the Jamnagar, Bhavnagar, and Rajkot regions to promote educational activities.

In recognition of his services, the Imam bestowed upon him the title of “Vazir” in 1951.

In 1958, Hazarat Imam Shah Karim al-Husayni Salawatullah Alaihi graciously visited Rajkot to grant Didar to the Jamat, and a three-day gathering was held there. Chhaganbhai played an important role in organizing and managing all the arrangements for this event. He was also honored with the opportunity to welcome and pay respect to Hazarat Imam Shah Karim al-Husayni Salawatullah Alaihi. (See Picture-2)

At that time, the President of the Rajkot Boys’ Hostel was Vazir Musabhai Dayabhai. In the photograph, from left to right, the following individuals can be seen accompanying the Imam towards the Boys’ Hostel:Vazir Musabhai Dayabhai, leading the Imam towards the hostel,The Imam,Vazir Chief Captain Hajibhai Mulji, walking alongside while holding an umbrella,Vazir Ismailbhai Tarmohamed Madhani,Vazir Chhaganbhai Nanji Bhadlawala.In the background, Missionary Jafarali Sufi can also be seen.

In 1952, Vazir Sheth Shri Chhaganbhai Nanji Bhadlawala assumed the position of President of the Botad Hostel. He served in this role for 23 years, continuing his service until 1975.

At the same time, Noormohammad Rehmatullah Dholerawala was appointed as the Vice-President. During this period, approximately 70 to 80 students studied at the institution each year.

When Chhaganbhai Nanji Bhadlawala served as President and Noormohammad Rehmatullah Dholerawala as Vice-President in 1952, the House Superintendent of the hostel was Janmohammad Lavji Dharani. He had joined the institution in 1939 and continued serving in that position until 1959.'

In 1961, steps were initiated to expand the Botad Hostel so that more students could be accommodated. For this purpose, efforts began to find a large plot of land nearby where a new building could be constructed. An open plot adjacent to the existing premises was available. A resolution was passed in a meeting to purchase this land for Rs. 15,000, and it was decided to submit a proposal to the Supreme Council to obtain the required funds.

Finally, on 20 July 1964, the land was purchased from Suthar Vithalbhai, and from Dhirubhai and Kanubhai, the sons of Giridhar Shreebhai Premchand, along with their widowed mother Shantaben Valji.

During the period 1960–1964, Habib Gokaldas Dharoliya (Maliya) served as the House Superintendent of the hostel.

A photograph discovered from the 1966 records of Botad Boarding shows that the name of the boarding was changed from “The Kathiawar Shia Imami Ismaili Khoja Boarding Botad” to “H.R.H. Prince Aga Khan Hostel, Botad.”

From 1966 to 1972, Sadruddin Ajani of Amreli served as the House Superintendent. During these years, the number of students at the Botad Hostel continued to increase. Even during challenging times such as the 1962 war with China and the 1971–1972 Bangladesh Liberation period, efforts to promote education did not stop. Due to the continuous dedication of the trustees, the number of students steadily increased.

During 1973–1974, Daudbhai Pirani (Untiyadra) served as House Superintendent, and during 1974–1975, Huzur Mukhi Abdul Mehendi Jan Mohammad Masani (Bhavnagar) served in that role.

After 1975, due to declining health, Vazir Chhaganbhai Nanji Bhadlawala stepped down from the management of the hostel. In recognition of his tireless services toward education, the Botad Hostel honored him for his contributions.

Even today, the Jamat remembers Vazir Chhaganbhai for his noble character and his dedication to education within the community. Many students who studied at the hostel later migrated and settled in different countries around the world and remain grateful for his contributions.

Vazir Chhaganbhai Nanji Bhadlawala passed away in Jamnagar on 18 July 1996. He was survived by Three son (1) Harendra Chhaganbhai Bhadlawala(2) Kirit Chhaganbhai Bhadlawala(3) Sudhir Chhaganbhai Bhadlawala and Three daughters Suchetaben Chhaganbhai Bhadlawala now at Jamnagar (2) Bharti Virani (3) Zarina Wadiwala

Suchitaben Chhaganbhai, lives in Jamnagar, where she served as a college professor and is now living a retired life. Much of the information for this article was obtained from Suchitaben.

The biography of Vazir Chhaganbhai Nanji Bhadlawala has been published in two books. One is “Dhanya Dhara Gurjari” (Volume One), in which an article was written by author and editor Dhirubhai Vakil. Another source is a souvenir published by the Nawanagar Chamber of Commerce during the period 1959–1962, when Vazir Chhaganbhai served as its President, where his life and contributions are described in detail.

This article has been prepared based on these two sources, copies of which were kindly provided by Suchitaben Chhaganbhai.

Life & Time of Vazir Chhaganbhai Nanjibhai Bhadlawala

Deedar Padhramni at Rajkot on 18-3-1958.Imam going to Visit from Supreme Council Gujarat office to Agakhan Boys Hostel Rajkot (LtoR) Vazir Musabhai Dayabhai,Imam Shah Karim Al Husaini Salwatullah Alaihi,Vazir Chief Captain Hajibhai Mulji with Umbrella, Vazir Chhagan Nanji Bhadlawala, Vazir Ismailbhai Tarmahamad Madhani, Back side Missionary Jaffaerali Sufi.
Celebrating 100 years of Learning- Agakhan Hostel, Botad,Gujarat, (Photo c.1940)
Nawanagar Chamber of Commerce Souvenir.
Press Stories of Vazir Chhaganbhai Nanjibhai Bhadlawala 7
Press Stories of Vazir Chhaganbhai Nanjibhai Bhadlawala 1
Press Stories of Vazir Chhaganbhai Nanjibhai Bhadlawala 2
Press Stories of Vazir Chhaganbhai Nanjibhai Bhadlawala 3
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Press Stories of Vazir Chhaganbhai Nanjibhai Bhadlawala 6''
Vazir Chhaganbhai Nanjibhai Bhadlawala(Electronics Photograph taken from Souvenir)
Vazir Chhaganbhai Nanjibhai Bhadlawala
Sitting on Chair (Lto R) Harendra Chhaganbhai, Vazir Chhaganbhai Nanji Bhadlawala, Vazirbanu Savitaben Chhaganbhai Bhadlawala with Nitant Harendra Bhadlawala; Sucheta Chhaganbhai Standing: (LtoR) Kirit Chhaganbhai Bhadlawala,Smt Yasmin Harendrabhai Bhadlawala;Barkat Virani and Bharti Virani; Mehboob Wadiwala and Zarina Wadiwala and Sudhir Chhaganbhai.Sitting: (Lto R) Niki Mehboob Wadiwala, Tina Harendrabhai Bhadlawala.