Parmanand Das Khodidas Andharia

Children

Aminkumar Andharia 1949

Amirkumar Parmanandas Andharia 1945–1991

Parmananddas Khodidas Andharia

Not much detailed information is available about the school education of Vazir Parmanandas. However, it is known that he did not study beyond Standard 3, as he joined his father’s business at an early age.

His father was Khodidas Manordas and his mother was Monghiben Manordas. His father was engaged in the wholesale trade of potatoes and ginger, and Parmanandas later expanded the business and began exporting goods to the Gulf countries.

His father Khodidas lived in Bhavnagar, opposite the Hanuman Temple in Diwanpara, Kathiawad. The house in which Parmanandas grew up remained a cherished memory throughout his life. It was in this very house that Khodidas had begun his search for the true spiritual guide (Murshid) and, despite many hardships, eventually recognized the light of the Satpanth faith. This spiritual legacy was passed on to his son. Parmanandas was raised in a deeply religious environment, which shaped his character.

He became a good speaker and a knowledgeable scholar of Hindu scriptures. In his sermons, he often referred to stories from the Mahabharata and Ramayana to convey moral lessons. In his waez (religious sermons), he eloquently explained the recognition of the Imam-e-Zaman, the importance of service, and the practice of Bandagi in Bait-ul-Khyal.

He travelled widely across India and other countries, delivering sermons to the Jamat.

He received considerable support from Al-Waez Babubhai Manjibhai Andharia. During his career, he trained many young people and helped develop numerous waezins. Among those he trained were Aminbhai Merchant, Kapilaben Andharia, Lalitaben Manjibhai Andharia, Zarinataj Abdul Mehendi, Mallikaben Subhashchandra Andharia, Raoobhai Andharia, Sanjay Andharia, and Girish Andharia, who served the Jamat for many years as Al-Waez.

From 1945 to 1991, he continuously served the Jamat by delivering waez. On 15 June 1945, when the Gupti Ismaili Jamatkhana was established at Ambachowk, Bhavnagar, he had the honour of becoming its first Mukhi. The Jamatkhana was located on the third floor of the wholesale potato merchant firm “Khodidas Bhagat” at Ambachowk, Bhavnagar. Along with him served Al-Waez Kamadia Saheb Itmadi Kalidas Vanrasi, who worked as Mukhi Kamadia for 20 years.

He also had the opportunity to work during the Platinum Jubilee celebrations of Hazarat Imam Sultan Muhammad Shah (A.S.) alongside President Vazir Abdulhamid Hasanali, Vice-President Vazir Ghulamhussein S. Thavarbhoy, Vazir Akbar H. Merchant, Vazir Chhaganbhai Nanji of Jamnagar, and Vazir Mohammedali G. Fazalbhoy.

In 1955, he was awarded the title of Rai Saheb. Later, he received the title of Itmadi in 1973 and the title of Vazir in 1982. At the time when Vazir Parmanandas Andharia was honoured with the title of Vazir, his son Aminkumar Parmanandas Andharia was serving as Mukhi Saheb of the Bhavnagar Gupti Jamat.

In 1989, during the visit of Hazarat Imam Shah Karim al-Husayni Salwatullah Alaihi to Bhavnagar, he had the opportunity to welcome the Imam at the airport along with other members of the Regional Council.

A housing society was established on Airport Road in Bhavnagar for the Gupti Jamat, and it was named “The V.P. Society, Bhavnagar” in honour of Vazir Parmanandas Khodidas. Vazir Parmanandas was deeply devoted to community service. Since members of the Gupti Jamat were living scattered across Bhavnagar, he took the initiative to develop a housing colony for them.

In 1984, agricultural land located on Airport Road was selected for this purpose. Work began on plotting the land for residential use and obtaining official approvals. The approval process took some time, during which Rai Saheb Aminkumar Parmanandas Andharia, Rai Saheb Mukhi Chandulal Motilal Andharia, Huzur Mukhi Babubhai Muljibhai Andharia, and Mahendrabhai Bachubhai Andharia made significant efforts to advance the project. The legal matters of the society were carefully handled by Advocate and Notary Rai Saheb Harshadrai Nanchandbhai Andharia.

Vazir Parmanandas had envisioned completing the society and settling families there. However, before construction work in the society could begin, he passed away on 29 December 1991.

Later, in 1992–1993, when approval for the plotting was finally obtained, the next step was to begin construction. The plan was to build 34 houses under a government housing scheme in the society. For this purpose, loans for 32 row houses were arranged from the Nanavati Foundation and the Diamond Jubilee Trust. Vazir Abdul Juma Muscatwala played an important role in helping to secure the necessary financial contributions and assistance for the project.

Vazir A. J. Muscatwala (See Picture-5), who served as Mukhi Saheb of the Darkhana Jamatkhana and as President of the Ismailia Association for India (1979–1987), was also a National Council member responsible for the housing colony portfolio. He carried out remarkable efforts to obtain donations from various sources in order to provide small row houses at very nominal rates for economically weaker families of the Jamat belonging to the weaker sections. He made an outstanding contribution to the settlement of weaker-section families in the Bhavnagar housing colony. Even today, the Gupti Jamat of Bhavnagar respectfully remembers the valuable contributions of Vazir A. J. Muscatwala. The construction of the housing society took about two years to complete. A team of volunteers from the Gupti Jamat rendered exceptional service and even contributed physical labour to support the construction work. The project began in 1994 and was successfully completed within a short period of two years by the end of 1995.

The inauguration ceremony of the row houses constructed for the weaker section was held on 29 December 1995. On this occasion, the remarkable contributions of Vazir Parmanandas were fondly remembered. Vazir A. J. Muscatwala was also present at the ceremony. Owing to his outstanding service and efforts, members of the weaker section of the Jamat were able to receive the gift of beautiful homes.

Vazir Saheb passed away on 29 December 1991. On 3 January 1992.

Vazir Parmanandas Khodidas Andharia served the Jamat for more than 50 years. He was survived by his wife Vazirbanu Dhanlaxmi, and his children:

All Pictures and article collected from Animesh Andharia Grand son of Vazir Parmananddas and Rai Saheb Aminkumar Andharia son of Vazir Parmananddas Andharia