Jaffer Joosab

"JAFFER JOOSAB, PROMOTER OF CREDIT BANK OF INDIA & LIMITED, BOMBAY is one of the leading Mahomedan businessmen in the second city of the British Empire.

He is a Member of the Khoja Community, and was born as recently as 1877, so that he has not yet reached the prime of his industrious and useful life. Circumstances compelled him to enter upon a business career at the early age of 15 years, so that he was deprived of the benefits and advantages of the higher education of the University.

But, in spite of this great drawback, he still found time in his early manhood to further improve himself and even to make many incursions into the literary world. As a school-boy he was something of an actor, and obtained much kudos for his creation of the part of Mark Antony from “ Julius Caesar,” and he also played conspicuous parts in the plays of “ Immorality as Morality” and “A man is'known by the company he keeps”—the only dramas thus far written dealing with Khoja home life.

In later years, he was a contributor to “ Laxami,” and we also find him lecturing on such subjects as “Commerce and Commercial Education,” etc.

In 1908 he turned his attention to the flotation of public companies designed to assist the Indian people, and the All-India United Insurance Co., Ltd., with a capital of 25 lakhs of rupees, and the Baroda Tramway Co., Ltd., owe their inception to his enterprise. His latest promotion was “The Credit Bank of India, Ltd.,” the Head Office of which is in Bombay.

He has thus the honour of being the first Mohamedan to establish a Bank in Western India. Jailer Joosab is a writer, speaker, reformer and is an industrious self-made business man of (he highest repute and standing.

He takes a keen interest in the public affairs and is a Municipal Councillor in the Corporation."