Sherali Pirbhai
- 1926
- 2006
- Khoja Itnasheri Kabrastan
- Karachi
- Accountant
- Parents
- Fazal Pirbhai 1898–1961
- Siblings
- Partners
- Children
- Shameem Alibhai 1948
Sherali came to the Congo from Dar es Salaam in 1942 to escape conscription into the British Army there.
He started a small business in Dar es Salaam called 'Kanani Trading Co.' with Mohamedali Alibhai in 1946; but after 3-4 years the company closed down and he then opened a boutique 'Maison de Luxe' with his brother Gulam, selling imported dress materials. When this shop also closed he joined Ebrahim Haji Freres in Stanleyville and worked there for 6 years.
In 1952, Sherali Fazal married Fatma Alibhai (Babybai), his first cousin; and in 1955 Sherali joined Rawji Fils as Managing Director of their Commercial Department in Stanleyville.
After the mutiny in 1964, he and Babybai came to Leopoldville along with other fleeingAsians; many family members stayed in the house in Djelo Binza with Shokat and Hassan Alibhai till they could be housed elsewhere.
In 1965/6 Sherali moved to the house in Limete in the Alukivu compound, and later moved to the apartment at Beltexco in 1970. His children went to the American School and later his daughter Azra worked for many years with the American Consulate in Kinshasa.
Sherali continued to work with Rawji Fils, now as Head of the Accounts Department with Razahussain Nathani, (married to Taki's youngest sister Kaniz) as the chief accountant. He continued working with the Rawjis and Alibhais as a trusted and loyal family member till he retired in 1990.
He finally left the Congo after the pillage of 1991, and after a couple of years in Birmingham with his son Hanif, he settled in Karachi in 1993, in an apartment below his son Riaz in PECHS. Two years later, Babybai passed away. Sherali himself passed away in 2006 at the age of 80, living a disciplined life to the very end.
