Hirji Jetha Fazal

Children

During the famine of 1900-1901, Hirji Jetha Fazal,like the rest of the population in the town of Khojaberaja, suffered greatly. The next year he set off in a dhow for Madagascar where he had relatives . The dhow was damaged on the way, and it stopped for repairs at Zanzibar, where Hirji Jetha got off in 1901-1902

At that time he had very little money with him--about 10 to 15 rupees ($2.84 to $4 .26).He was wandering about , trying to find someone who would provide him accommodations , when he came to a house of an Khoja Ismai1i, Virji Nensi.Although in no way related to Hirji Jetha Fazal, Virji Nancy provided him with lodging and later gave him employment at 170 rupees ($41.15), Hirji Jetha soon prospered in Zanzibar and sent his brother, Remtulla Jetha Fazal, the fare to join him.

Then, in 1924, Hirji Jetha paid a visit to Khojaberaja, his native village in India. During this time, Lalji Virji Fazal, Hirji Jetha's cousin, was living in poor circumstances, working on another Ismaili' s farm. He was not able to send his children to school because there were no schools in that village, and he could not afford to send them to a nearby town. Meanwhile , the famine cconditions worsened . In addition, La1ji Virji Fazal lost his job and it became hard to support the family , Hirji Jetha saw the poor oondition of his cousin, and being himself in a better position in Zanzibar, he encouraged his oousin to migrate to Africa.